People do lots of strange things in the name of beauty, from using snake venom gel eye patches to applying snail mucin to skin. Slathering snail slime on our faces might sound strange, but snail mucin is naturally packed with hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid and peptides, which are key to unlocking a hydrated and glowing complexion.

Snail mucin has been a trending skin care ingredient in South Korea for a while, and it’s made its way to the Western market too. Is putting snail slime on our faces really worth it?

To get the answer, read on to see whether the COSRX Snail Trial Kit “snailed” it in my daily skin care routine. The kit includes a gel cleanser, essence, eye cream and cream in travel sizes.

Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser

What it claims:

Formulated with snail mucin and 10,000ppm of snail secretion filtrate to hydrate and regenerate skin, this cleanser effectively removes impurities and creates a smoother complexion. The hypoallergenic, ultra-gentle gel formula also protects the skin barrier. It’s suitable for those with sensitive skin prone to irritation or redness.

My take:

The first thing I noticed when applying the Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser was the scent. Out of the four products from the kit, this was the only one that gave off a distinct lemon scent.

The gel cleanser comes in a clear, thick, slimy and gooey texture. It gradually lathers up when mixed with water, cleansing and hydrating my face without stripping it of moisture.

Having tried out many facial cleansers, I’d say I’ve had better ones. It’s good enough as a second-step cleanser, but I’m really not a fan of fragranced cleansers. I also think the refreshing feel after cleansing could have lasted longer. This is my least favorite from the kit, but still worth a try.

Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence

What it claims:

Containing as much as 96% snail mucin concentrate, this essence provides intense moisture to heal damage and rejuvenate skin from within.

My take:

I looked forward to this essence the most out of the four products, and it indeed turned out to be my favorite. I’d never thought much about incorporating essence into my routine – if I have a good toner, why would I need an additional step? But this essence proves that my skin needs the extra nourishment it provides.

Like the gel cleanser, the essence comes in a transparent liquid form, just not as thick. It feels exactly how I’d imagine purified snail slime would be: smooth, dense and slippery. I used it at night after applying toner and before serums. I was a little apprehensive about its texture, but it’s really lightweight and spreads easily across the face without feeling heavy. In fact, it’s exceptionally refreshing.

After using it for a few weeks, I could see my skin getting plumper and naturally glowing from within. It also layers well with the other products that I use. The Power Essence really lives up to my expectations by healing and clarifying my skin, especially from acne scars and dark spots in a considerably short period of time. My overall complexion doesn’t look as dull as it was before.

Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream

What it claims:

Multifunctional eye cream moisturizes, nourishes and rejuvenates the delicate eye area. It contains snail secretion filtrate and peptide to restore skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of fine lines, as well as niacinamide to brighten dark circles. The lightweight, hydrating and fast-absorbing formula is suitable for all skin types.

My take:

I’ve been searching for a good eye cream for a while, ideally one with no artificial fragrances. This Snail Peptide Eye Cream is exactly what I want. COSRX made the right choice excluding fragrances and essential oils from the formula, as I don’t have to worry whether it’d irritate my eye area.

I expected the eye cream to feel sticky due to its gooey consistency, but it didn’t feel slimy at all. It comes in a light, creamy texture that spreads nicely and absorbs into my skin instantly. The formula is lightweight but moisturizing. I noticed that my eyes looked brighter and more awake the following day. I also tried applying this before makeup in the morning, and it performed well under makeup – It didn’t add any greasiness or shininess. 

It may require more prolonged use to see its skin-strengthening and anti-wrinkle benefits. Nonetheless, I think this eye cream is ideal for preventing the formation of fine lines, if not helping to reduce existing ones.

Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream

What it claims:

Lightweight cream is enriched with 92% snail secretion filtrate that drenches skin with moisture to promote healing without feeling sticky. Increased moisture levels lead to less fine lines and wrinkles and a healthier, younger look. Use it at the last step of skin care regimen.

My take:

Saving the best for last, I’ve heard nothing but great things about COSRX’s Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream. Much like the Power Essence, the cream nourishes, moisturizes and protects skin, the same way snail secretion protects the skin of snails. 

Out of all four products in the kit, the Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream has the most obviously stringy texture – just like mozzarella cheese on pizza. It took me a while to get used to its consistency. Though it felt slimy at first, my skin just drank it up like water fairly quickly.

After using it consistently for a few weeks, I realized that I just need the tiniest amount of the product for visible results. I love this cream because nothing’s more impressive than a cream that locks in moisture. It’s lightweight enough to apply under makeup, but still able to keep skin moisturized in the dry winter.

This cream does a great job in repairing and healing skin. I highly recommend it if you want to prevent acne and diminish scars. It leaves your skin glowing!

Final Verdict

At first I was skeptical about putting snail mucin on my skin, but I changed my tune after using the kit for a few weeks. As someone with combination and relatively dry skin, I’m amazed by this snail mucin line, especially the essence and face cream. I haven’t been using essences in my skin care routine but after seeing the results, I welcome this one.

All four products have very short lists of nice ingredients. I’ve already added both the essence and face cream into my shopping cart. 

It’s easy to adapt COSRX’s All About Snail Trial Kit into my skin care routine, and I’m really pleased at the subtle but visible improvements on my skin. The products go on skin smoothly, absorb well, and help to improve acne scars and enlarged pores. No wonder reviewers can’t keep their puns to themselves – this kit really “snailed it”!