The skincare industry is always coming out with the next best skincare products promising to give you the best skin of your life. From oils to egg whites, there have been some pretty interesting things on the market. But the latest skincare trend taking the Internet by storm is non-other than snail slime. Yup, you heard that right. Usually, when you think of snails, you think of gross, slimy creatures. But there’s much more to these critters than what meets the eye. This is probably by far one of the weirdest trending skincare products at the moment, but we are so intrigued, we just had to find out what all the hype was about!

Getty Images/AFP/Yoshikazu Tsuno

Snail slime dates back to the 1980s when Chilean farmers noticed how soft their hands were after holding snails. Today the slime has become very popular among Korean beauty products. With the clout this ingredient was making, it of course made its way to the American market. It’s in everything you can think of from sheet masks, creams, and serums. Snail slime is made up of so many properties beneficial for your skin, such as glycoproteins, hyaluronic acid, and glycolic acid, according to board-certified dermatologist, Dr. King. It supports the skin’s barrier by locking in moisture, stimulates collagen production to fight wrinkles, and leaves your skin looking glowy.

There’s no doubt these small creatures come with a big punch. Their slime is a powerhouse of nutrients, and the best part is that it’s all-natural, unlike other beauty products that can be irritating for the skin. Dr. King explains that along with all the other benefits of this slime, it also helps to fight irritation, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties of zinc. So if you are looking to improve your skin and want that glow your skin has been lacking, and you’re not grossed out by the idea, why not give this weird trend a try?