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.
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.
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