So my niece likes a bit of snail mucous
It's a much-hyped Korean beauty ingredient, but board-certified dermatologist Dr Natasha Cook explains what you really need for great skin
I have a beautiful niece named Millie. She loves a Korean beauty product known as Snail Mucin.
Now this alarmed me. Why would you want snail snot on your face?
I’ve just done a Midlife Shift interview with dermatologist Dr Natasha Cook, who explains that snail mucous is not a real skin care ingredient.
It’s actually something else entirely … but you’ll have to watch the interview to find out. (Hint, skip to 16 minutes and 17 seconds if you urgently need to know.)
Not only does Natasha explain what the latest research reveals about longevity and ageing, she sorts the BS from the snot.
Now we don’t get to choose our skin genes, but thanks to my mum - who is in her eighties (pictured below) - I have pretty good skin, albeit slightly ruined by spending more than 50 years in the Australian sun.
Millie my niece also has beautiful skin, don’t you think? I hope she puts sunscreen on it every day. Because I really wish I had done that from a much younger age.
FICTION: "Your DNA determines how you age."
FACT: 80% of ageing is determined by how you live, not just genetics.
Dr Cook explains the power of the epigenome — how your lifestyle influences which parts of your DNA are “switched on or off.” Think sleep, food, stress, sun exposure, and movement. Even your parents’ lifestyle at conception can influence your biological destiny.
“We can't keep blaming mum and dad.”
FICTION: “Collagen supplements rebuild your skin.”
FACT: Most collagen powders don’t survive digestion, and evidence of skin improvement is flimsy.
You're better off eating high-quality protein, vitamin C, and anti-inflammatory foods. Collagen production depends on nutrients like vitamin C — not scooping mystery powders into your smoothie.
“Collagen in your supplement doesn't magically go into your skin.”
FICTION: “Anti-aging skincare is all about what you put on your skin.”
FACT: Skin ageing starts within. The best routine starts with food, movement, sleep, and sun protection.
“Your butt skin shows how young your skin really is — because it’s protected from sun and pollution.”
FICTION: “Supplements are the shortcut to longevity.”
FACT: Most of what you need is in your pantry, not a bottle.
From olive oil to green tea to brightly coloured veg, the answers lie in whole foods and good lifestyle (especially staying out of the sun!).
“You can’t bottle balance. The 80/20 rule wins every time.”
FICTION: “Cognitive decline is inevitable with age.”
FACT: The brain ages like the body — use it or lose it.
Keeping your mind sharp means staying curious, staying connected, and resisting the myths that ageing = decline.
“I’ve got 93-year-old patients sharper than some 50-year-olds.”
Here's Dr Natasha Cook’s longevity cheat sheet:
Protect from sun
Prioritise quality sleep
Eat anti-inflammatory foods
Practice time-restricted eating
Maintain muscle mass
Stay curious and connected
Be skeptical of marketing and BS