Keeping it Together: Snail slime skincare?

Is the secret to glowing skin found in snail slime? Plenty of TikTokers seem to think so.

Hi, I'm Katie Camero, a health and wellness reporter with Paste BN. This week we're featuring an increasingly popular skincare ingredient that just so happens to be mucus secreted from snails. It sounds gross and might seem like a recipe for an acne breakout, but dermatologists say the benefits may include increased hydration, skin barrier protection and even an anti-microbial effect that may combat acne.

"There are quite a few purported benefits, and some of these are borne out, but in relatively small studies," dermatologist Dr. Brooke Jeffy says. "You'll see people putting it on their skin and just immediately it looks very glistening and shiny."

Snail mucin for skincare isn't all that new, first taking off in South Korea, dermatologist Dr. Anthony Rossi says. Now, the phenomenon is starting to make its way to the U.S. and elsewhere as the ingredient gains more attention on social media.

Continue reading to learn about the benefits of snail mucin and whether you should add it to your skincare routine. Then stick around for more content from my team this week.