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Aging

Here’s What Happened When I Slathered My Face in Snail Gel for 1 Week

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Never in my life did I think I’d be slathering snail slime all over my face each night before bed. (I also never thought I’d be drinking collagen by the scoopful daily, and yet, here we are — but that’s for another story.) And yet, as the years tick by, and I begin to notice the fine lines that will inevitably settle in for the long haul under my eyes, I have become one of a countless number of women seeking a solution for an age-old problem that comes with getting older: wrinkles. Eek! 

Needless to say, when I was introduced to Dr.Organic snail gel healthy aging night cream ($19.99, ULTA), which claims to “naturally hydrate and rejuvenate aging skin” via its humanely-sourced snail mucin (these snails happen to live in natural habitats in France), I was more than a little intrigued. 

What are the benefits of snail gel? 

K-beauty fanatics and experts alike have been touting the benefits of snail mucin for years, crediting the slime with everything from locking in moisture and improving skin’s texture to stimulating the production of collagen and elastin with its anti-aging properties. It even helps heal wounds.

Crazy though it may sound, it starts to make sense when you consider its chemical makeup: Snail mucin is loaded with glycoproteins (a type of protein that’s linked to sugar which can enhance skin’s natural resilience), hyaluronic acid (a natural substance that’s critical for maintaining hydration), and glycolic acid (a chemical exfoliant that brightens skin) — all of which are well-known skincare ingredients. 

“Clinical studies have shown that skin-care products containing snail mucin gave statistical improvements in facial lines and wrinkles,” Chicago-based dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, told The Strategist in 2018. 

Zeichner refers in part to a 2015 study in the Korean Journal of Dermatology, which found “statistically significant differences” in participants with regard to wrinkles, skin elasticity, dermal density, and skin tightening after just four weeks of snail cream use. 

There’s also the physical evidence. Chilean snail breeders in the ‘80s were the first to incorporate snail mucus into skincare after they noticed their hands becoming much softer after handling the creatures. 

I had to see if it lived up to the hype for myself. But surely, such a miracle skin product must cost an arm and a leg… right? Wrong. In fact, you can scoop up this night cream (And a snail day gel. And a snail gel eye serum. And a snail face mask. And a snail face serum.) for less than $20 each at ULTA. 

Snail Gel

ULTA

The Test

For one week, I put Dr.Organic’s night cream to the test, using a healthy amount on my face each night before bed. 

The first thing I noticed about the cream was its texture: This stuff is thick. As someone who tends to break out after using too many hydrating products, I was fully prepared for a greasy mess that would leave me covered in zits by dawn. And yet, just five minutes later, it had all but disappeared, or rather absorbed into my thirsty winter skin. Instead of an oily residue, my skin felt silky smooth — just like a baby’s bottom! 

The next thing I noticed was its smell. There’s definitely a bit of a fragrance to this product, which some reviewers have described as “citrus-y.” It didn’t sting or irritate my eczema-prone skin in the slightest, however, so I was totally fine with it.

I refrained from getting too excited, however, figuring the real test would come over the next eight hours as I slept. Yet, when I awoke, I was shocked to see that there was nary a breakout in sight. 

Night after night, I repeated the process, and night after night, I got the same results: no breakouts, dewy, hydrated skin, and a velvety-soft texture that I had to physically refrain myself from constantly running my hands over. 

Reviewers seemed to get the similar results, with one writing, “I liked how smooth and soft it made my skin. Didn’t leave it feeling greasy or sticky.”

Added another: “Immediately after my first use I fell in love! It made my skin so extremely smooth and continued to make it stay and feel smooth after each use. I will definitely be buying this after I run out. It’s amazing!”

As for the wrinkles? Sadly, my fine lines haven’t magically disappeared overnight. However, with this cream delivering on nearly every other promise so far (Increased moisture? Check. Improved skin texture? Most definitely. A dewy, radiant glow? Yup!), I’m hopeful that with several more weeks of use, the anti-aging properties will begin to peek through. 

Either way, my skin is not only no longer dry, it’s the smoothest it’s ever felt. Looks like the snail gel is here to stay! 

Where to buy: $19.99, ULTA

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