What Step Should Snail Mucin Be In Your Skincare Routine?

Snail mucin as a skincare ingredient has recently become popular on TikTok, but it's been used in Korean beauty products for years. Just like the name suggests, this ingredient comes from snails; mucin is the sticky substance they leave as they crawl. While it may sound gross to some people, it is full of beloved skin-friendly goodies like hyaluronic acid, AHAs, and allantoin. Curology explains that these components make snail mucin great at rejuvenating the skin by promoting collagen production, providing moisture, and gently exfoliating.

Skincare products with snail mucin are great for people suffering from acne or dehydrated skin. Glycolic acid is the AHA in mucin that unclogs pores by chemically exfoliating your complexion. This will clear acne-prone skin, while the allantoin soothes irritation. Humectants like hyaluronic acid are what lock moisture into dehydrated skin. 

Even though limited studies prove the benefits of snail mucin, its ingredients are well-researched. If you're unsure if this ingredient will work well with your skincare routine, give it a shot, as it can be found in moisturizers, eye creams, and serums.

Snail mucin comes in a variety of different skincare products. To choose the right one for your skin type and any conditions you may have, like acne, you need to decide how heavy of a product you need. 

Serums are lightweight but still provide a protective barrier on your skin. Cosrx explains that their serums are similar to gel products. To apply them, you should use two to three pumps of the product, and if you bring your skincare products down from your face to your décolletage, use five pumps.

Snail mucin creams are heavier and focus more on hydrating the skin. They work best for normal and oily skin types because they add moisture without clogging pores. Since this product usually comes in a pot, you will need to scoop out the moisturizer in order to avoid contaminating it with your fingers. 

Deciding where to incorporate it into your skincare isn't easy, but once you know which snail mucin product is best for you, you need to know when it should be applied in your routine.

To work as effectively as possible, you need to apply snail mucin in the right layer of your routine. If you apply it too late, it won't be able to penetrate your skin and do its job. If you use it too early, it can prevent your other products from working correctly. 

The first step of your routine should always be washing your face with a cleanser and patting it dry. Then you can use any base-layer products like toners or chemical exfoliants. 

The next step is applying your serums. Prismpop explains that the order you use them depends on their consistency. Your thinner products go on first, leading up to the thickest ones. Depending on what serums are already in your routine, you may have to use your snail mucin before or after them.

After you've applied all of your lighter products, finish off your routine with a denser moisturizer to keep all of your skincare on your skin. If you're using a snail mucin cream, you can put it on your face and follow up with your usual moisturizer, or use it as your final layer.