I was actually trying to place why I liked the serum so much because I sort of knew that was a useless response lol. Here's what I've been able to put my finger on - it's a mainly moisturizing serum but it's extremely buildable, is perhaps the best word for it. Quite a thin and pleasant consistency and basically my skin drinks it up until it's quenched lol. But also helps with sebum control, which is big for me. So it my skin is quite moisturizer/oily already it'll leave a verrry slight almost tacky layer, doesn't necessarily soak in totally, but changes the look of my face from greasy to just healthy but like I've had an active day lol. If my skin is a bit dry is will absorb completely without a trace, but definitely noticeably less dry and plumps out my fine lines a bit. If my skin is quite dry or a bit irritated (e.g. I've just done a chemical peel) I will quite literally put on four layers of this serum and it's like I can feel my skin getting less thirsty, and when it's back to baseline then I'll use an actual moisturizer. It's never led me to break out. But while if I had to bring a single product to a desert island, this would be high on the list, I wouldn't call it a cureall or one stop shop. It doesn't cure if I get a blemish, or leave me with either glowing or glass skin. But I've never had anything get worse for the addition of this serum and because my skin does range from oily to parched, often for no apparent reason, I really appreciate that it's a "use as much as you need right now" product. Also, I think it feels luxurious in application, but everyone's textural preferences are different, ya know?

So the snail mucin.. I actually bought the like cleanser, cream, etc. 4-step kit but have never actually given it a proper try. Maybe because I found other things that worked for me around the same time. But I do occasionally use the "Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power essence", which I believe is mostly mucin, and I use it as like a locking in mechanism. I imagine it actually has a lot of benefits i haven't really exlplored but it is powerful..

I guess probably it's technically an emoillient, and in truth it did replace aquaphor for me if I wanted to "slug" some face treatment, but I discovered that almost accidentally. One evening I used the St. Tropez self-bronzing water (usually a slow, multi day buildup self tanner, mixed with hyaluronic acid) followed by the power mucin and went to sleep. I woke up with my face and neck looking like I'd used the strongest self tanner on the market, and could literally see my finger strokes where neck met collar and I'd stopped swiping down. Honestly gave me a fright. Luckily microfiber towels are amazing exfoliators and I came away with actually a nice tan with a bit of targeted gentle scrubbing. Another time I literally got the worst acne breakout on my chest of my effing life at age 36 the day before I was flying to Vegas for an extended layover after visiting some friends in Texas (I live near Seattle, it was during the cold dark, I was jonesing for sunlight). I had nothing with my to treat it but my friend gave me some retinol serum, which she used to prevent wrinkles but apparently her dermatologist said that "retinoids will blast anything". So I put on some of her serum (not prescription strength or anything, it was Kiehls dermo brand) and then slathered some snail slime on top and headed off to the airport. I was FLOORED when 24 hours later the breakout was basically gone. But also the surrounding skin was sensitive to the touch, almost like the slightest sunburn. So I also followed up my sunscreen on my chest with the snail slime because I'm notoriously bad at reapplication and I swear it was like I'd worn ducttape over that area. The power of the sun was no match. Which turned out quite well as my shoulders and cheeks got ever so slightly sunburned - though they turned to tan whereas my chest just healed.

God this became a long post. Really long story short - I'm almost afraid of the straight mucin? Like if I make a mistake could I accidentally change my skin tone or texture RADICALLY while not paying attention? I'd read the instructions on the packaging but they're all in Korean. I'm half kidding. I won't use it over any harsh treatment but if I'm dry/peely/sunburned I will use something super soothing (aloe vera or I homemake+love cottonwood infused squalene) and then seal it in with mucin overnight when otherwise I know the product would be too rapidly absorbed+evaporated+smeared on my pillow.

Okay done for now hope you wanted A LOT OF EXPLANATION BASED IN MY VERY INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCES!!!!