Melia muses….There is alot of hype going on about snail creams where I live. I have friends who have used them for scar reduction/healing for acne and thought that they really did work (they got the tip from their dermatologist). I’ve just watched the millionth infomercial about one of these creams and am wondering if they really live up to the claims.
The Beauty Brains leaves a slimy trail:
When I initially heard about snail extract being used in cosmetics my BS detector kicked into over drive. After doing a little bit of research I’m still skeptical but at least I was able to find SOME scientific basis for using this ingredient in cosmetics.
What is snail extract?
The technical name for snail slime is “Helix Aspersa Müller Glycoconjugates.” It’s described as a thick fluid gathered by stimulating live snails. (Sounds like a job Sarah Bellum would enjoy.) Chemically speaking, snail slime is a complex mixture of proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans, glycoprotein enzymes, hyaluronic acid, copper peptides, antimicrobial peptides and trace elements including copper, zinc, and iron.
The science of snail slime
There are a number of brands that claim to harness the power of snail trails. For example, there’s Bioskincare, who says their product “protects, deeply moisturizes, renews and triggers the regeneration of skin damaged by acne, injuries, overstretching, photo-aging or dermatological/medical treatments.” Is there any real science that supports the benefits of snail extract? Sort of. There are certainly plenty of references in the scientific literature. First of all, there a number of patents related to how to gather the secretion and process it for use in cosmetics. One Chilean doctor, for example, patented a procedure for gathering the secretions by agitating snails in warm water and then filtering the mucin. (I wonder how you can tell when the snails are sufficiently agitated?) Another patent, credited to a Spanish Oncologist, involves stressing the snails mechanically to induce the production of their mucin. I wish I could be sure that no snails were harmed in the production of this skin cream, but based on these patents, it doesn’t look good! But just because there are patents on snail slime, that doesn’t mean it actually DOES anything. If you’ll notice the patents are related to how to collect the slime, which has nothing to do with proving it really works on your skin.
Will snail slime make wrinkles Es-car-go-away?
So does it really work? A quick Pubmed search reveals a variety of papers describing the effect of snail slime on cell cultures. In these studies a variety of effects where seen including the proliferation of fibroblasts, stimulation of new collagen and elastin fibers, and increased production of fibronectin proteins just to name a few. But since these effects were demonstrated on cell cultures I have a hard time understanding how they relate to a topical cosmetic product. I did find a few other studies, though, that indicate snail extract improves skin condition by increasing the dermis’ natural ability to take up and hold water. And perhaps most interesting were the studies suggesting that the slime might have topical wound healing properties. There’s enough legitimate science here to make me think that snail extract may be a beneficial ingredient.
However, I didn’t see any data that indicates that any specific cosmetic snail cream has any special efficacy. Until I see some controlled studies of these products, I remain skeptical.
The Beauty Brains bottom line
As ridiculous as this sounds at first, snail slime may be a powerful bioactive material. But translating that efficacy to a cosmetic product is another story entirely. In any given product it’s impossible to predict efficacy because it depends on the quality of the snail extract that was used, the amount in the product, and how it’s formulated and processed. Until a marketer of these products can demonstrate they have data on their specific product, I would avoid spending a lot of money on snail creams.
What do YOU think? Would you use snail snot to keep your skin looking younger? Or is it just too gross? Leave a comment and share your snail-ish story with the rest of the Beauty Brains community.
Comments on this entry are closed.
I just bought Gutto snail cream. It had such a good reviews and promised everything from reducing scars and pimples. I tried already 2 times and this cream really feels good on the skin. But I checked the ingredients list on the package and there is everything except snail mucus.
I just started using the snail extract cream that I bought from family dollar for $4.00 in my area , it work preety good it brighten my face and it is very smooth like a baby skin very youthful I look totally different to myself in the mirror I promise I will buy more for my entire body . It work it even remove the ingrow hair sport I have under my chin is gone cant find it no where thanks.
What brand is your snail cream please?
