Sea Moss and snail mucin

​Trendy skincare ingredients are always going to change. Some are better than others and some can be dismissed. This ever-changing industry does not mean that you need that latest and greatest ingredient for your skin. You would never have consistency. If the ingredient is extra special and really skin-changing, then it might be worth it. Again, that is why it’s great to have an esthetician. They can help you navigate through it all.
So let’s talk about 2 ingredients that I have been hearing about a lot lately. Snail Mucin and Sea Moss. Do you need to incorporate these into your skincare routine?
 
Sea Moss
What is it? It’s an Irish red seaweed that grows on the Atlantic shoreline of Ireland.
What does it do? Hydrates and is an antioxidant.
Benefits: Hydrates the skin and may help reduce the severity of acne and inflammation.
Who should use it? Any skin type can but it’s great for those with dry skin and/or acne.
How often is it used? It’s pretty gentle so it can be used everyday, but usually it is used about 2-4 times a week.
How should it be used? It’s best used in a leave-on product like a moisturizer or serum. Not great in a cleanser since it’s just washed off the skin.
 
Sea moss is a type of algae that is found in deep water and is subjected to extreme conditions. It can survive those conditions because it accumulates several metabolites.
It’s non-pore clogging rich in sulfur, is antibacterial, antiviral and has antimicrobial functions, which all of this makes sea moss a powerful skincare ingredient. The high sulfur content also can decrease excess production of oil in the skin. So together with the antibacterial effect on p. acne bacteria, it can really help people.
 
It also contains 15 of the 18 essential elements that make up the human body. Calcium, sulfur, magnesium, potassium, vitamin A and vitamin K…just to name a few. These ingredients help reduce wrinkles and they help hydrate the skin. Sea moss also contains omega 3 fatty acids. That and vitamin A are essential to healthy skin and to control inflammation, so since most adverse skin reactions are inflammatory, this just might be why people are excited about this one.
 
The only negative side effect that could possibly happen is mild skin irritation. That is why it’s so important to always sample a product first.
 
Snail Mucin
Hearing about what snail mucin is might just be why you don’t want to use it!
The famous doctor Hippocrates reportedly wrote about snail mucus back in ancient Greece. And by the 19th century, snails were being touted as a way to get smooth skin and as a remedy for problems ranging from hernias to chest diseases to tuberculosis. 
 
What is it? A specific type of mucus that snails produce when they are stressed.
Benefits: Anti-aging properties- contains glycolic acid; Even skin tone- contains copper peptides (you know I love peptides). Copper peptides also help normalize bacteria levels, which helps limit breakouts in acne-prone skin; Hydration- comes from allantoin and hyaluronic acid; Wound healing- contains antimicrobial peptides.
 
Most experts think that snail mucin is safe and gentle for the skin, but there also has not been a lot of research to really know all the side effects and how the beneficial this actually is for the skin.
 
Would you use snail mucin on your skin? What about sea moss?