Snail Slime FAQ

If you're passionate about skincare, you've likely heard of snail slime . This extraordinary ingredient has attracted a lot of interest in recent years, thanks to studies demonstrating its benefits for skin.

But what's so special about snail slime, and how can it be used in your beauty routine? Let's find out together with answers to frequently asked questions!

1. What exactly is snail slime?

Snail slime is a viscous substance produced by snails during movement to protect their skin. It is rich in nutrients and beneficial compounds that make it a valuable ingredient in cosmetics.

2. What are its benefits for the skin?

Snail slime is known for its hydrating, regenerating, and soothing properties. Its combination of active ingredients restores the balance of the skin barrier by promoting epidermal turnover, stimulating collagen and elastin production, improving the appearance of fine lines and sagging skin. It has a powerful hydrating and soothing effect, proving invaluable even for young and sensitive skin.

It gently promotes cell turnover, allowing greater brightness to the face and counteracting skin discolorations.

3. Why is snail slime suitable for all skin types?

We always like to think of uniqueness, both as living beings and in the things we use, but snail slime is truly an ingredient suitable for all skin types. It contains numerous active ingredients that prove invaluable for combination and acne-prone skin, as they have sebum-regulating and rebalancing properties, as well as antioxidant and anti-aging properties. Snail slime preserves skin hydration for a long time, thus helping even the driest and most dehydrated skin.

4. Is snail slime always the same in every cosmetic brand?

The method of rearing the snails and extracting the slime itself significantly affects its quality, which is why not all cosmetic products containing snail slime are the same . Producing snail slime directly ensures true quality control of the ingredient, as well as maintaining an ethical and cruelty-free approach throughout the entire farming and extraction process.

The various snail slime cosmetic brands can produce their products through direct production (by personally raising the snails) or through contract manufacturing (using slime from other farms).

Furthermore, the complete formulation of the cosmetic product is distinguished by the unique composition of the selected ingredients, used together with snail slime .

5. Can snail slime cosmetics be used in summer?

Yes, it is always possible to use cosmetics containing snail slime even during the summer. As with any other cosmetic product, the important thing is to remember to use sunscreen!

Be sure to use products containing snail slime along with adequate sunscreen. Although snail slime boasts protective benefits, it does not provide sun protection, so always apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF before exposing your skin to the sun.

Demetra cosmetics formulated with Aloe Barbadensis and Shea Butter help soothe reddened skin and are excellent as after-sun products as they restore the epidermal moisture content.

6. Are there any contraindications to using snail slime?

Snail slime has no contraindications . It's a safe, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing product for topical use. However, to be on the safe side, we recommend testing the product before use for those with sensitive or hyperreactive skin.

Demetra is Nickel tested and ISPE certified (Dermatologically and Microbiologically)

7.How is snail slime found in cosmetics determined?

The quantity of snail slime in Demetra cosmetics is established as a percentage of the total amount of active ingredients contained in the cosmetic formulation.

To properly evaluate commercial products, we always recommend checking their INCI, and above all, that it is correct and not misleading.

8. Why is water first in the INCI of Demetra face cream?

The INCI present in each cosmetic product establishes a quantitative and descriptive scale of the ingredients that make up the cosmetic. In the case of products such as the Face Serum or the Multi-Active Drops, * Snail secretion filtrate (Snail Slime) is present as the first ingredient, while in the case of creams (Face Cream and Eye Contour) the snail slime will be present in second place since the chemical formulation to create Water-Oil emulsions requires the necessary use of water in first place.

There function of water in cosmetics is that of solvent , that is, it dissolves many of the ingredients present in the formulation, allowing the active ingredients to penetrate deeply into the skin .

Furthermore, the superficial layer of the skin is made up of a hydrolipidic film which, to be penetrated, requires emulsions composed of a lipophilic and a hydrophilic part. The presence of water in a cosmetic formulation not only allows the hydrophilic part to bind to it, but also allows the emulsion to remain stable , especially in the presence of oils.

9. Is snail slime really effective?

The beneficial properties of snail slime have been known since ancient times, while its discovery in the cosmetic field dates back to the 1980s. Over the years, numerous scientific studies have been conducted attesting to its beneficial properties for topical use. We share some of these with you:

• In vitro cell and molecular study on snail secretion mechanism : A. Brieva, N. Philips, R. Tejedor, A. Guerrero, JP Pivel, JL Alonso-Lebrero and S. Gonzalez. Molecular Basis for the Regenerative Properties of a Secretion of the Mollusk Cryptomphalus aspersa. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology 2008 , 21 , 15–22.

• Randomized controlled trial using 8% and 40% serum daily on 25 subjects with moderate to severely photodamaged facial skin : SG Fabi, JL Cohen, JD Peterson, MG Kiripolsky and MP Goldman. The effects of filtrate of the secretion of the Cryptomphalus aspersa on photoaged skin. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology 2013 , 12 , 453-457.

• Double-blind randomized controlled study on 20 subjects with atopic dermatitis : MJ Oh, SM Park and HT Kim. The Effects of Snail Secretion Filtrate on the damaged skin barrier's recovery of the Atopic dermatitis. The Journal of Korean Oriental Medical Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology 2010, 23, 138-153.