I think she uses the Avena Collagen cream/lotion because I got that from family dollar as well and that has Snail secretion in it…its why I bought it. It works pretty good so far, my skin feels a lot smoother. I can’t stop touching my legs! they feel soft, like I just shaved them.. weird huh!!!
I didn’t put it on my face tho, I’m scared it will break me out, I got a cheap snail serum from Asia for my face because I don’t want any breakouts
Hi,
I am looking to buy good snail cream,can you give me the brand name of the cream you buy.
Thank you.
J.S.
I’ve been using Benton’s Snail Bee line, which contains both snail mucus and bee venom, for several weeks now, and my skin has looked a lot brighter and clearer. It’s not as dry as it used to be either. I’m not sure how good other brands’ snail lines are, but based on Benton’s Snail Bee line alone, I’m going to continue using snail products.
Check he fine print on the snake venom and snail, some actually say not made with actual venom or snail… your skin could simply look better because you are hydrating it.
i use the dr organic from super drug have been sinve christmas and last week i lefr it off for a day and the reveril effect was nexr to none it has to be left off for more ten a day to stop doing it job if found the more i use it the more i like it so yes i belive it works hate to be with out it
I agree I use this product as I have sensitive skin and rosacea and it has worked for me. My skin is softer with less rosacea breakouts and I have definitely seen an improvement in the fine lines in fact i can not see any around my lip area anymore
I have been using reelle skincare cream for about 3 weeks, i have to say that it is the best snail cream that i have tried so far. Expensive but at least, i don’t need to put a lot each day 🙂
I Love Using Snail Creme after I get out of the shower , i love how it makes My Skin Feel Super Soft like a new born baby.
I have ordered a snail gel product and am waiting its arrival,i am desperate to hold back the signs of ageing and am going to have a full face but until that day arrives am willing to try anything ageing is the most worrying thing in the world to me
Aging is the most worrying thing in the world to you? I’d consider spending money on therapy, not skin care. If you’re not aging, you’re dead.
bit rude there really
Extremely rude. If you don’t have something nice to day don’t say anything at all.
Who rattled your cage anyway Cindy? At least the benefits of semen facepacks aren’t up for discussion lol
Non-sequitur. But at least you laugh at your own senselessness.
I agree fully, therapy is what you need, not a cream!
Yap I agree. That person definitely needs therapy. People that think it’s rude are the same as the ones that opt for being politically correct. I however tried my first snail cream last night and it came with a free snail extract facial cleanser. I got it to help with my skin allergies and rashes that keep popping up.
No, but people like you definitely need to go back to school. Reading figures of speech literally is just foolish (but funny to everyone else, so… maybe you guys could keep going for the comedy, haha!).
I rarely give comments about a product BUT snail cream is different. It is an AMAZING product. I am 78 years old and have been using a snail cream product (Prestige creme escargot) that purchased in the Seoul, Korea airport. I’ve been using it for 3 week now and I, as you, do not want lines and wrinkles. Believe me – my lines/wrinkles are barely noticeable now. I am a BELIEVER.
I’m convinced this is a bogus comment. 78 yo with barely noticeable wrinkles? I’m 45 and without massive & obvious plastic surgery, there is zero way age-related wrinkles could be “barely noticeable.” Let’s see some scientific photography–I wouldn’t believe any personal pics with an over-the-top comment like this one. And I’ll stick to truly cruelty-free.
my grandma was around the same age as her and she had no wrinkles in her 70s.. and this is a woman who onky used dove and maybe ponds on her face. that’s it. There are no stores where she lived since it’s in a rural part of Arizona. My mom is now 60 and she also has no wrinkles what so ever. We live in a city and she uses sunscreen and some moisterizers (idk what she uses) and she’s good to go. I’m almost 40 and I have no wrinkles or lines myself. I have a great aunt in her 80s who believes in using baby oil to wash her face and ALSO, no lines there either. We are native, so we are non Anglo.
