Face cream with freeze-dried snail mucin and green propolis

2025-12-08 | Brazilian Green Propolis, News, Snail Slime Extract

Face cream with freeze-dried snail mucin and Brazilian green propolis:
a technical and marketing concept for professionals

A face cream based on freeze-dried snail mucin and Brazilian green propolis ticks both the technical boxes (genuine active interest) and the marketing boxes (storytelling, differentiation, natural positioning). For an OEM/contract manufacturer or a brand, it’s a concept that makes it possible to move beyond the classic “hyaluronic acid / vitamin C” duo while remaining credible, dermo-oriented and very on-trend.

Two high value-added raw materials

1.1. Freeze-dried snail mucin: regenerating and hydrating matrix

In cosmetics, we generally work with the INCI Snail Secretion Filtrate, most often derived from Helix aspersa Müller.

The literature describes a composition rich in:

  • glycoproteins / mucins

  • hyaluronic acid and other glycosaminoglycans

  • allantoin

  • glycolic acid

  • collagen, elastin, peptides, antimicrobial peptides

  • various antioxidants

These components give snail mucin particularly interesting properties for a face cream:

  • Hydration & skin barrier: hyaluronic acid and mucopolysaccharides improve water-retention capacity and support barrier function.

  • Regenerating effect: allantoin stimulates cell proliferation and tissue repair; peptides and glycoproteins promote fibroblast activity and collagen synthesis.

  • Smoothing / improved skin texture: naturally low levels of glycolic acid provide very gentle exfoliation, compatible with daily use.

  • Global anti-ageing: several reviews and clinical studies report reduced wrinkle depth and improved hydration and elasticity after a few weeks of topical use.

Using a freeze-dried form is particularly relevant for laboratories:

  • better microbiological and chemical stability than liquid extracts

  • possibility of standardizing dry matter content (e.g. 95–98%) and certain markers (allantoin, glycolic acid)

  • great flexibility in dosage during formulation, with reconstitution in the aqueous phase at typical equivalents of 2–5% of “active” Snail Secretion Filtrate

For a contract manufacturer, this is a relatively easy active to incorporate into an O/W emulsion (water-phase soluble), with a “high-tech natural” positioning that is very easy to defend with brands.

1.2. Brazilian green propolis: antioxidant and anti-inflammatory shield

Brazilian green propolis is obtained mainly from Baccharis dracunculifolia. It differs from other types of propolis by a profile rich in:

  • flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol, etc.)

  • phenolic acids (caffeic, ferulic, etc.)

  • Artepillin C and CAPE (Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester), considered markers of this variety

Work on propolis (including several studies focused on green propolis) highlights:

  • strong antioxidant power: scavenging free radicals, protection against oxidative stress, relevance in the prevention of skin ageing

  • anti-inflammatory activity: modulation of pro-inflammatory pathways, reduction of mediators and tissue oedema

  • antimicrobial effect: activity on numerous bacteria and yeasts, useful for blemish-prone or compromised skin

  • support for healing/repair: accelerated re-epithelialisation and better organization of collagen fibres

Studies on photoprotective emulsions enriched with green propolis extract also show increased antioxidant activity, improved photostability of organic filters and limited skin penetration, which is interesting from a safety standpoint.

For formulators, green propolis is most often available as hydro-glycolic or hydro-alcoholic extracts standardized in polyphenols / Artepillin C, with INCI-type Propolis Extract. It brings colour, a characteristic resinous scent and an active profile compatible with an “antioxidant & soothing shield” positioning.

Interest of a face cream: physiological coherence and marketing relevance

2.1. Physiological rationale: repair, hydrate, protect

From a purely technical point of view, combining freeze-dried snail mucin + green propolis makes perfect sense in a face cream:

  • Hydration & smoothing (snail)

    • mucopolysaccharides + HA: increased epidermal hydration and improved barrier function

    • low-dose glycolic acid: gentle cell renewal, improved skin texture

  • Repair & support of dermal matrix (snail + propolis)

    • allantoin, peptides, collagen: support for wound healing and neo-synthesis of collagen

    • propolis: complementary pro-repair effect and better organization of collagen fibres in healing models

  • Antioxidant & anti-inflammatory protection (propolis)

    • strong free-radical scavenging activity (polyphenols, Artepillin C) useful against pollution, UV and blue light

    • reduction of low-grade inflammation (micro-redness, discomfort, skin that feels hot)

The result is a very clear 3-in-1 profile for a face cream: hydrate, repair, protect, with a high level of naturalness and solid scientific backing behind the claims.

2.2. Ideal galenics to highlight the actives

A face cream remains the most universal format:

  • daily use (maximizing exposure to the actives)

  • immediate sensorial acceptability

  • compatibility with long routines such as K-beauty (serum + cream) or, conversely, with a minimalist approach

From a formulation point of view:

  • freeze-dried snail mucin is easily rehydrated in the aqueous phase (water/glycerin premix)

  • green propolis in hydro-glycolic extract form can be incorporated into the aqueous phase or added post-emulsion, depending on the supplier

  • a light O/W emulsion can target both normal to combination skin and sensitized skin

A contract manufacturer can therefore offer a common base (gentle emulsion, pH 5–5.5, “green-friendly” preservatives, non-ethoxylated emulsifiers), which can be declined into “day” versions (more fluid texture, protection-focused) and “night” versions (richer texture, repair-focused).

