Have you heard of the new buzzy trend in the skincare world? Snail serum, also known as snail mucin, is created by snails to protect themselves. You probably don’t even know what they do, talk less about how to use snail serum on your skin.
Usually, when you see snails, you never imagine them to be a useful ingredient in the skincare world.
Apparently, it “contains essential proteins such as glycoproteins that help to stimulate growth, also hydrating properties such as hyaluronic acid to keep the skin hydrated,” says Dr. Hadley King, a board-certified dermatologist.
Snail serum moisturizes the skin, promotes the production of collagen in the skin cells, and works to soothe inflammation. Snail mucin contains several a-list skincare ingredients such as vitamins A & E, manganese, copper peptides, and so on.
This article focuses on how to use snail serum correctly in your routine to reap all of its benefits to your skin.
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How to Use Snail Serum on Your Skin
How you decide to use your snail serum depends solely on your skin concerns and what you hope to achieve using the ingredient.
Board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Desai Solomon, says that most people use snail serum for moisturizing purposes, therefore, she suggests using it at night.
This is because it contains not only hydrating properties but also restorative and regenerative properties that work best at night.
How to Use It for Moisturizing Purposes
Start the application process by washing your face with warm, clean water and a gentle face wash or body wash. After washing your skin, rinse the cleanser with water. Then you can proceed to dry your face with a soft, clean towel.
You can go ahead to tone your skin by using your favorite toner on the skin to double cleanse and create an easy entry for another step. After toning your skin, you can move forward to applying your serum to your skin.
After applying every skincare product you use in your routine, You can now apply the snail serum to moisturize and seal in hydration on your skin.
How to Use for Anti-aging Purposes
Just like in every other skincare routine, start by cleansing your face. Do this with a gentle cleanser that works best for your skin and rinse your face with clean, cool water. After that, grab a soft clean towel and use it to clean your face.
Follow with your snail serum right away after cleansing your face. Dish out a drop or two of the serum and massage it into your skin in a circular motion. Make sure to cover your entire face with no areas untouched.
After applying the serum, you can go on to moisturize your face using your favorite moisturizer. Then apply sunscreen on your face to finish up the process. If you use other serums on your skin, you can layer them on after using snail serum, but before moisturizing.
You can use the snail serum in your morning or evening routine (or both) to reap all of its benefits and to achieve your desired result quickly.
Does Snail Serum Really Work?
According to Dr. Solomon, “It’s a trusted skincare ingredient in the K-beauty world which has become buzzy because of its effectiveness and the noticeable results it offers the skin,” she adds.
Snail serum is a mega multipurpose skincare product that works extensively on the skin. It not only moisturizes the skin but also helps to enhance the production of collagen and elastin, which are the protein fibers your skin needs to remain firm and youthful.
Dr. Ted Lain, a board-certified dermatologist, says that “it contains moisturizing properties that work to lock in hydration on the skin and repair the skin’s barrier to protect the skin from environmental damage.”
Snail mucin is secreted by the snail to protect itself when it is stressed, now, “because the mucin used in making snail serum is a stress-induced excretion, it contains ingredients meant to repair or protect your skin against damage and injury,” Lain explains.
“This includes the growth properties that work by triggering the development of new skin cells and increase of collagen production.” An increment in the production of collagen and elastin in the skin means a reduction in the appearance of wrinkles and other aging signs.
It also contains glycolic acid – which is known to be a collagen – booster. When you use snail serum on your skin, you can expect to experience younger-looking skin.
Allantoin is another important component of snail mucin. It is an ingredient that contains healing properties, which help to soothe irritation and inflammation of the skin. It also works to smooth the skin and aid cell reproduction.
Snail mucin is endowed with a list of beneficial skin nutrients, such as zinc and manganese. These two work for soothing inflammation and repairing the skin. It also contains copper peptides—which are known for their collagen-boosting and anti-aging effect on the skin.
The vitamins A and E in snail mucin are both great antioxidants that help to protect the skin from damage.
How Often Should You Use Snail Serum?
Your usage frequency should depend on why you are using the serum on your skin. Since it has a large number of benefits for the skin, you can use it as often as twice daily on your skin.
If you are only using it for moisturizing purposes, you can use it as you wish. However, to get a beauty boost with an anti-aging effect, you should use your snail serum consistently and often in both your morning and evening skincare routine.
Are There Side Effects to Using Snail Serum on Your Skin?
“There is no documentation on the side effects of skin mucin in the skin,” says Dr. Solomon. However, dermatologists found that—as with other ingredients, you may be allergic to it.