I think it’s possible that people in their 70s can have little to no wrinkles. I saw it first hand.. my mom has none in her 6os… I think it’s genetics as well. Maybe our skin is thicker or something, who knows!! I ‘ve started using snail cream because I want to go even longer then my mom and grandma without any lines or wrinkles… so far, I’m doing good ☺
the ‘desert Island ‘ product I use which really does work and builds up plumpness and collagen is brand: Cencia 8 . Collagen 8 serum ( in Australia) you can get it on EBay here
Here’s the deal ladies and men: NEVER spend a lot of money unless there is a ton of proven research on skin under a microscope. Use the real deal (I have snails outside my house, gross but hey — why not?) However I wish people would do what I do: test half your face with this, half with your former working products. It’s okay, you can even it up after. Don’t you want the truth? Can you handle the truth??? I hate fraudulent claims.
I first tried snail extract from a Taiwanese made DIY cosmetic company, it was expensive and little but it’s pure 100% snail extract. It comes in this tiny little bottle n I only use like 3 drops per day. But it works like magic. I have had eczema for most of my life, my skin is extremely sensitive and damaged from my years of allergy. I have all these dry lines, cracks and it pretty much heal and regenerate my skin in a rate that no product has ever done. Even when my skin is extremely fragile, weak n swollen at one of my flare ups, I can put it on and it will sooth and calm it instead of aggregating it like so many other product does. I have since tried other cheaper alternatives such as snail cream and gel in the market. But none work like the 100% snail extract. I know it sounds wrong, but I am seriously thinking about have my own pet snail so I can stress it once a day n harvest that slime for my face. I will treat it well all other times. Just thinkin….
@Jane what was the name of the Taiwanese company you bought from? I need to order some. I’ll have surgery soon and would like the extract to heal the scar.
Thanks!
Hi Jane,
Would you please tell me what was the company’s name? I tried to find it but no luck.
Thanks.
Lol, I pulled snails and slugs off my garden plants by the handfuls each morning and late evening after dark. They ate and tormented my herbs and vegetables all spring into early summer. If I had heard of this snail serum sooner I could have gone into business selling pet snails to glide across faces(joking). I wonder if slugs have any benefits, or is it just snails? Anyhow, I can’t bring myself to put that slime on as a treatment even though I have bad acne. Washing the slime off my hands was enough
I think I will have to pass on snail slime cream. I love formulating but I couldn’t ever see myself using this in a product.
I will say this though, snail slime must be pretty stretchy and strong. In my 40+ years I just recently (summer 2014) saw a snail couple doing the ……….you know!! They were suspended from a tree branch with a thin strand of slime, about 20 inches long and they were just hanging there, all twisted up together in ball……..
I was sort of grossed out and in awe at the same time. So I dont know about all the other benefits its supposed to have but it would have to be fairly strong for them to dangle there for hours doing what they were doing. Still couldn’t put the slime on me anywhere. I’ll stick with esters and such.
Kelli, I think that was the first snail porn comment we’ve ever received. I’m speechless.
I have been ordering lots of Korean skincare and most of it contains snail extract: hand creams, gels, body lotions. I have not noticed any dramatic improvement, although it didmake my skin incredible soft. In fact, the only products that truly made visible difference on my skin are the ones containing glycolic acid.
I just gave myself a snail slime paper facial last night and I loved it! It definitely tightened my skin and gave me a glow that was still there in the morning. Plus it gave my husband a good laugh.( I am not sharing my slime to get rid of his laugh lines!)
Randy can u pls help me out
I was introduced to this snail cream. Am yet to buy
It is a goodlife paris acne & scar skin whitening & clear cream. It is a white plastic container with a blue cover
Am from Africa,will be good for me.
Hi Brisa. I couldn’t find an ingredient list for this product so I can’t really tell you much about it. If you can find a complete ingredient list and post it here I will try to help.
Names of snail cream. Were I can buy it in Nigeria.and the best of all . Tanx
I caved and bought a $39 snail eye cream from Etude House.