Marketing side: a highly attractive concept for brands

3.1. Signature ingredients & storytelling

In the B2C world, snail mucin and propolis are already familiar:

  • snail mucin is firmly established in K-beauty and widely praised for hydration and anti-ageing

  • propolis is strongly associated with apitherapy and “health”, which reassures consumers about the natural and functional character of the ingredient

For a brand, this opens the door to rich storytelling:

  • “Regenerating biomimicry” around snail mucin

  • “The hive’s shield” around green propolis

  • emphasis on origins (controlled snail farms, propolis harvested in natural areas of Brazil, standardization in Artepillin C)

3.2. Differentiation in a saturated market

Most “natural” creams revolve around the same actives: vegetable oils, aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, niacinamide…

Offering a cream combining freeze-dried snail mucin + green propolis makes it possible:

  • to stand out without losing the reassuring aspect (ingredients already known to the general public)

  • to justify a higher price positioning (differentiating actives + specific sourcing)

  • to easily create a complete range (face cream, serum, eye contour, overnight mask) built on the same active base

For a contract manufacturer, this is an excellent ready-to-market range concept to pitch to brands: a “sensitive / stressed urban skin: Snail & Green Propolis Repair” platform, with variations by skin type (combination, dry, reactive).

Key points for formulators and contract manufacturers

4.1. Technical management of the actives

Freeze-dried snail mucin

  • Solubility: aqueous phase, possible pre-dissolution in water/glycerol

  • Dosage: aim for an equivalent of 2–5% of active Snail Secretion Filtrate depending on supplier standardization (practically, a few tenths of a percent of freeze-dried powder)

  • Constraints:

    • avoid very acidic pH (< 4) if protein matrix content is high

    • monitor electrolyte load and harsh surfactants

Brazilian green propolis

  • Forms: hydro-glycolic, hydro-alcoholic or glycerin-based extracts, sometimes standardized in % polyphenols / Artepillin C

  • Dosage: 0.2–1.0% of extract depending on active content and skin tolerance

  • Constraints:

    • strong colour and odour: must be anticipated in the fragrance brief

    • potential sensitization in people allergic to bee products → clear labelling required and patch testing included in the safety plan

4.2. Example formula architecture

For a universal face care product:

  • Aqueous phase

    • purified water ± floral waters

    • humectants: glycerin, sorbitol or butylene glycol

    • rehydrated freeze-dried snail mucin

    • green propolis extract (if hydrophilic)

  • Oil phase

    • light vegetable oils (sesame, jojoba, squalane, etc.)

    • emollient esters for slip (or natural alternatives)

  • Emulsifiers / texture agents

    • mild O/W systems, PEG-free if targeting “clean” positioning

    • natural gums (xanthan, acacia) for stabilization and body

  • Compatible additional actives

    • niacinamide at low level (2–3%) for tone uniformity

    • vitamin E derivatives to reinforce the antioxidant axis

    • gentle prebiotics if the brand wants a microbiome-focused claim

  • pH: 5.0–5.5, a good compromise for tolerance and stability.

Regulatory, sourcing and B2B claim considerations

Under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, both ingredients can be used in cosmetics, provided that:

  • a robust raw material dossier is available (composition, impurities, heavy metals, pesticides – critical for green propolis)

  • a toxicological dossier is integrated into the CPSR, with:

    • very favourable history of use

    • careful attention to the allergenic potential of propolis

    • consideration of the animal origin of the mucin (communication “non-vegan”)

Brands are highly attentive to:

  • animal welfare: choosing a mucin supplier able to document non-lethal collection from dedicated snail farms, with a clear ethical charter

  • sustainability of the propolis supply chain: selecting Brazilian producers committed to biodiversity, hive traceability and control of agricultural contaminants

For a contract manufacturer, this is a key point: integrating these requirements at the supplier brief stage makes it possible to later offer brands ready-to-use marketing files (storytelling + evidence).

Conclusion

For cosmetic professionals or contract manufacturers, a face cream based on freeze-dried snail mucin and Brazilian green propolis is far more than just a trendy concept:

  • it relies on well-documented actives, rich in mucopolysaccharides, allantoin, glycolic acid, polyphenols and Artepillin C

  • it offers strong physiological coherence (hydrate, repair, protect, soothe)

  • it enables a highly differentiating marketing positioning, perfectly aligned with current expectations: naturalness, visible efficacy, powerful storytelling

For a contract manufacturer, it is an excellent foundation for developing a modular, high value-added face care platform that can be proposed to different brands and easily adapted in terms of texture, fragrance and claimed level of naturalness.