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After hearing so much about snail mucin skin care and its rejuvenating and collagen-boosting benefits, I decided to put it to the test and see whether it's really worth the hype. But be warned: After you read about my experience, you may just be convinced to add the slimy stuff to your routine (plus, it's on sale for Prime Day).
This isn't the first time that snail mucin has been buzzy as a skin care ingredient. K-beauty products have been formulated with snail secretions for decades; even before its first wave of popularity, the ingredient had been used for hydration and healing for centuries. Since it's not some new-to-the-market, yet-to-be-tested fad, I felt more comfortable slathering it all over my face.
And to ease any concerns about the safety of the snails when it comes to extracting the mucin for beauty products, most brands have practices in place that do not harm the snails. Their mucin is excreted as a protective measure when they're under stress, but it's fairly easy to collect. CosRx places snails on a net and allows them to roam about, taking their leftover excrement after they've been removed and are safely back in their regular habitat.
Now that we've got past that frequently asked question, we can get on to my experience. I rounded up some of the top trending snail mucin products from CosRx, Peach Slices, Missha, and Tonymoly and put them all to the test. Here's what happened.
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The first product I tried was the CosRx Advanced Snail All in One Cream because that was the one I'd seen the most buzz about on TikTok. The product definitely lived up to my slimy expectations. It didn't have much of a scent, though, and didn't feel too weird to put on my skin. First, I had to remove the protective cover, which was a little difficult because of the cream's sticky consistency.
I noticed clearer skin.
I had been struggling with several cystic pimples ahead of giving my snail regimen a go, so I was a bit hesitant about trying something new. However, after using these products, I actually think that they had a hand in helping my skin clear up because my breakout subsided after I started on my snail journey. The morning after I first tried the CosRx cream, I noticed a big difference in the size and inflammation of the active pimple I had been dealing with on my jawline. I would have been way more skeptical and considered this a coincidence had I not known about the healing, exfoliating, and moisturizing properties that snail mucin has.
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My skin was dewy and smooth.
I began using the CosRx cream every night, and each morning, without fail, I would wake up to supersmooth skin that I truly haven't experienced with any other product. The best way that I can describe it is that it leaves my skin feeling like velvet. The real litmus test was whether it moisturized the chronically dry skin under my chin—and it did! Unfortunately, it's something that I have to use daily or nightly; when I don't, my skin goes back to feeling the way it had.
In addition to the CosRx cream, I was using the brand's Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream, which has more of a gel-cream consistency and doesn't feel sticky at all. I can't say that I've seen much of a difference from using that, but it's a lovely texture that definitely hydrates my undereyes and wears well under makeup.
It wears well under makeup.
Not only are the snail products I've been using good to apply before bed, but they work just as well during the day and under makeup too. I tried the Peach Slices Snail Rescue All-in-One Oil Free Moisturizer, but it was a little too lightweight for me, so I opted for its Snail Rescue All-in-One Deep Moisture Cream instead. (The oil-free version would be great for someone who has oily skin and likes more of a water-cream texture.) I mixed it with my Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Drops as I always do—with whatever moisturizer I'm using before makeup—and it blended and applied beautifully. There was also no pilling or any other issues while I applied the rest of my makeup over the top. It's also important to note that it has much more of a traditional moisturizer feel and isn't as sticky as the other products. I did still feel the need to wash my hands after, but it wasn't unbearable. There is a bonus for the stickiness, though. I feel like it doubles as a primer and grips onto makeup to keep it in place.
There are options for all skin types.
Similar to how the one moisturizer wasn't for me, there are different formulations according to your skin type and skin concerns. I was switching between the Peach Slices Snail Rescue Blemish Busting Toner for when I felt my skin might be on the verge of a breakout and the CosRx Advanced Snail Radiance Dual Essence when I needed more of a moisturizing and glow boost.
I also tried out the Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Cream, which looked and felt more luxe than the other creams but was priced surprisingly about the same. I specifically liked its gel texture and it had an almost water-break feel once it was rubbed in. It was really cool to see the cream transform and get soaked into the skin almost instantly. My only caveat is that, because it's strongly scented, it's not for people who don't like fragrance in their skin care.
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If you're not ready to trade in your non-snail skin care just yet but want to dip your toe into the trend, I recommend trying a mask. I used the Tonymoly Intense Care Snail Gel Mask. It was a little bit messy to get the two halves of the mask out of the sachet and peeled away from their paper backings, but once I placed them on my skin, it fit well and stayed put for the 30 minutes that I left it on. I'm not much of a sheet-mask girl, but I did like how my skin was left feeling hydrated, plump, and glowy afterward.
I’m going to stick with it.
After using all these snail mucin products, my verdict is: They're really good. When I posted on Instagram that I was testing these types of products, I had a lot of people DM me to ask me what I thought and whether I would recommend it. Now I can honestly say that I would. There's a reason the ingredient has been used for centuries, and I can definitely see it having a permanent spot in my routine.
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