Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, 100ml

COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence is one of the products that made Korean skincare a global category, built around 96% snail secretion filtrate. An essence sits between toner and serum in a Korean routine: lighter than a serum, applied by patting rather than rubbing, and used to hydrate before anything heavier goes on top.

The texture is what people tend to comment on. It is slippery going on and sinks in without the tacky finish that a lot of hydrating products leave behind.

Specs

• Key ingredient: Snail secretion filtrate 96%
• Form: Essence
• Volume: 100ml
• Texture: Lightweight gel
• Step: After toner, before serum and moisturiser
• Brand: COSRX (Korea)

Benefits

• A hydrating step that adds moisture without weight, which suits oily and combination skin that finds creams heavy
• Short ingredient list with one ingredient at high concentration, which is COSRX's general approach
• Fragrance-free and generally well tolerated, though snail filtrate is an animal-derived ingredient and not suitable for a vegan routine
• Patting rather than rubbing is the intended application, and it does absorb better that way
• 100ml is a large bottle for an essence, so there is enough to use it twice daily without rationing

How to Use

• Apply after cleansing and toner, before serum and moisturiser
• Dispense a small amount and pat gently into the face and neck
• Let it absorb for around 30 seconds before the next step
• Use morning and evening
• Patch test first if your skin is reactive, and avoid if you have a shellfish or mollusc allergy
• Keep the bottle closed and store away from direct heat