Not sure what it’s actually doing for my under eye skin (which is already receiving lots of moisture from hyaluronic acid products followed by hydrolyzed collagen products) but it feels good to put a non-drying gel on my under-eye skin.
It takes forever to dry (so do snails, right?), and definitely keeps moisture in, but it doesn’t let anything settle on top (i.e. makeup) so it’s not that spectacular for under makeup.
Let’s just say I haven’t completely cut out my previous eye cream yet.
Hi Randy,I am from Ethiopia i have acne scar.Can u help me to find the best snail cream and how can i get it here?
I bought snail lighting cream in Thailand and it worked mavellous. Im looking for the same in kenya in vain please advise where to to get it in kenya
hi i’ve been using pureglow cream by essential treats ( philippines) their cream is infused with snail slime, with combination of rosehip,grapeseeds and nano bright its super good, it give me silky feeling, smooth and soft, my pimple dried up and brings back my younger looking skin.. i love this product.. i can contact them at instagram essential treats, and facebook page essential treats:)
Thank u all I do want to try snail cream but I don’t where to buy I am in Newzealand I pigmentation which is also known as blemishes. Pls if anyone knows where to buy the snail cream pls do send me your thoughts
Kind Regards
JANE
Can snail cream be applied also to your body/feet with dead skin cells??? Pls answer. Merci!
Sure, they can be applied anywhere. But that doesn’t mean they’re going to provide any special benefit.
i have dark marks on my face and i tried almost every advise ,today i saw the snail products i am thinking of starting with the treatment as soon as today.
Hi, Glory how are you? I saw your comment about snail product so have you started using it? if yes. How fast and what product is it? Thanks waiting for your reply. or you email me
It will cure the scars however it a long way to get a result I do this every other day and I love it! I live in Israel and near my building I have it a lot I have collected a few snails ,gave them a bath and now they live in my apartment in a glass basin they like to eat cucumber ,egg shell, wetted corn flakes -they r clean and lovely . Before putting them on my face I like to put a hot wet towel for 15 min and after a few drops of milk on face skin and -vo’a la! Enjoy!
I have used 1 jar of “white snail” from Namulife, a Thai brand for my age spot (near my eyes). I used very small amount before bedtime everyday & the spot we’re invisible. I like the jar also. Then I stop using it as it was not available in my country And after 9 months it come again due to excessive sun exposure. So bought another jar but from different company. I will write again, if I get my desired result.
well, now I have a lot of tropical big fat snails in my garden. Can my acne scar be cured if I happened to apply the snail mucus topically from the snail itself?
Seems like you could just rub live snails on your face. Apparently, they started using the snail slime when farmers who provided snails for escargot noticed that their hands were incredibly soft from handling the snails…or so the story goes.
Wow, growing up in the Pacific NW and stepping on slugs more times than I care to think about, and trying to remove said slime from my feet, I can’t imagine wanting to put it on my face. Pretty much, from my understanding of cosmetic formulary, it would be just a fancy way of getting hyaluronic acid into your skincare routine. Is there nothing that we won’t buy, that has promises of youthful skin? The last fad with Nightingale Poop for your face had me scratching my head in wonder, why people would spend so much on something like this? Just proof that if you put poop (or in this case snail/slug slime) into a fancy package, mark the price up, and charge a lot for it (since consumers think the more they pay, the better it must be) and be sure to put lots of worthless label appeal ingredients into it too, that you can sell anything and people will buy it.
The appeal of “featured” ingredients is one of the reasons the cosmetic industry continues to pump out so many new products year after year.
I started using Mizon skin regime and my skin (at 65 is now amazing!). The smoothness, fine lines diminishing and the elasticity of my skin now is wonderful. I have sun damage (being born a redhead with fair skin) and the bright whiting night pack is really working! Unbelievable…these Korean people know their business! If it can help a senior citizen’s skin to bounce back, it can help anyone’s skin! I highly recommend you try it…
has anyone heard of the corsx advanced snail 96 mucin power essence, kit contains 96% of snail mucin.with other ingredient like betaine, butylene glycol, 1,2 hexanediol, sodium hyaluronate, panthenol, arginine, allantoin, ethyl hexanediol, sodium polyacrylate , carbomer and phenoxyethanol constituting the 4%.
