Cosrx Advanced Snail Mucin 96 Power Essence

1. Over time my skin has turned into a combination type, with some days of dehydration peeking through. I was looking for products which would help me build light layers of hydration and essences fit my need.
2. Along with that, I also get hormonal breakouts very often which means that my skin (usually along the cheeks, chin) is inflamed, and irritated. So I wanted to add products in my routine which would focus on soothing.

I have been using it since June 2020. I began with using it once a day in the evening, then progressed to using it both in my AM & PM routine. Lately, I have gone back to using it once a day because my skin has recovered - 2 pumps onto my finger tips, spread evenly and patted onto skin (face & neck). 

I didn't get any irritation or reactions with the essence (a major criterion that needs to be fulfilled for me to like any skincare product). 

It is hydrating and makes my skin supple & plump every time I use it - I get that soft bounce that is the hallmark of well-hydrated skin. Along with hydration, I feel that it helps in healing my post breakout scars slightly faster than usual (the other products I use to target scarring also contribute to this) and helps in keeping my skin barrier healthy. 

If you cannot tell already that I love this essence (it was a part of my 2020 skincare favourites too) then here's another point - I have a backup ready to go as soon as my current bottle runs out. It isn't a product that shows very targeted or life-changing results, but I know I will miss it in my routine if I stop using it. It just helps to improve overall skin health. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind : 

* Use this essence on slightly damp skin (use a toner/facial mist/or a spritz of filtered water) 

* Don't forget to layer a moisturiser on top to seal in the hydration. 

* 1-2 pumps is enough and one bottle lasts quite long (mine lasted for 8 months). 

* Do you need it if you are looking at just hydration? Not really. You can use any other hyaluronic acid based product for that too. 

* Will it stop breakouts completely? It didn't for me & I did not expect it to either. I get hormonal acne and topical products cannot really fix it. Although many people say that it helped in reducing breakouts for them. So I guess that effect will vary from person to person and on the cause of breakouts. 

* Does it work on fine lines? Yes, to an extent. But I feel this can be attributed to its hydrating property. Fine lines appear minimised if the skin is well hydrated & plump, but snail mucin is said to have anti ageing benefits. So, if it is indeed helping keep the fine lines at bay for me, I am not complaining. Bring it on!