Therefore, it is important to carry out a patch test on a small portion of your skin to check for allergic reactions before applying the product to your face. Do this by applying a drop of the serum to your forearm and leaving it on for hours.
If your skincare routine already contains prescription-strength treatments, it’d be wise for you to check with your dermatologist before adding snail serum to your routine.
Dr. King also suggests that snail mucin is an ingredient that is well tolerated by most skin types. She also warns that allergic reactions are possible.
Can You Use Snail Serum With Vitamin C?
Yes, you definitely can! The two ingredients are a powerful combination to help the skin remain smooth, glowy, and youthful. The power of these two amazing innovations in the skincare world cannot be overemphasized.
Snail mucin is a soothing homestand that contains healing properties. This makes it a reasonable choice to combine with an active ingredient such as vitamin C.
Vitamin C is a very active brightening ingredient that helps to prevent and improve the appearance of dull skin.
It helps to slow down signs of aging by promoting the development of new skin cells—to give your skin a beautiful, radiant glow. To improve the overall appearance of your skin, It reduces dark circles around your eyes, clear sunspots, and dark spots.
The combination of these two ingredients is suitable for all skin types. You can find products that combine both ingredients and you can also use them separately.
If you are using a product that contains both ingredients, simply follow the application method for snail serum mentioned earlier.
On the other hand, if you are using them separately on your skin, apply your snail serum first to hydrate your skin as vitamin C can also have a drying effect on the skin. After applying your snail serum, layer on your vitamin C serum and finish up with a moisturizer and sunscreen.
Can You Use Your Snail Serum With Retinol?
Yes, you can. The combination is golden as it involves the use of two of the most fantastic skincare ingredients. Snail mucin works excellently with its hydrating properties when applied with a drying and strong ingredient like retinol.
If you have sensitive or dry skin and you want to enjoy the benefits of using retinol on your skin plus the bonus of escaping skin irritation, this is the best combination for you.
The combination of these two ingredients will help to accelerate collagen production in your skin cells and is also good for clearing dark spots. You can use the two ingredients together by mixing a drop of both serums to apply on your face.
If you want to use them separately, ensure that you use your snail serum first before applying retinol to your skin. The hydrating properties of your snail serum will help as a buffer to prevent the drying effect of retinol. This is the best way to use both ingredients on sensitive skin
If you want the full effect of retinol, you can use it before applying your snail serum. You can also try the sandwich method if you aim to use your snail serum as a moisturizer. Apply snail serum and then move to retinol and finish with another layer of snail serum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is snail serum good for your face?
Yes, it is. Using snail serum is probably the best thing you’d ever do for your face, as it does tons of benefits for the skin.
Unless you are allergic to snail mucin, it is one of the best skincare ingredients to use for your skin. It works suitably on all skin types. It contains hydrating, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties that help to repair and rid your skin of blemishes.
Can you use snail serum every day?
Yes, you can. You can apply snail serum on your skin every day—either in your morning or evening beauty regime.
You can also use it in both your morning and evening routine to boost its effectiveness. As you do this, you should combine it with other skincare ingredients such as retinol and vitamin C to achieve the maximum beauty boost.
When should you use your snail serum?
You can use it either after cleansing your skin or at the end of your skincare routine. When you use your snail serum depends on what you are hoping to achieve with it.
If you are using it for the sake of moisturizing your skin, you can use it after applying all of your skincare products. If you need it for its anti-aging or collagen-boosting effect, use it after cleaning your skin.
Conclusion
Snail serum is one of the best innovations in the general skincare world. It contains all of the nutrients and beneficial properties that your skin needs to remain smooth and healthy.
Using snail serum correctly in your routine is essential as that is the only way to enjoy the benefits it offers your skin. To achieve a quicker beauty boost, you can combine it with other A-list skincare ingredients such as retinol and vitamin C.
Thanks for reading.
Was this guide helpful? Visit Serum101 for more useful and relevant skincare guides to improve your beauty routines.
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FAQs
How do you use snail serum? ›
Cleanse your skin and, using your fingertips, apply a few drops to the face and neck, morning and night. You may also apply the Serum around your eyes. Allow to penetrate by massaging lightly, then apply our Face Cream. Our snail mucin Serum can be used every day or as an intensive treatement over a two-month period.
Do you use snail mucin before or after serum? ›What step should I use snail mucin? Consider this a bonus hydration step for dry skin—it's not a replacement for moisturizer, but an addition. “Put it on after your active products, like a vitamin C serum, and before your moisturizer,” Ingleton says.
