Traditional methods of collecting snail Mucin were cruel – the snails were essentially soaked in pots of water with salt, vinegar or other chemicals to force them to excrete Mucin. Thankfully, the methods for collecting snail Mucin have changed considerably!
These days, there is a range of cruelty-free methods of snail production and slime extraction. Study shows that the quality of the Mucin itself depends on breeders keeping good environmental conditions for their snails. As a result, breeders themselves control what the snails eat, how they are kept and how the slime is extracted. This also helps in confirming snail Mucin products as cruelty-free.
Because snail Mucin products are used topically, only edible snails are used in skin care products. The popular edible snail species are the Roman snail (Helix pomatia), the common ingredient of the snail, and its close relative the garden snail or the baby gray (Helix aspersa).
The manufacturer of Cosrx uses another edible species called the giant African snail (Achatina fulica). They are larger, with shells up to four inches in diameter, and their mucin has been tested to be safe for topical use. These snails are grown in captivity because they are more hygienic than those found in the wild.
How is snail mucin collected?
The snails are placed on a mesh net in a dark and calm room. As nocturnal creatures, snails prefer this environment. For about 30 minutes, the snails are left alone to roam the net freely, leaving mucin in their trails.
Throughout the process, no external stress is applied to the snails or the mesh to force the production of mucin. This is due to two reasons. First, animal testing is illegal in Korea, and animal abuse is a huge topic that has sparked much controversy. Second, optimal mucin production occurs when snails are well rested and comfortable in their habitat, which is why the manufacturer does their best to ensure that snails are healthy and comfortable.
After 30 minutes, the snails are brought back to their homes to rest and regain energy while the mucin is collected and processed for cosmetic purposes. The collected mucin is then treated to properly stabilize the product and make it suitable for cosmetic use.
No snails are harmed in the process
The products from SnailyLove are cruelty-free. No snails are harmed.