I was scrolling through my Instagram feed one afternoon about a month ago, minding my own business, when I saw a post from Cosrx that left me speechless. They had, it seemed, just launched a new SPF. And as if this wasn’t news enough, the post’s caption revealed that this sunscreen was infused with snail mucin.
In case you’re unfamiliar with the miracle that is snail slime, let me fill you in: It is absolute magic when it comes to skin reparation and hydration and enhancing brightness and texture. There are a lot of snail mucin products on the market, but Cosrx’s original Snail Mucin Essence is by far the best. I love it so much, I would probably sob if it was discontinued. There are few products that have made such a dramatic improvement in my complexion in such a short period of time: if I have any blemishes, using this ensures that they’ll shrink and heal quickly, and it also just makes my skin look 100 times brighter and smoother. You get the point: I worship this product. I worship snail mucin in general.
And this new product has not let me down. Much like its essential counterpart, this SPF is nourishing, brightening, and glow-enhancing. I’ve been using it for a few weeks now, and my skin looks dewier and more radiant than ever. I use the SPF in the morning as the final step in my skin-care routine, and the essence in the evening, after exfoliating.
This product is also certified PA+++, which is the second-highest-grade protection you can get from an SPF product. Which, in my opinion, makes it perfect for winter: While wearing it, your lovely skin is getting a good defense against UVA, while being hydrated and beautified by the powerfully complexion-fixing snail slime. I keep it in my purse for touch-ups throughout the day.
Other Strategist-approved sunscreens
Strategist writer Maxine Builder likes this Amarte sunscreen because it’s super lightweight. “It comes out of the tube as a liquid, but the finish is almost powdery, not oily or greasy, which I, as a person with acne-prone and often-dehydrated skin, appreciate,” she says.
Nava Greenfield of the Schweiger Dermatology Group recommends this sunscreen for the acne-prone, because it includes niacinamide, a vitamin B3 derivative with anti-inflammatory properties that can fight breakouts.
And Senior Editor Simone Kitchens prefers this SPF from Image. “The brand seems random,” she says, “but my God, it works better than anything I’ve tried. (I have used EltaMD, and while I like it okay, and derms like it a lot, I find this formula to be less greasy and shine-inducing, and it doesn’t do that pilling thing.) This stuff, which is slightly more liquid than creamy, sinks right in. I like that it makes my skin nice and glowy, as opposed to bumpy and chalky.”
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