Snail Mucin Is Trending—Here’s How It Can Seriously Improve Your Skin

Brendan Camp, MD, is a double board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York. He says snail mucin offers myriad benefits to the skin, although the most foundational one is hydration. “Snail mucin is a hydrating skincare ingredient because of its high content of hyaluronic acid,” he says. “Hyaluronic acid is an effective hydrating agent because it is able to attract and retain water in the skin. Snail mucin also possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.”

LoGerfo agrees, adding that it has wound-healing and anti-tumor properties, which are “probably due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory attributes.” Still, though, we don’t know the extent to which snail mucin can benefit the skin. LoGerfo says it hasn’t been studied much up to this point. “Its full potential remains to be seen,” she adds. 

For now, we know it offers hydration, antioxidants, and an anti-inflammatory effect. As Camp puts it, “Snail mucin can improve the appearance of skin by increasing the ability of the skin to retain moisture. Improved moisture reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improves the ‘bounce’ of skin, and provides a healthy, youthful appearance.” There you have it.