Snail mucin: Is it really worth the K-beauty hype?
How important is this K-beauty craze to your skincare routine?
Image: Getty Images.
Recently, the hype behind snail mucin has been a much discussed topic among skincare fanatics all over the world. Following COSRX’s takeover of TikTok, it’s been hard to avoid the product entirely. But really, how helpful is it to your routine? Can it assist you in achieving the shiny glass skin that we’ve all been craving? Let’s take a look at its properties and underline what its purpose is.
What is snail mucin?
To simplify it, snail mucin is nothing more than a slime produced by your average brown garden snails. In skincare development, there are two types of snail mucin used: SCA and CAF. SCA is a filtered secretion released from the snails when exposed to stress, while the latter is filtered out from the contents of snail eggs.
For the most part, SCA is more commonly used. Various studies on this type of snail mucin have reached similar verdicts:
SCA is a fibroblast stimulant whereby the fibroblast function is what helps your skin to produce collagen. Therefore, it’s no surprise that it’s now being used in anti-ageing skincare products.
SCA is also a known antioxidant which can help against sun damage. This is something we all want to help protect ourselves from pollution and UV radiation.
Lastly, SCA also benefits cell-to-cell adhesion. This means your skin has better tissue integrity and development overall. As snail mucin is proved to enhance this, it almost mimics the properties of hyaluronic acid. This product is ahead of the game when it comes to moisture.
A prominent study that was undertaken had its participants split into two groups. One half were given a placebo and the other were given snail mucin. The results showed that those using snail mucin saw improvements in multiple areas with hydration standing out above all else.
If you suffer from dry skin, lack a hyaluronic acid in your skincare routine or simply want to add more hydration and collagen boosters then snail mucin may be a great choice. However, helping acne prone skin, dark spots and dry or ageing skin is not the only reason you should use products like this. Preventative skin care is important. Don’t wait until the problem is noticeable to start treating it to avoid it becoming an issue in the future.
If you are looking to include a snail essence into your routine and are looking for cheaper and/or softer alternatives to COSRX then here are some other options:
Iunik Black Snail Restore Serum, Skin Cupid.
Iunik Black Snail Restore Mini Serum is a great tester and a very cost effective option. It contains 70% of snail mucin paired with a cocktail of helpful extracts and niacinamide for glossy hydrated skin.
Snail repair intensive BB Cream, Mizon, Skincare.pl.
A snail mucin BB cream by Mizon for makeup enthusiasts that are looking for something that provides help while out and about.
The Skin House Snail Mucin 5000 Ampoule, The Skin House.
And lastly, my personal favourite, the Skin House Snail Mucin 5000 Ampoule is perfect for creating a serum cocktail that caters to your needs.
It’d be rude to not include the introductory brand to a list like this. On the off chance you feel like treating yourself, COSRX offers a range of snail mucin products. My personal favourite, however, are their sheet masks.
COSRX Advanced Snail Mucin Power Sheet Mask, Natureal.
While the benefits of Snail Mucin in your skincare routine has proven benefits, it is not a requirement. There are a wide variety of serums and even toners that achieve similar results. But it is safe to say that including a Snail Mucin based product will only help you achieve better results.
Edited by Gia Dove.