I have a very sensitive skin(no joke) and this so far ha worked for me. you should reserach and try it. i got mine from a company in korea.
Well , I will start using it fresh from my garden, I may have a massage slime
im just wondering if the snail mucus also works on acne and also cysts acne? does anyone know about this? thankss
You use Whale Sperm don’t you?
I ve got about a thousand snails in my garden. I
better get to work.
I have been using pure hyalauranic acid, and then I started buying snail solution as hyalauranic acid is present in it too (I’ve read and heard). Yes, it is such a beautiful soft feeling after it dries quickly too on your face (depending if you put eg a ten cent piece size blob on whole face.) You can put it over your whole body and you literally feel like a babies bum. You do notice results in your fine wrinkles if you keep applying twice daily and you don’t need much of it! You can add water too with the last bits and spread it everywhere eg below your neck if just using it on your face, or anywhere else eg stomach. I can purchase it from EBay for a surprisingly cheap price! There’s limited information as it is Asian however I love it-Here is a link to a product I’ve used that’s not even $5!:
https://www.ebay.com.au/ulk/itm/131687420084
I too was skeptical and ‘banned’ my husband from buying it .. made me feel sick just the thoughts of it. However I have to say I noticed a massive difference in days. My skin felt tighter, smoother and softer. Plus my complexion looks better and feels more nourished.
I am skeptical about all beauty products but I have recommended this one to my friends.
Has anyone used Armonia gel?
Theresa
I am starting my live snail regiment tonight.
Just gotta figure out how to piss off the Lil buggers off.
Let yall know as soon as I can see results.
I think my kids might have me committed.
They just better let me take my snails with me.
I’m a young 68 so if I can see a change I’ll be placing them on
MOST parts of my body.
Wish me luck.
Sherry
Good luck, Sherry! Keep us posted.
I bought two jars of Ladykin Snail Affinitic Cream in Asia and I love it! It has no scent and is quite gentle. I must say, though, it absorbs very fast and I still need to use extra moisturizer on top. The first listed ingredient is Snail Secretion Filtrate, which is probably made using the first process Randy described.
Bonus: it comes in an adorable snail-shaped container.
FYI, many of the other Korean products I looked at had snail ingredients further down the list, and the main ingredient was just glycerin or water.
Any idea if snail secretion clogs pores? I seem to have more breakouts lately after using this but it could be related to other recent beauty product changes.
I haven’t seen any data linking snail slime to plugged pores.
Some people, like myself, absolutely cannot have glycerin on our skin.
Biggest example: those brownish clear neotrogena acne soap bars. They are glycerin, and made me and others break out bad.
My Mother came to visit me about 2 years ago, here in Mauritius where my husband and I came to settled 12years ago, she had a nasty what looks like a broken spot or something that is growing, she didn’t know what it was. So I gave her a jar of my snail cream, which she uses twice a day for 4 weeks, when she went back I forgot to look at her face before she left, she called me say, you know what I no longer have that spot and also no wrinkles or tired looking face. She was overjoyed can not thanks me enough… So YES I do use it and would recommend it to all the people who want to look after their skin and look younger..
I’ve just bought the disaar beauty skin, and was wandering if its a good cream for me, anyone who has used it can you please share some comments….
I just started using mizon all in one snail repair cream, i am 57, and a smoker, i seeing great results on my upper lip line..i use pure avocado over it..and i am seeing my pores getting smaller..i love this stuff
Ive tried a few products, including some the others mentioned. Synake, or snake venom, workes really well for me.
Ive used snail extract serums. I prefer everything serum, if I can help it. Creams arent as effective. Yes the serums did leave my skin super soft and shiny. Im always breaking out. I do feel my skin is healed looks so much better.
