Yes, it does.
Snail mucin brightens skin mainly due to the glycolic acid in it.
The hyaluronic acid in the mucin also brightens skin – but indirectly (more on this below).
How glycolic acid in snail mucin brightens skin
Snail mucin has glycolic acid. Glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (aha).
I have explained below in 4 steps how alpha hydroxy acids brighten our skin:
The old cells from the top layer of the skin have to fall off regularly and make way for the younger cells. These younger cells travel up to the top layer from the bottom layer of the skin.
Some of these old cells refuse to fall off. These stubborn old cells stick together, form a thin layer and give skin a dull complexion.
An alpha hydroxy acid gently breaks the bonds between these stubborn old cells by giving them a gentle nudge. When the bonds break, and the cells get a gentle nudge, they fall off.
Once the stubborn cells fall off, the younger cells replace them. Younger cells brighten up the skin.
How Hyaluronic acid in snail mucin brightens skin
Hyaluronic acid, one of the ingredients in snail mucin, is a water magnet.
It pulls water molecules from the atmosphere towards itself, hydrating the skin.
In a dry climate, there might not be enough humidity (water vapour = water molecules) in the atmosphere to pull water to the skin. In this case, hyaluronic acid will pull water from the deeper layers of the skin to the top layer of the skin.
Water magnets in skincare products aim to keep the top layer of the skin hydrated. To that end, they either pull water molecules from the atmosphere (the best scenario) or from the deeper layers of the skin.
It is always important to top off any skincare product rich in water magnets with an occlusive or at least an emollient. Occlusives and emollients include mineral oil, shea butter, silicon derivates, etc. These form a layer on the top of the skin and prevent the water in the top layer of the skin from evaporating into the atmosphere.
Hydrated skin is soft and plump. Dehydrated skin is dull and tight.
One of the biggest downfalls of dehydrated skin is a decrease in cellular turnover. Low cellular turnover basically means some of the old cells that are supposed to fall off from the top layer of skin and make way for the younger cells don’t fall off. This results in dull-looking skin.
Hydrated skin has a good cellular turnover rate. Hyaluronic acid helps skin stay hydrated, keeps skin soft and plump, and thus adds a glow.
A quick reminder: It is vital you top off snail mucin products with a good thick cream.
A few key limitations to remember
Though snail mucin can brighten our skin with the help of glycolic acid, an exfoliating ingredient, snail mucin is not an exfoliating skincare product.
In an exfoliating skincare product, the primary ingredient is an exfoliating ingredient.
In snail mucin, the primary ingredient is not an exfoliating ingredient—glycolic acid is one of its many exfoliating ingredients.
Snail mucin’s brightening effect on the skin will be much less than that of an exfoliating skincare product.
Snail mucin is not the answer if you are after a skin-brightening product.
Snail mucin is not the answer if you are after an exfoliating product.
If you are after a product that hydrates, brightens, and heals—something that does all three but doesn’t specialise in any of them—snail mucin can help.
If you are allergic to seafood, avoid snail mucin skincare products.