Snail farm owner, Kieran Corley, based in the Bragan Mountains of County Monaghan tells us how he developed a healing range of skincare products to help users ditch dermatitis and purge psoriasis.
Where did the idea to farm snails come from?
On the journey home from work one day, I heard a story about snail farming on the radio, which captured my attention. I learned that Ireland’s damp climate was perfect for snails. Over lockdown I did some research and decided to give it a go, the plan initially being to produce edible snails, known as escargot, for export.
How did you go from farming snails for food to making skincare products?
I had a number of scars on my arms from a car accident many years ago and noticed they’d become less red and inflamed – in fact, they’re barely noticeable now. The only thing I’d been doing differently was handling the snails. So, I began learning more about snail mucin to join the dots and discovered that using snail slime to heal skin conditions was not new. In fact, the practice dates back 2500 years to Hippocrates – the father of modern medicine and author of the Hippocratic Oath that doctors still take today. Following a two-year search to secure a suitable manufacturing partner, we were eventually able to launch our first product in the summer of 2022.
Which skin conditions does snail mucin treat and what makes it so effective?
Snail mucin treats many skin conditions including eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, irritated scalp, nappy rash, stretch marks, scars, and daily issues like dry hands. Such conditions are often treated with steroid creams which do long-term damage to the skin if use is prolonged, therefore snail mucin is seen as a more natural and safer alternative. It’s also used heavily in the cosmetic skincare market due to its ability to hydrate and rejuvenate skin and reduce signs of ageing, so it can also form part of your daily skincare routine.
What makes snail mucin so effective for our skin is its unique composition of hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid, allantoin, proteins, peptides, antioxidants, and antimicrobial properties. Without getting too technical, these ingredients hydrate, exfoliate, heal, firm and protect skin, making it an exceptional ingredient for skincare products.
The FAQs section on our website has some useful info – https://braganskincare.com/faqs/
So you can use the product regularly as part of your skin routine?
Yes, some creams in our range, are used daily, such as cleansers, toners, moisturisers, as well as anti-aging creams.
What is your most popular product?
Our most popular product is our Atopic cream as it’s used to treat a multitude of conditions from minor skin imperfections to more troublesome cases of dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis which can have a major impact on the sufferer’s self-confidence. We’ve had hundreds of positive testimonials about its effectiveness, and lots of returning customers.
Many people may be squeamish about using slug slime. How do you convince them otherwise?
Our testimonials speak for themselves. We have had such positive feedback from many who have tried the products. The benefits of snail mucin have also been researched and documented in reputable publications including The Journal of Integrative Dermatology. Reviews can be found at: https://braganskincare.com/snail-cream-reviews/
Do you plan to develop any new products in the future?
Yes, due to customer demand we are launching two new products over the coming months – a fragrance free conditioner and shower gel. *Anyone with a snail allergy or a seashell allergy should not use these products.
Where can we find out more?
There is a wealth of information on our website: www.braganskincare.com and in particular on our blog. Email us on braganskincare@gmail.com with any questions, or join us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn or YouTube. We’ll also be exhibiting at the upcoming Balmoral Show in May if you prefer to chat face-to-face.
Readers can also bag themselves a bargain by visiting our website and using the discount code UT10 to get 10% off their first purchase.
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