By COSRX INC.
Yes, We love Snail Secretion
Do you know what ingredient is the longest and most loved in COSRX? It's snail secretion.
Why do so many people all over the world like snail secretion, regardless of skin type, environment, gender, age, etc.?
Let's find out what is the charm of snail secretion through this posting.
▶ What is snail secretion?
Snail secretion is secreted by the glands of snails, and it protects the surface of the snail's skin and moisturizes to prevent it from getting dry.
This role of secretion is very important and essential for delicate skin of snails. Snail secretion consists of complex glycoproteins that combine various types of sugar, protein, and amino acid, including water.
In particular, most of them consist of water and also include small amounts of active ingredients, which play a key role in the effects of snail secretion.
[Reference] Acta Cirurgica Brasileira, 2010, 25, 460–66
It is seemingly different, but snail secretion and our skin actually has very similar ingredients.
Just as snail secretion protects the snail's body, our skin is part of the body and also plays a role in protecting the body.
Our skin is subdivided in layers and the inside is filled with various components.
Key components include collagen, elastin, hyaluronic acid, and glycosaminoglycan, which are also found in the snail secretion mentioned above.
In other words, the appearance is very different, but there are many similar ingredients in our skin and snail secretion.
[Reference] Acta Cirurgica Brasileira, 2010, 25, 460–66
Therefore, snail secretion is consistently used as a skin-friendly and beneficial ingredient, and it is considered as the representative ingredient that is safe without irritation.
In addition, it is also easy to use with various ingredients because of its mild ingredient that is not complicated.
▶ All-round Effects of Snail Secretion(Mucin)
1. Skin Renewing (Remodeling) Effect
As getting older, skin cell activity naturally decreases, and early aging is also deeply related to this skin cell activity.
Snail secretion(Mucin) has a skin regenerative effect that accelerates the activity of fibroblast and keratinocyte, which are kinds of skin cells, and quickly fills up with new skin cell.
[Reference] Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2009, 20, 219–222
2. Effects of Improving and Soothing of Damaged Skin
Long-term exposure to ultraviolet rays can damage the skin, and repeated exposure can lead to weakening skin with skin redness and stinging.
Snail secretion(Mucin) calms damaged, roughened, and reddened skin, helping the skin recover again and making it to normalize quickly.
[Reference] Radioprotection, 1999, 23, VII, 34-38
3. Effect of Improving Pigmentation
Exposure to ultraviolet rays is also a major cause of pigmentation. It stimulates melanin cell that is deeply in the skin to make melanin pigment and expose it to the surface of the skin.
Snail secretion(Mucin) has the effect of reducing pigmentation by preventing not to produce melanin pigment from melanin cell.
[Reference] Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 2018, 101, 871–880
4. Skin Protection and Antibacterial Effect
Not only ultraviolet rays but also various harmful substances, bacteria, and viruses outside can have a bad effect to worsen on the skin.
Snail secretion(Mucin) can protect the skin from these harmful factors, and especially its excellent antibacterial effect can protect the skin from external contamination.
[Reference] Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology, 1987, 72, 3, 571-574
5. Improving wrinkle and elasticity
The amount of skin's essential components such as collagen and elastin produced on their own in the skin gradually decreases, and as they gradually decrease, this results in reducing skin elasticity and saggy wrinkled skin.
Snail secretion(Mucin) has effects filling inside skin, improving elasticity, and lessening wrinkle by increasing the amount of collagen and elastin in the skin.
[Reference] Journal of Japanese Cosmetic Science Society, 2015, 39, 1, 1-6
