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Helix aspersa muller glycoconjugates may sound like something Mary Poppins would say, but the real definition is simple: snail slime. More specifically, this is the snail slime that is the main ingredient in the natural cosmetic aptly named “snail cream.” Now, slime probably is the last thing you’d want to put on your skin, but snail cream is actually used as a beauty aid and is thought to reduce inflammation and redness, stimulate skin regeneration, and lock moisture into the skin.

snails creamThe technical name for snail slime is “Helix Aspersa Müller Glycoconjugates.” It’s described as a thick fluid gathered by stimulating live snails. (Sounds like a job Sarah Bellum would enjoy.) Chemically speaking, snail slime is a complex mixture of proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans, glycoprotein enzymes, hyaluronic acid, copper peptides, antimicrobial peptides and trace elements including copper, zinc, and iron.