I Tried CosRx's Viral Snail Mucin–Here's My Honest Take ...

4 min read

If you were offered the opportunity to have a snail slide, slip, and glide across your face in the name of beauty, would you take it? The idea may sound gross when you picture it that way, but the snail-generated skincare on the market today has risen to popularity with the promise of intense hydration, and in some cases, smooth texture and reduced wrinkles. The main ingredient? Snail mucin.

“Snail mucin is derived from the naturally produced mucus of snails and is most commonly used in Korean skincare,” says Sejal K. Shah, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Smarter Skin Dermatology. “Its benefits stem from a combination of compounds that support hydration and skin repair, including glycoproteins, hyaluronic acid–like substances, peptides, antioxidants, and trace minerals.”

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One of the most viral products in this category is the COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, which happens to be on sale. While the essence typically retails for $25, it’s currently 41% off, at just $15 (and there are tons more beauty deals where that came from).

A quick search of the COSRX brand on TikTok will reveal hundreds of videos of creators slathering their faces with the facial essence, crediting it with giving them plump, glass skin. And as someone who will never pass up the chance to improve the look of my acne-prone skin, I knew I had to give it a try.

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Jump to:

• What does it do?
• Who can use it?
• When should you use it?
• My honest thoughts
• Is it worth it?

What does it do?

While videos on TikTok may talk most about is the glass-skin effect they notice after using the COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, Dr. Shah says snail mucin “is not usually a dramatic ‘overnight transformation’ ingredient.” The benefits of the ingredient tend to be more subtle, which you’ll notice after using it over time. “Common benefits include more hydrated and smoother skin,” she says. “It can also provide barrier support, so one can expect not just hydrated skin but also less flaking, irritation, and sensitivity. Products containing snail mucin usually have a dewy finish, providing an instant temporary glow.”

Who can use it?

While most skin types are able tolerate snail mucin well, according to Dr. Shah, “some people with snail allergies or severe mollusk allergies should not use these products.” She adds, “Individuals with highly reactive skin who are sensitive to fermented or biologically derived ingredients should also exercise caution.”

When should you use it?

Where you fit the snail mucin in your routine matters, Dr. Shah says. “Frequency depends on the formula and the rest of your routine,” she noted. “If you have sensitive skin and are just starting, use it once a day. Other skin types can usually use it twice daily, in the morning and at night.”

Cameron Jenkins

My honest thoughts

Armed with this information from Dr. Shah, I decided to give it a go. Because my skin is acne-prone, I knew I would need to ease the product into my routine. I started out applying it as the second step in my nighttime skincare routine.

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I first washed my face, then, while my skin was still slightly damp, I gently smoothed a few pumps onto my skin. The very first thing I noticed was the texture and viscosity of the essence. Instead of being thin and watery, like other essences I’ve tried, this one was a bit sticky with more of a gel-like consistency. It also seemed to create a mild foam—but I felt glowy after application. After that, I finished off my routine as usual with a moisturizer and got ready for bed.

I continued with this same routine for two nights in a row and noticed that my skin did feel immediately hydrated with the essence. But after prolonged use, a week to be exact, I started to notice tiny pimples pop up on my forehead. I stopped using the serum after that.

GH Director of Editorial Commerce Brie Schwartz, however, had a different experience with the product. “I’ll admit that the idea of putting snail mucin in on my face didn’t exactly thrill me when the product first went viral a few years back,” she says. “Honestly, what finally convinced me to try CosRx's buzzy product was hearing Leighton Meester (Blair Waldorf for life) rave about it.”

After using the essence for three months on her normal to combination skin, Brie found the product always delivers instant hydration. “It immediately makes me look and feel more hydrated–instant dew, if you will,” she says. “I can’t necessarily say that it’s transformed my visage (at 40 plus, I think we’re beyond a gentle serum to do that). But, it has no smell, glides on easily, and does make me look refreshed. What more could I ask for in something that's on sale for $12?”

Is it worth it?

My opinion? If you aren’t acne prone, it’s worth giving this serum a try—especially while it’s a fraction of the cost. Brie and I both found that it gave skin an instant dewy finish. I also enjoyed the texture of the product and that it’s scentless.

While I found the essence added hydration and glow to my sensitive skin, I experienced some blemishes after continued use. It’s possible my skin is too sensitive to use the essence nightly, so I’m planning to reincorporate it into my routine every other night to see if I get different results.

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COSRX COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence (3.38 fl. oz.)

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Cameron (she/her) is a staff writer for Good Housekeeping, where she covers everything from holidays to food. She is a graduate of Syracuse University, where she received a B.A. in magazine journalism. In her spare-time she can be found scrolling TikTok for the latest cleaning hacks and restaurant openings, binge-watching seasons of Project Runway or online shopping.