Snail mucin is a staple ingredient across the Korean skincare industry. The viral TikTok buzz surrounding this unique ingredient may have raised eyebrows at first, but any doubts have been silenced by its incredible benefits. Before you start incorporating this wonder ingredient into your Korean skincare routine, let’s dive into the details of all the benefits snail mucin has to offer…
What is Snail Mucin?
Snail mucin is exactly what it says on the tin (or shell): the clear mucus produced by garden snails. Although mostly composed of water, it’s packed with hyaluronic acid, antimicrobial peptides, glycolic acid, elastin, collagen, allantoin, and various skin-loving enzymes. Used in medicines for centuries, snail mucin’s antibacterial and healing properties have made it a hero ingredient in skincare. With some of the best K-Beauty brands like ANUA, COSRX, Beauty of Joseon, and Holika Holika incorporating it into their ranges, snail mucin is a must-try ingredient for any skincare enthusiast. But what does it actually do?
Snail Mucin Benefits for Your Skin
Snail mucin is popular for its transformative effects, addressing a variety of skin concerns:
Hydrating: Hyaluronic acid is found in snail mucin, which is a deeply hydrating ingredient that attracts and holds water.
Smoothing: Glycolic acid in the mucin helps refine texture, reduce scarring, and target hyperpigmentation. So, your skin texture will be smooth and refreshed.
Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial: Perfect for acne-prone skin, snail mucin calms irritation and exfoliates gently, unclogging pores and keeping skin free from breakout-causing bacteria.
Anti-ageing: Snail mucin’s collagen and elastin content help reduce wrinkles and improve elasticity, making skin look smoother and more youthful.
Our Favourite Snail Mucin Skincare
If the benefits of snail mucin have got you wanting to try it out for yourself, here are some of the COSRX’s best products that feature snail mucin…
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence: This viral essence has been making waves on social media for a reason. Partly thanks to its unusual key ingredient—snail mucin—and partly due to the impressive, glow-boosting results users have seen. A lightweight essence (essentially a supercharged Korean toner), it sinks instantly into skin to provide deep hydration and boost elasticity. The snail mucin (or “Snail Secretion Filtrate” as COSRX calls it) helps lock in moisture, giving you that coveted glass skin look.
COSRX Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser: Designed to clear impurities while keeping skin hydrated, this cleanser effectively cleanses without stripping the skin, leaving skin feeling moisturised, smooth, and refreshed. It’s particularly ideal for those with sensitive or redness-prone skin, as the gentle formula soothes while it cleanses.
COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream: With 92% snail mucin, this lightweight gel cream quickly absorbs to strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier, plumping, soothing, and deeply hydrating without a greasy feel. It’s perfect for calming irritated or post-breakout skin, helping to repair and replenish with every use.
COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream: Packed with snail mucin to hydrate, firm, and restore elasticity, this eye cream is a powerhouse for the delicate under-eye area, if you’re looking to get rid of dark circles, this is for you. It’s enriched with niacinamide to brighten dark circles, plus a blend of five peptides to reduce fine lines and boost collagen production.
How to Use Snail Mucin
Snail mucin’s versatility makes it easy to incorporate into your routine. You’ll find it across Korean cleansers, essences, Korean serums, and moisturisers, so choose the right product based on your skin’s needs. How you use it will depend on what product type it sits in, so follow the usage guidance on your chosen snail mucin product for the best advice.
Should You Apply Snail Mucin Before or After a Serum?
To simplify things for yourself, we recommend opting for a snail mucin serum. The Beauty of Joseon Revive Serum combines snail mucin with ginseng root, niacinamide, and collagen for a hydrating, brightening, and firming effect. Apply it after cleansing and toning, and follow with a moisturiser.
Can You Use Snail Mucin With Retinol?
Yes! Snail mucin and retinol complement each other, helping to reduce scarring, smooth texture, and improve fine lines. We love the innisfree Retinol Cica Repair Moisture Recovery Serum to combine with snail mucin, as it soothes and hydrates while tackling skin texture. Apply snail mucin before retinol to minimise irritation and avoid using other exfoliants with this combo.
What Skin Types is Snail Mucin Good For?
Snail mucin is gentle enough and comes with enough benefits to make it suitable for lots of different skin types.
Sensitive skin: It’s nourishing and gentle, perfect for those who avoid harsh actives.
Acne-prone skin: Its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties make it effective for treating acne.
Dry skin: Hyaluronic acid locks in moisture, ideal for skin that needs extra hydration.
Don’t be deterred by snail mucin’s unconventional origins—add this ingredient to your skincare routine and enjoy its impressive benefits. Run, don’t crawl.
