The Not-So-Slimy Truth About Snail Mucin

Of all the ingredients you could put on your face, snail slime probably wasn’t one of them … until now.

Snail mucin has slowly made its way into serums, moisturizers and skin care products and routines. But is this skin care trend worth trying? Before you go hunting for a snail facial, aesthetician Ashlyn Yanke, LE, explains the research behind snail mucin and how to use it.

What is snail mucin?

Snail mucin, or snail secretion filtrate, is the mucus that snails produce to protect their bodies and help them move smoothly from one point to the next. It’s made mostly of water, but it also contains other substances that can benefit skin, including:

• Hyaluronic acid
• Glycolic acid
• Allantoin
• Collagen
• Elastin
• Other peptides and proteins

“You’ll find larger amounts of these components in a lot of other products,” says Yanke. “But snail mucin has become a popular ingredient in lotions, serums and Korean skin care products because of what it contains.”

Benefits of snail mucin

Most clinical trials have been small, but snail mucin has been studied for several potential skin benefits, including its ability to:

• Hydrate: A review of 10 studies found that products containing snail mucin may help your skin hold onto moisture.
• Help with wound healing: One small, older study suggests snail extract cream may help certain types of burns heal faster.
• Have anti-aging effects: The collagen, elastin and other proteins and peptides in snail mucin may support healthy skin and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
• Soothe irritation: Lab research suggests snail mucin may have anti-inflammatory properties, but more research is needed to understand how those effects translate to skin care.

Unfortunately, the makeup of snail mucin changes based on the type of snail and how it’s collected or processed. So, it’s difficult to know exactly what you’re getting in a product and how it may affect your skin. And because skin care products often combine snail mucin with other ingredients, it can also be hard to tell where the benefits are coming from.

“Products that contain snail mucin are often marketed as soothing and moisturizing because they contain purified snail slime, along with several other beneficial ingredients,” notes Yanke. “But for now, there’s not enough evidence to suggest pure snail mucin is beneficial on its own.”

How to use it

Even if you’re set on using snail mucin for skin care, Yanke advises staying away from snail facials. Getting slimed straight from the source may seem like it would give you the most benefit — but snail trails carry bacteria, poop and other matter that’s best left off your face.

Instead, Yanke recommends wearing a face mask that lists snail mucin as an active ingredient. Or you can apply a snail mucin serum.

“I like a serum because it’s faster absorbing,” she says. “You can use it twice a day or at night to help out with hydration, especially if you’re using retinol, which can be more drying.”

Potential risks or drawbacks

There’s always a downside to using any new product: Your skin may not always agree with it. And be extra cautious if you have acne or eczema. While snail mucin might help with hydration, some products that contain it could worsen flare-ups.

“Hydration is important when you’re treating concerns like acne, but if you have reactive or sensitive skin, a new product that contains snail mucin might be too much for you,” Yanke cautions.

If you do go the way of the snail, start with a small patch of skin behind your ear to see how your skin reacts. And don’t overdo it.

“Sometimes, too much hydration can clog your pores,” she adds. “So, if you’re breaking out and you’re using a product with snail mucin along with other moisturizers and creams, you may want to scale back your skin care routine.”

If you’re interested in trying a product with snail mucin, but aren’t sure if it’s right for you, an aesthetician or dermatologist can help you decide.