Intrigued to see whether it lived up to the hype, writer Charlotte Smith decided to try a beauty product containing ‘snail slime’ for two weeks, and once she got over one particular issue, she says it’s the best thing she’s ever done for her skin
‘Snail slime’ is proving to be a beauty trend that isn’t going away – but it’s not for everyone.
Skincare that contains ‘snail slime’ might sound a little scary at first, but apparently the clever ingredient is a Korean beauty favourite, thanks to its restorative and anti-ageing properties. Also known as snail mucin, it has been around in the beauty industry for a while, and is also said to have moisturising and protective qualities.
So is it worth getting over the thought of applying ‘snail slime’ to your skin to reap the benefits? And is it as good as the fans would have you believe? Charlotte Smith, writer at Wales Online, has been applying the ‘slime’ onto her face for two weeks – and despite having to overcome one issue, the texture, she now says it’s the “best thing” she’s ever done for her skin.
Having done some research, Charlotte decided to purchase the bestselling COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, available on Amazon for just £11.28, down from £21.99. According to the description, the product is formulated with “96% Snail Secretion Filtrate” which “protects the skin from dryness and ageing by repairing the skin’s moisture”. It also claims to improve your skin’s vitality by reducing dullness, redness and breakouts. You can read Charlotte’s thoughts below.
As I suffer from dry, sensitive skin, prone to the occasional breakout, I was quick to give it a go. The first thing I noticed was the texture, it felt pretty weird on my fingers and ‘stringy’. But, I suppose, that is because it is mostly made from snail mucin, so a consistency you’d expect. It is free from fragrance too, so it doesn’t smell of anything, which I prefer to be honest.
After just one week of using it every night before bed, I noticed my skin felt much smoother and any little bumps were significantly flatter. By the end of week two, I couldn’t believe how much my skin was glowing.
Any dull or red patches I had on my face were barely visible any more. One thing I will say is that you don’t need to apply too much as it’ll take longer to absorb into your skin. Fortunately, it soaks in quickly and doesn’t leave your skin sticky.
I was concerned at how ethical the COSRX’s Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence was, and how the mucin was obtained at first. But, according to COSRX, the “snail mucin is obtained in a safe and environmentally friendly way in a favourite environment of snails and then processed as a cosmetic material. 100% natural, hypoallergenic and dermatologist-tested.”
I will certainly be buying myself another bottle of COSRX’s Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence when I run out now I understand all the hype. But don’t just take my word for it, plenty of other people online have explained how much their skin has benefitted since using the serum.
On Amazon, the product has an impressive customer rating of 4.5 out of five from more than 83k reviews. Joanna commented: “It won’t make you young over night but I have very dry skin specially around the nose which it’s itchy and sore.
“Used all even prescription cream which didn’t work to well. After one use of the snail gel omg my nose cleared overnight I could not believe. One use before bed and woke up with no pain no dry skin amazing.”
Kwong wrote: “The quality is very good. The size is generous since the packaging is 100ml. I have been using it for a week now. It gives my skin a healthy glow. it doesn’t have a scent. It benefits by strengthening the skin barrier. The texture is nice and it spreads easily. Overall I’m satisfied.”
Sanjia added: ” It is really good. It makes my skin so soft and gentle. I’ve been using it for a few months. It improves my skin a lot.” Jess said: “I love this product and couldn’t be without it now! I use and my skin gets dry and irritated sometimes; this product calms down irritation and I have had no dryness since I started using it. Looove!”
However, some weren’t aren’t as impressed. Nicole admitted: “As someone who suffers from eczema, I was hopeful that this product would provide the skincare benefits I was seeking. However, my experience with this essence was far from positive. Instead of the glowing results I had anticipated, my skin reacted negatively to the product.”
Elsewhere, Holland and Barrett is selling a 50ml pot of Snail Gel Cream for £20.49. You can its Healthy Ageing Snail Gel Facial Serum for same price. Meanwhile, Nuri’s Snail Mucin Serum, which contains 96% snail mucin and hyaluronic acid, is on sale for £13.99.
If you have experienced allergic or negative reactions to skincare products in the past, I highly recommend performing a patch test of the product on less sensitive areas of your body such as your arm or leg before applying on the face.