After using the Bioré watery essence sunscreen for years, I decided to switch things up by trying out the COSRX snail essence sunscreen. I usually stick to Asian beauty sunscreens because the formulas are significantly less greasy than Western beauty sunscreens. Also, Asian beauty sunscreens are extremely affordable. Here’s my review of the COSRX snail essence sunscreen:

Consistency

Like most Asian beauty sunscreens, the COSRX snail essence sunscreen has a lightweight, non-greasy formula. Because this sunscreen has snail essence in it, the formula is very moisturizing and a perfect match for my dry skin. I’ve been using this sunscreen with the Glow Recipe banana moisture cream which is also a lightweight formula. The two work well together. When the sunscreen dries, it has a dewy finish without looking wet. 

Type of Sunscreen

This COSRX sunscreen is a chemical sunscreen which means the carbon compounds in the formula absorb UV rays and release them as heat. When you are first applying the sunscreen, it looks a little white on the skin. After the product has absorbed into the skin, it has no trace of a  white cast so this sunscreen is friendly to all skin tones. Just a reminder with chemical sunscreens, they need to be applied 20 minutes before sun exposure to allow the sunscreen to fully absorb into the skin for maximum protection.

The COSRX snail essence sunscreen has an SPF of 50+. Typically, dermatologists recommend sunscreens between SPF 30-50. I’ve noticed most Asian beauty sunscreens have an SPF of 50+. I spent a long day out in the sun a few weeks ago. My shoulders burnt because I forgot to apply sunscreen to them, but I had no burning or redness on my face with the protection of this sunscreen!

Ingredients

As per the title, the COSRX snail essence sunscreen has snail mucin in it. You’re probably thinking snail mucin sounds gross, but snail mucin is an amazing hydrating ingredient used in a lot of Asian beauty products. The snail mucin helps to moisturize and nourish your skin. This sunscreen is cruelty free and paraben free.

Scent

The COSRX snail essence does not have a strong scent. It smells kind of herbal, maybe lemon grass? I don’t love the smell, but it doesn’t bother me at all. If you’re sensitive to fragrances, this sunscreen probably won’t bother you. As soon as the sunscreen is applied, the scent fades immediately. 

How does it perform under makeup?

As long as I applied my foundation while the sunscreen was still fresh. I had no problems with my foundation pilling off. If I applied foundation 10-20 minutes after putting this sunscreen on, I found that the sunscreen was the perfect base for natural looking skin under foundation! It’s always good to apply foundation while your skincare is still fresh to avoid cakey looking makeup.

Price

The COSRX snail essence sunscreen is $19 for 1.18 fluid ounces. It is about twice the price of the Bioré watery essence sunscreen, but it’s still really cheap! This sunscreen lasted me about a month. I go through an ounce of product pretty quickly to get good sun protection everyday.

Sister Sunscreen

COSRX released another sunscreen at the same time it released the snail essence sunscreen. It is called the Shield Comfort All Green Comfort Sunscreen. Unlike the snail essence sunscreen, it is a physical sunscreen with a matte finish. I don’t think I will try this one anytime soon because I like a dewy finish for my skin. I just thought I’d mention this sunscreen for anyone who is interested in a matte or physical sunscreen.

Overall, I really liked the COSRX snail essence sunscreen. I have a slight preference for this sunscreen over the Bioré watery essence sunscreen because the Bioré one had a pretty wet finish and this COSRX sunscreen was dewy without being too dewy. I would definitely repurchase this product. Next, I will be trying the Innisfree daily defense UV sunscreen.

Have you ever tried anything from COSRX? What is your favorite sunscreen?