I Used Snail Mucin On My Face For 2 Weeks – Here’s How I Got On

I’ve put a lot of things on my face in the name of skincare.

Seaweed. Ice. Mud. You name it, chances are it’s been on someone’s head in the name of questionable trends and glowing skin.

Introducing snail mucin; the gastropod trail that’s been making waves in K-beauty for decades… and it’s looking like it’s about to blow up over here too.

Yep, Korea’s best kept secret has made its way to Irish shores, and it’s not going to be long before all of us are patting our cheeks with snail secretion.

I tried it for two weeks, and was pleasantly surprised by the results.

Here’s everything you need to know.

So what is snail mucin?

It’s exactly what it sounds like – the mucin from a snail.

That little trail it leaves as it crosses your garden path, the stringy gooey goodness that you turn your nose up at before purchasing a tub of the stuff for 30 quid and applying generously to your skin every morning and night.

Snail mucin is intensely hydrating. Similar to hyaluronic acid, it floods the skin with water while its vitamins and minerals repair the skin’s barrier and encourage tissue regeneration.

It contains Glycolic acid for exfoliation and Allantoin, a chemical that soothes irritation. Snail mucin can even encourage the production of collagen, although there has only been some research done to prove this.

Snail mucin has been big in Korea for years, and there is even some evidence to suggest that it was used as far back as Ancient Greece. Mad!

How is snail mucin collected?

There’s a misconception that snails must be killed or under extreme stress for mucin to be collected. This is not true, and many major skincare brands will have the snails’ wellbeing at their core.

via Pexels

In most cases (and in the products I used), the mucin is collected ethically, allowing the snails to move across a mesh net for 30 minutes before they are returned to their habitat.

Snail mucin products are not vegan, but they can be cruelty free.

Okay so… does it actually work?

I’ve been putting snail mucin on my face for two weeks, and I can confirm that… I’ve been loving it.

Every morning, I’ve been using a serum and all in one cream that contain at least 92% snail secretion. Apparently, you want your skincare products to contain more than 70% mucin to ensure that they actually do anything.

Immediately, my skin felt softer and more hydrated. The product was somewhat sticky on my hands but once it hit my face it absorbed right away, leaving a velvet-y finish.

The products were lightweight, and left no residue – my skin stayed hydrated and glowing for the entire day! Now, two weeks on and I’ve developed an ever-so-slight glassines that K-beauty is known for.

My skin tends to look quite youthful in general, but if fine lines are something you’re worried about, there is some evidence to suggest that snail mucin has anti-aging properties too.

A 2020 study in the Journal of Clinical Aesthetic Dermatology found that women between the ages of 45 and 65 saw “significant improvements in skin roughness, firmness and elasticity” after using products with snail mucin for three months.

Also, I like its sliminess. It’s satisfying to pump a dollop out and stretch it between your fingers before running it all over your face.

Or maybe that’s just me.

Where can you get it?

Don’t worry, you’re not going to be on your hands and knees following snails around the garden. There are plenty of products already on the market and yes, you can get them in Ireland.

COSRX is a Korean skincare brand that specialises in snail mucin products. Its fans include Housewives’ Kyle Richards, Emily Ratajowski, and Alexa Chung… so you know it’s gonna be good.

Cult products include the COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence and the Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream. Both promise to instantly hydrate, protect the skin’s barrier, and deliver a natural, glass-like glow.

Brands like Beauty of Joseon promise to reduce signs of ageing and restore the skin’s vitality. Their Revive Serum with Ginseng + Snail Mucin has received rave reviews online due to its moisturising properties, and is very much blowing up on TikTok.

Clean beauty brand Dr Organic also boast some snail mucin products, including a disposable face mask, if you aren’t fully convinced just yet.

It’s been two weeks since I first rubbed snail secretion into my pores, and honestly, I’m going to continue doing so.

The instant relief and hydration is such a treat, and plus, when people ask me how I got my skin so glow-y, I get to look them dead in the eye and say: “Snails, obviously.”

• Beauty
• k-beauty
• snail mucin