From vampire facials to mud masks, the skincare world has expanded in every direction. The latest develop is something not many would have thought of when thinking about building their skincare routine – snail secretion! Caracol is a natural skincare brand that uses snail secretion as its key ingredient. Backed by years of tradition, this Chilean-based family-owned skincare brand has combined Chilean ancient medicine with modern technology to bring this special ingredient to the forefront of skincare.

KDHamptons has all of the details below…

Founded in 2006, Caracol Natural Skincare is a Chilean family-owned company, which has been present in the market for 17 years. It was founded by Verónica Silva with her children, Verónica Allendes and Andres Allendes who were later joined by Veronica Silva’s grandchildren, Santiago Larrain and Isidora Larrain. Seventeen years later these three generations work together, contributing each with their talents and extensive knowledge. The mother-daughter-granddaughter team have managed to captivate a prosperous and growing market in Chile. Their passion is to create, develop and produce high-quality, natural, conscious and environmentally friendly cosmetics in Chile.

The secret ingredient to their product? A filtered extract of snail slime. In addition to snail secretion, their formulas use medicinal herbs, fruit extracts, leaves, and seeds, all of which have ancestral popularity for their healing and cosmetic powers, used for hundreds of years by the Chilean indigenous peoples.

The use of snail secretion (also known as snail mucin) in cosmetics can be traced back to ancient Greece, where Hippocrates reportedly prescribed crushed snails for skin inflammation. In the 20th century, snail farmers in Chile noticed that their hands became softer and smoother after handling snails, which led to the development of snail-based creams for hand care. nOne of the most interesting aspects of snail secretion is its ability to improve skin health in multiple ways. Snail secretion is a complex mixture of compounds, including hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid, allantoin, antioxidants, and peptides, that can work together to provide a range of benefits for the skin. An added bonus to the use of snail secretion is it the relatively low-impact agricultural farming practice that doesn’t require large amounts of water or land, making it an environmentally friendly option.

Below are some of the main benefits of snail secretion;

Hydration: Snail secretion contains hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid, and allantoin, which help to hydrate and moisturize the skin. This can help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and leave the skin looking plump and supple.

Anti-aging: Snail secretion contains antioxidants, peptides, and other compounds that can help to reduce the signs of aging. It may help to improve skin elasticity, reduce the appearance of dark spots, and improve skin texture.

Healing: Allantoin, a compound found in snail secretion, has been shown to have wound-healing properties. It may help to reduce inflammation, speed up the healing process, and reduce the risk of scarring.

Soothing: Snail secretion has a soothing effect on the skin, which can help to reduce redness and irritation. This makes it particularly beneficial for people with sensitive skin.

Brightening: Snail secretion contains glycolic acid, which can help to brighten the skin and reduce the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation.

A skincare line that prevents aging, brightens, heals, hydrates and sooth…what more could you look for? To add some snail secretion products to your skincare line visit HERE

Images: Caracol

Written by Nicole Vawter