Snail Mucin: Everything You Need to Know About the Buzzy Ingredient in 2023
25.08.2023 - 17:35
/ glamour.com
for its rejuvenating properties.
However, more products than ever before are being formulated with the ingredient.To get the scoop on all things snails, we spoke to dermatologist, , MD, FAA, and Santiago Larraín Allendes, the CEO of , whose products are made with snail secretions.
Dr.
Saedi notes that there's definitely more research to be done, but there's no doubt that snail mucin can offer you impressive skin benefits.
“Snails have actually been used for hydration and healing for centuries," she says.Ahead, Dr.
Asedi and Larraín Allendes share why you should add this slimy ingredient to your routine.If you've ever encountered a snail, chances are you know exactly what snail mucin is.
"Snail mucin is the slimy substance that a snail releases to protect itself when it's under stress,” says Dr.
Saedi.
As for what it feels like, Larraín Allendes says that it's a “viscous liquid useful for skin care,” adding that snail mucin is rich in many key skin care ingredients such as allantoin, collagen, elastin, proteins, peptides, antioxidant enzymes, polyphenols, glycolic acid, vitamins, sugars, lactic acid, and more.No, snails are not harmed or killed in this process.
Regarding the extraction process, Larraín Allendes says, “Today's cruelty-free methods allow the snails to move on and live happily after harvesting.” Extraction methods will differ, but per K-Beauty brand , “Snails are placed over a mesh net in a dark and quiet room.
As nocturnal creatures, this provides them with a comfortable space to freely roam about.
After about an hour, the snails are transferred back to their homes while the mucin is collected and processed for use." The net collects the mucin as they roam and after the snails are safely back in their usual
.