Snail mucin continues to garner global popularity due to its hydrating properties, but it appears that a discourse on beautytok brought light on what the skincare ingredient actually does
The digital beauty sphere is incredibly vast. Of course, there is the usual assortment of makeup techniques and skincare practices—all created and curated by enthusiasts all over the world. Beautytok knows this too well. After all, the platform is inarguably a democratic beauty space. But in the great scheme of things comes the antidote of its nature of encouraging consumerism. Case in point? The art of the anti-haul, one thing that has placed products, formulations, and ingredients like snail mucin in question.
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“Snail mucin is a scam,” Pauline Choi expressed in a now-deleted video. The content creator started a discourse when she claimed that many snail mucin products don’t contain real snail secretions. “One of the main ingredients in snail mucin products is carbomer,” she exposed that the synthetic, thickening agent is used as an alternative. As for the results? Skin irritation and breakouts. That said, many enthusiasts couldn’t help but wonder: Is snail mucin a skincare hero or a glorified hoax?
The wonders of snail mucin, explained
The idea of slathering snail secretion all over the face doesn’t sound appealing. But it does render positive effects on the skin. More so, it deposits a complex mix of properties like glycoproteins, enzymes, and copper peptides that help support the skin barrier and lock in moisture. As for the skincare promise? The coveted moisturized, radiant, and supple complexion.
The good, the bad, and the slimy
It’s quite undeniable that snail mucin is a promising skincare ingredient. But the question remains: Are carbomers used to replace snail secretions? According to Ian Michael Crumm, a licensed esthetician, it’s a false claim. “Actually, carbomer is listed third to last in the ingredient list, so that statement makes no sense and it’s also not bad,” he stitched the video. “Paula’s Choice Skincare—[a] beyond reputable source has this index and they have carbomer and it is rated as good.”
The esthetician continues to explain the role of carbomers in skincare. “She was right that it is often used to create gel-textured formulas. But unlike what she said about it sitting on top of the skin, studies have shown that carbomer gel formulations can increase skin permeation or retention of key active ingredients, also known as helping the other ingredients work better.” Crumm concluded the video by reminding enthusiasts that skincare is a personal thing. “Everyone’s skin reacts differently to products so I wish people will stop fear-mongering with these clickbait videos that have misinformation.”
Take it from the pros
The great thing about snail mucin is that it can deliver skin hydration, but other enthusiasts warn to avoid over-glorifying the skincare ingredient for the sake of promoting a product. “Snail mucin is not going to fade your acne scars,” Ramon Pagan said in his video. “It just hydrates, plumps up the skin. It gives your skin nice, juicy goodness. And that in itself can do a lot in terms of making your skin look nice, but it’s not helping with acne scars.”
As the natural ingredient continues to garner global attention, it’s still best to remain cautious. Perform a patch test to see if it will cause any possible allergic reaction to the skin. As mentioned, there are no proven studies that it is effective as an anti-acne or a scar removal alternative. In this case, it is still best to seek your trusted dermatologist to know the best solutions to tackle these skin concerns.
Featured Image: MEGA ARCHIVES