When should you use snail serum? ›Dr. Chang typically recommends once or twice a day use of any snail mucin skincare. If you're using a snail mucin essence, use it right after cleansing and toning and apply to the full face, then top it off with moisturizer and sunscreen afterward.
How long does snail mucin take to show results? ›Cosrx snail mucin is non comedogenic and has soothing and healing properties which helps calm redness, prevent new breakouts and also fade pigmentation, acne scarring, dark spots and marks. It does calm skin irritations and redness in 2-3 days.
Can I use snail serum everyday? ›Generally speaking, you can use snail mucin once or twice per day. Works Well With: It's often combined with antioxidants and retinol, as well as common skincare staples such as vitamin C, glycolic acid, and other moisturizing ingredients.
How often should I use snail serum? ›Use it once or twice a day on clean skin, applying after any thinner layers and before any thicker layers like serum or cream. Use one to two pumps if applying on face only, three or four pumps if applying to face, neck, and upper chest.
Do you put snail mucin on a wet face? ›Trust me, it works the best when your face is damp. If you apply after your skin has dried out, you'll feel like it's just sitting over your face. ALWAYS DAMP! Applying skincare on damp skin also ensures better penetration and that your skin faces less water loss.
Do you put snail mucin on before or after hyaluronic acid? ›apply your snail mucin. dump in your skin before application. isn't essentially beneficial to boost moisture. and increase penetration. next, apply your hyaluronic acid.
Do you put moisturizer on before or after snail mucin? ›Because of its all-around benefits, snail mucin can be used in both your morning and evening skincare routine. Simply apply it after cleansing and before applying your other serums, moisturizers, and sunscreen.
Does snail serum really work? ›“It really works,” says Dr. Peterson. “Because it contains allantoin, hyaluronic acid, and glycolic acid—which all have beneficial effects on aging skin—it is a very exciting new addition to the cosmetic space.” Here are the top reasons snail mucin isn't just a beauty trend; it's a skin care staple.
Can I use vitamin C serum and snail serum together? ›
Vitamin C
This combination will work well together to give you that glass skin finish due to intense hydration from Snail Mucin and brightening effect from Vitamin C.
Thanks to its exfoliating properties, snail mucin can help to reduce the appearance of dark spots, hyperpigmentation, scars, and even skin tone.
Does snail mucin make your skin glow? ›Thanks to the hyaluronic acid in the mucin, it has moisturizing properties that support the skin barrier and help lock in moisture. The glycolic acid helps to stimulate collagen production that not only helps diminish fine lines and wrinkles, but it also helps to give your complexion a radiant, youthful glow.
Does snail mucin tighten skin? ›All in all, snail mucin is known for hydrating, repairing skin damage, fighting blemishes, even skin tone, fading acne scars or pigmentation, firm and tighten the skin, and boost elastin and collagen production to slow the signs of ageing to a snail's pace.
Should you store snail mucin in the fridge? ›Short answer – No. Long Answer – Snails are kept in a dark room and quiet room on a mesh where the mucin is collected.
Is snail serum anti-aging? ›Use of cream containing mucus secreted by snails has an anti-aging effect on skin.
What happens if you use serum everyday? ›Yes, you should use face serums every day! Face serums are safe and gentle enough to use every morning and night. In fact, dermatologists, master estheticians, and skincare experts all agree that including skin serums in your daily routine is highly beneficial.
What are the side effects of snail mucin? ›Snail mucin is well tolerated and there are no negative side effects to note.
Is snail serum good for wrinkles? ›As a natural source of collagen, snail slime (or snail mucin or) is extremely effective on stretch marks and wrinkles. It also promotes the healing of skin lesions like burns or acne.
Does snail mucin reverse aging? ›But studies are limited. According to a small study published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 25 women who used a serum containing 40 percent snail mucin for 12 weeks noticed fewer fine lines and wrinkles, even two weeks after they stopped using the product.
Can snail mucin break you out? ›
Some of these ingredients are also used for building collagen in the skin (essential for repair, regeneration and plump skin). It's also worth mentioning that snail mucin doesn't clog pores and shouldn't cause breakouts.
Can you put vitamin C after snail mucin? ›After you've applied snail mucin first, you can use vitamin C to further improve the skin's texture. snail mucin can help to brighten, hydrate, and smooth skin when applied to the skin. Retinol, a form of vitamin A, is widely used in skincare.
What should I use first essence or serum? ›Essence should be applied to the skin after cleansing and toning, but before applying serum or moisturizer.
How do you use Cosrx snail mucin serum? ›How To Use. After cleansing and toning, apply a small amount on your hands and gently pat the product onto the face, using fingertips to aid absorption. Follow with moisturizer.
