Rating: 5/5
Quick verdict: My skin has been loving the COSRX snail mucin essence, which offers deep hydration without any stickiness. It’s perfect for winter. How this works in hot and humid weather remains to be seen.
Read on for an in-depth review.
Snail mucin is essentially snail slime. An excretion that is “made up of properties like glycoproteins, hyaluronic acid and glycolic acid, all of which have long-documented benefits for the skin,” as per dermatologist Hadley King, quoted in womenshealthmag.com.
Korean skincare is forever innovating, and doesn’t shy away from embracing new, even unconventional ingredients. Snail mucin has found a lot of love in K-Beauty circles. I’ve been late to the party, as I often am (but who cares – the party is still on!), and the snail mucin power essence from COSRX is my first pick in this category.
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
This product claims to:
- Improve the skin barrier
- Hydrate it
- Improve the elasticity of the skin
- Not clog the pores doing all of the above
Deep hydration is one of the first things I noticed this product offers. It’s as if quenching the thirst of my often dehydrated skin. It’s perfect for winter if your skin is oily. I’d, however, have to wait until summer to see how it holds up in heat and humidity.
Another thing you will notice right away is that your skin feels plump. It’s the hyaluronic acid in the mucin, perhaps. But the claims about hydration and elasticity are well-founded.
Just two pumps of this essence are enough to hydrate your entire face and neck. (Those with drier skin might need more.) I use this in the morning and in the evening, after washing my face with Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser and toning with I’m From Rice Toner. True to its name, the texture is slimy. But the product glides on pretty smooth and is immediately absorbed by the skin. It doesn’t feel sticky afterwards, and your base looks like it’s ready for the skincare that will follow.
Final verdict
If you’re looking for a serum or an essence that hydrates whilst also repairing the skin barrier, you will love this product. If you’ve been exfoliating on a regular basis, this will help soothe the skin, and because it sinks deep into the skin, it’s a great option for those faced with peeling/flakey/crepey skin in between exfoliation days/nights. It is reasonably priced at AU$27.40, considering that a bottle will last you at least a few months. (Right now, it’s on sale for only $17.70 on lilabeauty.com.au – which is a steal!)
There’s not much to think here, go ahead and give this product a try. I don’t think you’ll regret it; in fact, this might end up becoming your favourite serum, as it has mine.