It still does bug me that im using snail, though. I try to make sure it doesnt get into my mouth or eyes, lol. I keep telling myself to get over it, but ever since I was a kid, snails and slugs grossed me out.
I am also using a snail cream. The one named FarmStay. It is a korean brand and one of their beauty lines is the FarmStay Snail Repair Cream. I am from the Philippines and when I was still a student, I used to be exposed under the sun, pollution and humid weather which all made my skin dry and darker. I tried to use retinol based products but they all only aggrevate damages to my my skin until I saw the product brand of FarmStay and gave a try and I loved it. It made my skin moisturized and supple and it also made my skin free from redness caused by the retinol based products I used before and what is better is that it only took around two weeks for me to see the results..
hi randy i juat sow this cream taged… DisaarThe snail cream,Exelent quality witening moister repair hydra.its net200g and has a golden lid others lavendr lid i want to know weather is good for pimpled and black spots and uneventoned skin,im i South africa and want to know is the product good no skin bleaching or after effects?
I will believe these dumb studies when they’re double blinds conducted across a random sample (sorta random as should have a signif number or eczema, rosacea sufferers etc), published in a well respected peer reviewed journal and replicated successfully by other scientists. I will put snails on my face then, and only then.
I buy mines off the app called Wish for $1 lol cheap but it keeps my face hydrated…..what spend hundreds of dollars
I also bought the snail cream excellent quality whitening moisten repair hydra net 200g I have tried all these goods products but my skin just not react ,I am 47 year old with dark patchy spots,will It help me I feel so much insecure with my face. Please help ,
There is one thing about getting old…er. We all want to leave this world looking young…er. 60 is not the new 20 but it can certainly look nicer these days. I believe that there are certain points that calculate promise and promote prosperity. What might work on one will possibly fail on another. I say give it a try for this is the only way we can know for sure.
So I’m thinking … Not want to be sarcastic but surous …. What if I get some snails and use their mucus? Would that be the same? Grouce but wouldn’t that be 100% real?
I just purchased snail cream from Wish. I have very dry hands and there was an instant difference. I will soon have a surgery scar in the middle of my face from a bcc to be removed. Sort of hoping this will heal the bcc…otherwise hoping for good scar healing.
I hv 1 month using disaar snail cream I what I saw is just wrinkles on my eyes n I hope this wrinkles will be remove in coming weeks
I miss my cream with the direct water I extracted from the snail.and my skin was great.
pls sir i have green vein on my body (chest and other part). i have pimple and stretch mark also doto hard cream i used before, pls sir help , i want a better and white skin… head to toe uniform colour without spot… which cream will i use now. thanks
I am from South Africa,where do I find Disaar Snail Cream?
Which snail facial mask, facial cream and body cream do you recommend in Nigeria. Am a Nigerian please? Am light skinned but my face is darker cause of sun so would just like to maintain for light facial color.
Hi Randy,
I have been using the Disaar Snail Cream , it is amazing. I actually stock up in case the price goes up but i have used it for a while and it has faded my marks away . It smooths ,hydrates and removes acne blemishes but it wont bleach your skin. I love it for applying make up over it- creates a lovely base. if anyone in South Africa wants contact my friend Maggie on 0715178301
regards khrissie
I was thinking of purchasing snail cream my face has got pimples and faded black spots can the snail cream work best??
There’s no proof that it will work
I don’t have acne, I have a perfect skin, can I use snail cream or it’s just for those with skin problems, please help
It won’t hurt but it won’t do much of anything for you either.
I just hear that disaar snail cream had side effects MERCURY is that true?
No. Snail cream does not have mercury in it nor does it work like mercury.
I’ve been using the Cosrx Snail 96 Essence and Snail 92 all-in-one cream for about two weeks now and love them. I can’t attest to any major changes in anything other than hydration. They plump up my skin and soothe when I am dry and irritated. I have dry, sensitive skin and had zero adverse reactions to either. They are lightweight and skin right in. Also inexpensive.
Is it good to use snail products like Disaar snail cream for children above 16 years old?
No, you don’t need them.