Where to purchase: Available on Yesstyle: HERE
Also Available on Stylevana (UK): HERE / (US): HERE / (AU): HERE / (EU): HERE / (GER): HERE / (FR): HERE / (CA): HERE
Price: £15
Volume: 50ml
Made in: South Korea
What is it?: A hydrating, soothing and repairing Serum containing 70% Black Snail Extract and 10% Centella Asiatica Leaf water. (I do think the idea of Black Snails and Black foods making this product more efficacious than other serums is a bit of an overstatement/oversell, but they are skin-beneficial (or at least not skin harming) ingredients.
Brand Description: A Highly concentrated serum containing snail mucin to both restore and repair the skin, keeping it plump and smooth. Cica calms and soothes the skin. It’s claimed that the Black Super Food Extract: Black Rice, Black Been, Black Sesame, Eggplant and Sea Tangle are Anti-ageing, but I think that’s just because these are high in antioxidants so can help protect against collagen degradation in the skin and therefore try and keep the skin ”elastic”
What does it do?: Brighten, keep the skin ”elastic” and help plump up fine lines.
Supposedly Good for: All Skin Types
What I think: I would agree, this has a thin lightweight texture so oily skins and those in hot and humid weathers would particularly like this. I think those sensitive to Niacinamide may want to avoid this (and if you are on Accutane, this may sting). Dry skins would love this layered under a moisturiser.
Vegan?: No (Contains Snail Mucin)
Cruelty Free?: Yes
Packaging: Glass bottle with a rubber tip dropper
Directions: After cleansing or using a toner, apply 2-3 drops onto the face and tap for absorption. After facial cleansing or using toner, apply a proper amount to your face and gently dap for absorption. can be used in the AM and PM (use a moisturiser or SPF afterwards).
How I use it: I use this in the PM (due to the Mucin-gloopy nature I prefer it in the evening). I apply about 2-3 drops as due to the high % of Mucin, this spreads very far along the skin so I don’t need too much product to cover the face + neck. I liked to use this in conjunction with the Beauty of Joseon Repair Serum (the textures paired well together and no layering issues), after toning, using my Geek and Gorgeous Cheer Up Toning Solution.
Key Ingredients: Black Snail Mucin Extract 70% (I can’t seem to find a difference between regular snail mucin extract and black snail mucin extract) – This is a Hydrating, Humectant Ingredient and is also an antioxidant. It is loaded with minerals to help repair the skin.
5 Black ”Super Food” Extracts – Black Rice, Black Bean, Black Sesame, Eggplant, Sea Tangle – In terms of nutrition, darker foods are higher in antioxidants (so great to alleviate stress + oxidation) however I’m not sure if that efficacy really translates between ingestion and topically applying these extracts onto the skin. Nevertheless, they aren’t harmful and if they are providing antioxidant benefits then that’s great! Antioxidants are soothing, so it’s nice to have them in any product.
Centella Asiatica (Cica) Leaf Water: Calming + Anti-inflammatory (Antioxidant).
Niacinamide: (Brightening + Sebum Regulating + Humectant) + Adenosine (Soothing).
Soothing ingredients: Sesame Seed Extract, Allantoin, Cica, Liquorice Root Extract,
Soybean Seed Extract: Emollient + Soothing + Antioxidant.
Liquorice Root Extract: brightens the skin.
Arginine: promotes a healthy skin barrier.
Emollients: (makes the skin feel smooth): Saccharomyces/Imperata Cylindrica Root Ferment Extract, Rosehip Oil.
Additional Moisturiser/Humectants: Hyaluronic Acid (Sodium Hyaluronate) + Butylene Glycol
Full Ingredients: Snail Secretion Filtrate, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Methylpropandediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Glycereth-26, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Saccharomyces/Viscum Album (Mistleto) Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Extract, Solanum Melongena (Eggplant) Fruit Extract, Saccharomyces/Imperata Cylindrica Root Ferment Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Allantone, Centella Asiaitaca Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Vaccinum Angustifolum (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Carbomer, Arginine, Pentylene Glycol, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Aspalathus Linearis Extract
NOTE: The Incidecoder / Skincarisma have a full ingredient breakdown HERE
My Thought: As you can see there are many hydrating, soothing, skin barrier promoting and overall skin-health improving ingredients! Interesting to see that this includes Rosehip Oil).
