When you think of Korean skincare products, the first thing that comes to mind is snail mucin. It’s the most famous ingredient in today’s beauty industry. And a Korean snail serum is the most effective mucin-based treatment. You can even use it alone. It’s that strong. But it’s best to use it as part of the 10-step skincare regimen.
If you want to know what the best Korean snail serum is then here is a comprehensive guide.
My top 3 picks
Best Korean Snail Serum
Mizon Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule for Face
Mizon is a Korean skincare brand mostly famous for its highly effective line of snail mucin cosmetics.
Mizon Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule contains 80% of snail mucin extract, which is a great concentration of this active ingredient.
In addition to that, it has Adenosine, panthenol, and hyaluronic acid on its list of ingredients.
The ampoule regenerates the skin and targets skin problems like acne scars, acne hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and wrinkles. It also improves skin elasticity.
You need to use this Korean snail serum after applying the toner.
Drop a bit of serum on the face and tap the skin gently to make the product absorb.
Nature Republic Snail Solution Ampoule
This is another Korean snail serum that contains 80% snail secretion filtrate.
This product has a powerful moisturizing and nourishing effect and helps your skin to regenerate.
The serum quickly absorbs into the skin and doesn’t leave your face sticky.
Use it as part of your multi-step skincare routine after you’ve applied toner but before you use moisturizer.
Moisturizer will seal the serum layer on your face and make it work more effectively.
Cos De BAHA 83% Korean Snail Serum
Cos De Baha serum’s snail mucin ratio is 83%, which is a lot.
This product also contains Niacinamide.
Both main ingredients repair and hydrate the skin. They are effective against wrinkles, acne scars, blemishes, burns, hyperpigmentation, and rosacea.
And plant extracts in this serum soothe irritation and protect the skin from free radicals.
The product is cruelty-free and is not tested on animals. No snails get harmed in the process of slime collection.
SOME BY MI Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Korean Snail Serum
Some By Mi Korean snail serum is formulated with an 890,000 PPM concentration of secretion filtrate obtained from black snails.
Black snail mucin is pretty much the same as ordinary snail mucin.
However, black snails are usually grown in cleaner environments.
Black snail secretion filtrate also regenerates and hydrates the skin, and improves its elasticity.
Truecica is Some By Mi’s trademarked formula that contains plant extracts that soothe the skin and strengthen its protective barrier.
The repair serum works well against acne scars and helps to make the skin texture smooth.
The manufacturer suggests applying several layers of this product.
DEWYTREE Ultra Vitalizing Korean Snail Serum
The Dewytree Korean snail serum contains 66% snail secretion filtrate.
It’s also formulated with acai berry extract, which is a powerful antioxidant.
So this snail serum reduces and prevents wrinkles and fine lines, restores the skin, and protects it from negative environmental factors.
It’s especially good for normal and oily skin because it makes it look matte and doesn’t clog pores.
This product is 3-free.
According to the manufacturer, it means that there are no parabens, alcohol, or artificial colorants in this serum.
Bellalussi Ultra Repair Snail Peptide Intensive Serum
Bellalussi snail serum is formulated with snail mucin and various fermented peptide-rich plant extracts.
Peptides are short strings of amino acids that have anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties.
This serum fight wrinkles and other signs of aging and erases dark spots and hyperpigmentation.
It’s great for improving the complexion and for soothing the skin.
HERBNOTE Snail Repair Ampoule
Herbnote Korean snail serum has an 85% snail mucin concentration.
This amount of snail mucin is great for firming, protecting, moisturizing, and repairing the skin.
In addition to that, the serum contains Niacinamide and EGF.
Niacinamide is a powerful brightening ingredient that works against dark spots, blemishes, and hyperpigmentation.
EGF stands for Epidermal Growth Factor. It’s a protein that stimulates tissue growth and rejuvenates the skin. This factor won the Nobel Prize in 1986.
The manufacturer also promises that all their products are hypoallergenic.
The Skin House Snail Mucin 5000 Serum
This Korean snail serum contains a high concentration of snail mucin.
It also contains hyaluronic acid and Adenosine. This component is derived from yeast and has a soothing and anti-aging effect on the skin.
The Skin House ampoule restores the skin, hydrates it, and protects it from the loss of moisture. It also has a firming effect and reduces hyperpigmentation.
The serum has a gel-like texture and doesn’t make your face sticky after you apply it.
Farm Stay DR.V8 ampoule solution black snail
Farm Stay Korean snail serum contains mucin produced by black snails and a super-luxurious ingredient — caviar extract.
Black snail mucin restores the skin, helps it regenerate, heals damages, and makes the skin firmer.
And caviar extract contains antioxidants that protect the skin from the negative impact of UV rays. It also has a strong anti-wrinkle effect.
This serum is a real treat.
Bergamo Pure Snail Brightening Ampoule Set
Bergamo is a Korean skincare brand best known for its line of caviar wrinkle creams.
However, they also manufacture products with snail mucin.
Their snail ampoule contains 500 PPM snail mucin extract and Niacinamide.
So this product regenerates and brightens the face, and evens out the skin tone.
Niacinamide is effective against pigmentation issues, rosacea, and acne.
The ampoules come in a 20-piece set of miniature travel-sized bottles.
SECRET KEY Black Snail Original 3 Step Set
Secret Key sells a 3-step skincare set with an 80% concentration of black snail mucin.
The set consists of an essence, a cream, and a serum.
They all work together on improving the skin’s elasticity and hydration.
So it’s easy to incorporate these products into your daily skincare routine.
The texture of all the products is slippery and reminiscent of snail slime.
Coxir Black Snail Collagen Serum
Coxir Black Snail Collagen Serum doesn’t contain black snail mucin. It only contains regular Escargot snail mucin. However, it has black soybean extract on its list of ingredients.