What goes first snail mucin or retinol? ›Snail mucin and retinol are fine to be used together. Since snail mucin is pretty much a hydrating ingredients , you can use it first before layering on the retinol. It will help as a buffer if your skin is sensitive. However if you want full effect of the retinol , yoh can use it first and then snail mucin.
Does snail mucin plump skin? ›Dr. Parikh points out that one of the ingredients found in snail mucin is hyaluronic acid, a humectant known for binding moisture, hydrating, and plumping the skin.
Can you put moisturizer over snail mucin? ›Moisturiser after COSRX snail mucin 96 power essence? I use this and yes I put moisturizer after this. It does contain hyaluronic acid in it so I always put this on when my skin is damp, then follow up with a moisturizer to help seal it all in :) thank you!
Should I still apply moisturizer before slugging? ›Experts say slugging should be used as the last step of your skincare routine — after cleansing and moisturizing. Dr. Lindsey Zubritsky, a board-certified dermatologist with over 400,000 TikTok followers, recommends a "very thin layer" over your whole face — especially during the winter months.
Is slugging before or after moisturizer? ›Step 4: Slugging time
Slugging should always be the final step in your skin care routine. Once you're finished with moisturizing, dermatologists recommend applying a thin layer of your occlusive of choice to your skin and letting the product do its work overnight.
AHAs and BHAs, such as glycolic, salicylic, and lactic acids should never be used with Vitamin C. Vitamin C is an acid, too, and is unstable, so the pH balance will be thrown off by layering these ingredients together and might as well be useless.
What should you not use after vitamin C serum? ›
Never combine Vitamin C serum with AHAs, BHAs, retinol, niacinamide, and benzol peroxide in the same routine. It can lead to skin flaking, drying, and irritation.
Does snail serum help with hyperpigmentation? ›Snail mucin is touted by experts as a great hydrator for the skin that helps improve skin texture, tone, hyperpigmentation, and scars. In addition to these effects, snail slime also has anti-aging properties that can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
What are the benefits of snail serum on face? ›The snail mucin aids human's skin by hydrating, preventing ageing, improving wrinkles, scars, treating dry skin and stretch marks. It also helps stimulate the formation of collagen and elastin, protects your skin from free radicals, soothes your skin, repairs damaged tissues and restores hydration.
Does snail slime make you look younger? ›The glycolic acid in snail mucin helps your body produce collagen and elastin, which even out skin tone and smooth its surface. Studies have shown that snail essence creams can improve eye wrinkles and skin texture just after 12 weeks.
What does snail serum do for skin? ›As a natural source of collagen, snail slime (or snail mucin or) is extremely effective on stretch marks and wrinkles. It also promotes the healing of skin lesions like burns or acne.
What are the side effects of snail serum? ›Snail mucin is well tolerated and there are no negative side effects to note. However, it's always a good idea if you have sensitive skin to test the product on a small area of your skin to make sure you don't have a reaction.
How do you use Cosrx snail serum? ›How To Use. After cleansing and toning, apply a small amount on your hands and gently pat the product onto the face, using fingertips to aid absorption. Follow with moisturizer.
Does snail serum remove dark spots? ›Thanks to its exfoliating properties, snail mucin can help to reduce the appearance of dark spots, hyperpigmentation, scars, and even skin tone.
Can I use vitamin C with snail serum? ›Vitamin C
This combination will work well together to give you that glass skin finish due to intense hydration from Snail Mucin and brightening effect from Vitamin C.
- Double cleanse with an oil-based cleanser. ...
- Treat with the BHA Blackhead Power Liquid to keep skin clear and bright.
- Follow with the Two in One Poreless Power Liquid to help tighten freshly cleansed pores.
- Next use a hydrating essence, like the Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence.
- Finish with a moisturizer.
Where should Cosrx snail mucin be in routine? ›
There is no set answer for where Cosrx snail mucin should be in a routine, as each person's skin care routine will be different. However, many people find that incorporating Cosrx snail mucin into their routine after cleansing and before applying their moisturizer works well.
Should I apply snail mucin on damp face? ›Trust me, it works the best when your face is damp. If you apply after your skin has dried out, you'll feel like it's just sitting over your face. ALWAYS DAMP! Applying skincare on damp skin also ensures better penetration and that your skin faces less water loss.
Can you mix snail mucin and vitamin C together? ›Can I use snail mucin together with active ingredients like Vitamin C, Retinol, AHA or BHA in a routine? Yes, you definitely can! Snail mucin is a gentle humectant and has healing properties, so it's especially great to layer or mix with strong or drying ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, AHAs and BHAs.