There’s no denying that South Korea is the largest cosmetic mecca in the world. K- Beauty is not just about the infamous 10-step skincare routine, it’s a lifestyle. For every corner café enticing Koreans with a good brew, there’s an adjacent cosmetic store open till 2 a.m. Just in case you’re in need of an emergency quick fix, ya know?
Espresso to Italians is what high quality skincare is to Koreans. Not optional, but a must. It would be an insult to not take care of your skin and buy anything short of amazing. So I had no choice but to run to A-land, and make a B-line towards the alleged holy grail, the COSRX Snail Crème. I bought the cream with no hesitation and literally ran home in anticipation.
Initial thoughts:
I opened the jar and it was nothing short of a sacred experience. White, luminescent, slimy, ooey-gooey goodness. Virtually odorless—I was happy to know that my pillow wouldn’t reek of snail.
The general rule of crème application is to use a dime size dollop, and I can humbly say I never follow this rule. But rest assured, a dime-sized application is more than enough when it comes to the COSRX Snail Crème.
This is the part where magic happens:
The next morning, I looked like I’d been kidnapped by snail angels and just descended from snail heaven after escaping. Which is basically a translation for: OVERNIGHT SKIN MIRACLE. Seriously, my skin was the softest it’d ever felt. Immediately I knew my relationship with snail crème was not going to be just a one-night rendezvous. I was addicted, and all I wanted to do was bask in more snail goodness.
For the next three months, I continued to apply.
And over those three months, my relationship and bond with my snail crème only grew stronger.
So what does this long-term commitment look like? Well, I don’t usually snail and tell, but I’ll make an exception!
The most significant difference in my skin is the texture. Certain premature lines I used to obsess over on my forehead look smoother. My skin tone is also brighter and healthier (and this is coming from a retinoid addict). My skin now has that glossy, you-can-see-into-my-soul feel.
Many women in Korea have skin that just glows, even in the dark. I thought it was just a blessing in their genetic makeup and a curse in my DNA. However, now I think Deepak Chopra was onto something when he said you can change your genetic makeup. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
Please note: No snails were hurt in the making of this article.