Black soybean extract is a nourishing component that also brightens the complexion.
Another ingredient of this serum is collagen, which increases the skin’s elasticity and reduces wrinkles.
So this serum has a nice anti-aging effect and works well for all skin types.
The serum is light and will look good under makeup.
What is a Korean snail serum?
A serum is a highly concentrated moisturizer packed with powerful active ingredients that are focused on treating specific skin problems. For example, acne, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, aging, etc.
Serums contain highly effective components and carriers that help them penetrate deep into your skin.
So serums are stronger than other skincare products.
However, for best results, they must be used in combination with creams, toners, etc.
You need to select a serum that would tackle a particular issue or would amplify the effect of other skincare products that you use together with it.
A snail serum contains snail mucin, which is a star ingredient in the Korean beauty industry.
What is snail mucin?
Snail mucin is the slime that snails produce to protect and repair their skin.
Humans used this mucus for medical purposes back in ancient times.
However, it had been a forgotten beauty secret for many centuries.
The Korean cosmetics industry has given a new life to snail slime.
Korean snail serums contain snail mucin extract that has a great effect on human skin.
Snail serums can make your skin look smooth, radiant, and elastic.
Snail mucin repairs and strengthens the skin’s natural protective barrier.
It can fade acne scars, remove hyperpigmentation, fade lines and wrinkles, repair the skin’s protective barrier, help the skin retain moisture, improve the complexion, and minimize pores.
Snail serum vs cream
A cream is usually an all-purpose product that can target several skin problems.
It also contains oils that act as lubricating and thickening ingredients.
While a serum is a high concentration of active ingredients that is mostly water-based instead of being oil-based.
It’s a lot lighter than cream and gets absorbed by the skin quicker.
Serums works faster than creams and usually target one particular problem. You get an instant effect.
However, both creams and serums are meant to be used together as parts of daily skincare routines.
Serums boost the effect of creams and other skincare products.
A dose of serum you need to use at once is always smaller than the amount of cream you use during the same skincare routine.
So you may use up your cream quicker than you run out of the serum.
That’s why serums are usually sold in smaller bottles than other skincare products.
Snail secretion filtrate concentration
When you buy products with snail mucin you may see a percentage or a number with PPM listed on the package.
PPM stands for parts per million and means the concentration of snail secretion filtrate in the product.
A percentage is the proportion of snail mucin in the product.
Of course, the more the better.
A good concentration is 500-2000 PPM or 50% and above.
If no PPM is listed the product may still have snail mucin inside but its concentration may be pretty small.
When should I use a Korean snail serum?
The serum is always an essential part of the world-famous Korean 10-step skincare routine.
This is the routine that was created by the scientists who develop cosmetics for the highly advanced South Korean beauty industry
The routine consists of 10 steps. Each step is essential for achieving and maintaining a perfect “glass” skin and ideal complexion.
South Korean beauty product manufacturers instruct users to perform this routine twice a day.
You need to go through all the 10 steps in the morning — to prepare and protect the skin during the day. And in the evening — to cleanse the skin before you go to bed and to nourish it while you sleep.
The 10 steps are:
- Oil cleanser
- Foam/cream cleanser
- Exfoliator
- Toner
- Essence/Emulsion
- Serum
- Sheet Mask
- Eye Cream
- Moisturizer
- Sunscreen/Night cream
You can use a snail serum in combination with other products that contain snail mucin.
For example, you can use a snail sheet mask and a snail cream or gel during other steps in your skincare routine.
How to use the snail serum?
Cleansing
Cleansing should be the first step in any skincare routine. You should cleanse the skin two times a day.
An oil cleanser is necessary to dissolve the makeup, including water-resistant products, and to clean dirt from your skin.
And a foam cleanser is necessary to remove the remaining dirt and makeup, oils, sebum from the face.
Once or twice a week you can also exfoliate the skin and unclog pores with the help of an exfoliator or a clay mask.
Toner, essence, emulsion
Toners, essences, and emulsions prepare your skin for the powerful serum.
They help the serum’s active ingredients to get absorbed into your skin better and penetrate it deeper.
Snail serum application
Most serums come with eyedropper-like applicators.
You only need to place a few drops of snail serum onto your face and neck.
If you apply it in drops you won’t overuse your serum and won’t run out of it too quickly.
After application, gently massage the serum in until it gets fully absorbed by your skin. Spread it all over your face.
Don’t forget about the neck, it needs treatment too.
However, avoid the areas around the eyes.
The skin is too delicate there and most serums are too intense for it and cause irritation.
Use an eye cream on that area instead.
How often should I use the Korean snail serum?
You should use the serum every day.
Just make sure you select the one that tackles your problems and works well for you.
You can even use it twice a day, both during your morning and evening skincare routine.
Next steps
The next steps in your skincare routine should be the application of a sheet mask, an eye cream, and a moisturizer.
You can skip the mask if you’re not planning to use it on that day.
While it’s OK to apply a moisturizing or nourishing mask every day, you may still want to avoid overusing them.
But the moisturizer is always an essential step in any beauty routine. use it twice a day.
How should I store a Korean snail serum?
In general, all cosmetic products should be stored away from direct sunlight and heat.
That’s why you should never keep any skincare products in the bathroom, where it’s hot and humid.
Most serums are water-based so in general, they should be stored in the fridge.
Besides, if your serum contains natural ingredients or Vitamin C and retinoid-based components then you should store it in a cool and dark place too.
You can also store it in a special mini fridge for cosmetics instead of the kitchen fridge.
However, if your serum of choice is oil-based then it’s best to store it at room temperature or it may become cloudy.
AstroAI Mini-Fridge
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