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Does Snail Mucin Help With Acne?
If you follow beauty trends, you have probably heard about snail mucin. It is a popular addition to many Korean beauty products, but does snail mucin help with acne? It absolutely can. Let’s examine how it works and why it can be an effective tool in your anti-acne arsenal.
What Is Snail Mucin?
At its most basic, snail mucin is the secretion from snails. Available in different formulations, it has quickly established itself as a go-to beauty ingredient. Snail mucin is loaded with beneficial compounds, including:
- Allantoin
- Glycolic acid
- Glycoproteins
- Hyaluronic acid
- Peptides
These make snail mucin a powerful humectant that locks in moisture and helps support a healthy skin barrier. Users report excellent results, including dewy skin, a radiant glow, and fewer breakouts.
How Is Snail Mucin Harvested?
There are several methods of harvesting secretions from snails. Most snails are raised on farms where special machines collect the secretions as they move about. HH Science™ uses humanely harvested snail mucin in its serums, so you can rest assured that no snails were harmed in the process. However, vegans may want to avoid this ingredient because it is animal-based.
Can You Use Snail Mucin if You Have Acne?
If you have acne, you may be hesitant to try a new skincare product or active ingredient. However, snail mucin is one that you may want to rethink your reticence for. It contains naturally hydrating and soothing chemicals, making it a great choice for people whose skin is irritated and inflamed. Most people who use it find snail secretion filtrate safe, gentle, and completely appropriate for acne.
Take our clear skin quiz to see how to support your skin health best.
Can Snail Mucin Cause Acne?
Like any other skincare ingredient, it could potentially cause acne. However, it is known for being exceptionally gentle and well-tolerated. Many people find that it can help support healthy skin and, as a result, reduce the frequency and severity of acne flare-ups.
If you have allergies to dust mites, you may experience irritation when using snail secretion filtrate. It is best to try a patch test before committing to widespread use on your face.
Severe acne often needs more than one treatment. For many people, that means consulting a dermatologist. Go ahead and ask your dermatologist about adding a snail mucin product to your lineup, but don’t stop using the products she recommends or prescribes without having that discussion.
Why Is Snail Mucin Good for Acne?
When you live with acne, you know that skincare is about more than just avoiding breakouts. You also want to give your skin the extra care it needs to thrive and glow. This is where snail mucin really boosts your efforts. It has multiple benefits that promote healthy skin.
Moisturizes
Acne-prone skin poses challenges when it comes to moisture. Excess dryness can increase the skin’s natural oil production, which clogs pores. However, heavy moisturizers often cause flare-ups. Much like hemp seed oil, snail mucin provides soothing moisture without clogging pores to support healthy, soft, and clear skin.
Promotes Healing
Some of the earliest known uses of snail secretions — dating back thousands of years — are for their ability to promote wound healing. Modern science supports the claims that glycoproteins found in snail mucin encourage healing and have other therapeutic properties.
It also contains allantoin, a soothing chemical also produced by the human body. Growing evidence supports its ability to repair tissue and reduce scarring, making allantoin a popular choice for acne-prone skin.
Does snail mucin get rid of acne scars? The answer is that it might. It is more likely to prevent scars from forming, but some people report that it helps diminish their appearance.
Reduces Inflammation
You may experience redness and inflammation with your acne flare-ups. If so, snail mucin is a great choice. It has natural anti-inflammatories to help calm and soothe irritated skin.
Exfoliates
The mild glycolic acid found in snail secretion filtrate gently exfoliates. This removes dead skin cells that clog pores and cause acne.
Fights Bacteria
Snail mucin is antimicrobial, so it can help keep skin clear and free from some types of bacteria. Bacteria contribute to acne formation by getting into pores and causing breakouts. Mucin makes a great addition to pore-minimizing cleansers.
How Long Does Snail Mucin Take to Work for Acne?
Many people report visible benefits from using snail mucin after a few weeks. It is important to remember that everyone’s skin is unique, and it can take different lengths of time for a product to work for you compared to others.
Some people notice an improvement in acne in as little as a day. However, the anti-aging benefits may take longer to notice. Using it with a high-quality anti-aging moisturizer might decrease that time.
Is It OK To Use Snail Mucin Everyday?
Absolutely! Because it is so gentle, most people can usually use snail secretion filtrate daily. You may even find products that are gentle enough to use twice a day. However, it is usually best to gradually add a new product to your routine.
This often means using it once or twice a week to start. Then, if you tolerate it well, increase that usage to every other day and, eventually, daily.
One of the nicest things about snail mucin is that it does not interfere with other skincare products, including hyaluronic acid, retinol, and topical antioxidants. That means you can easily add it to your current routine for an extra boost of moisture.
Are you thinking about adding retinol to your skincare routine? Find the right formulation for your skin type with our retinol skincare quiz.