Video Texture Swatch:
Hopefully you can see how lightweight, spreadable and easily absorbing this product is. It feels refreshing when placed onto the skin. It has a typical Snail Mucin texture.
Texture: Low Viscosity (Runs down the skin easily) watery, gel-like serum. This is slightly thicker than the Beauty of Joseon Repair Serum that also contains Snail Mucin.
Do you see how the product has a ”snail trail” up my hand?? This is due to the snail mucin and this is my one issue with this product and its use. it can get messy because of course when I dispensed the product and put the dropper back into the bottle, this serum ”trailed” off, which can be annoying/messy (i.e. it’s not a clean drop).
Also as you can see the product is already sliding down my hand showing how lightweight/watery it is.
The skin is extremely glossy and watery looking. But this isn’t sticky, tacky or greasy feeling.
As you can see this just disappears/absorbs so nicely and smoothly into the skin, but the skin feels hydrated (doesn’t feel more dry).
Video Swatch:
Layerability: Yes this is fine to layer (doesn’t ball or pill up)
Stings the Eyes?: I don’t put it near the eyes. But it hasn’t stung anywhere near it.
Summer or Winter?: More of a summer serum since this is lightweight + watery + refreshing. But I would simply say layer this under a heavy duty moisturiser in the winter.
Youtube Video:
Fragrance?: No added Fragrance And/ Or Essential Oils. This has no scent.
Good Under Makeup?: Yes this seems to not ruin my foundation (just make sure this product has fully absorbed).
How long have I been using this?: 3 Months
The Effect?: Hydrated skin when I use it. Didn’t irritate my skin (unless sensitised) and overall has made the skin look more even. But I would definitely encourage this to be used as a partner to Gold-star actives like Retinoids and/or Vitamin C etc.
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What I like:
- Lightweight
- Layerable
- Can sit under makeup
- Can sit under SPF
- Didn’t irritate my skin
- Hydrating
- Overall skin brightening
- Nice sturdy packaging
What I don’t like:
- Snail Mucin – can be messy (i.e the mucin is gloopy so the serum doesn’t cleanly leave the dropper)
Overall Rating and Conclusion: 4/5 – This is a lovely lightweight serum. I’m not a fan of Snail Mucin gloopiness (can get a bit messy since mucin lingers/trails/drips, BUT I like the effect of snail mucin quite a bit. I find this product both refreshing and hydrating and have seen some good results with it.
It’s inoffensive and is a bit of an all-rounder, meaning that this can help supplement a vitamin C/pigmentation routine nicely, a Hydrating routine and also pair with retinol without issues 🙂 It’s a great supplement, and I wouldn’t say it’s a Skin ”fixer” by itself.
Would I repurchase?: Yes!
Dupe?: The Cosrx Snail Essence (Review HERE) – I would say this is like an upgrade of the Beauty of Joseon Repair Serum. I think I prefer this over that serum (however the Beauty of Joseon is definitely less gloopy than this serum (i.e. from the snail mucin).
My Skin Type: I am acne prone and have slightly dehydrated combo skin. My skin is usually tight where the cheeks and eye area is and the outer parts of my face. My T zone is oily. My skin isn’t a fan of thick/heavy formulas so I opt for lightweight formulas to prevent it from clogging up. My skin doesn’t like essential oils either and I try to avoid fragrance when I can.
Disclaimer: I am a skincare enthusiast and not a skin expert. I am not qualified to give out dermatological advice. This type of advice should only be given by a medical practitioner. Upon trying / using any of the reviewed products on the blog, please follow the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings and please seek medical advice if needed.
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