Review: Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Cream

Snail mucin has already been the rage in Asian skincare for a few years, but I didn't know about it until this summer when I went to Korea. Jumping on the bandwagon, I decided to buy some snail cream for myself. Since I have combination skin, I thought buying the Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Essential Moisturizer would be less oily than the cream even though the moisturizer only contains 40% of the snail mucin while the cream contains 70%. I tried the Essential Moisturizer when I returned home and got an allergic reaction =\. My chin area and right lower cheek broke out in red bumps every time I used the moisturizer...so after 4-5 tries to be sure it really was the moisturizer, I have since given it to my mom to use. Luckily, I was given a few samples of the cream (6 to be exact) so I could try it out.

Description (paraphrased from Missha.ca):

• Cell renew snail cream for regeneration, shiny and healthy skin
• Colorant/Paraben/Mineral-oil free formula
• Contains botanical stem cell to supply energy to the skin cells and snail slime extract to vitalize the skin
• Contains baobab extract and deep sea water to activate, absorb and keep moisture
• Reconstitutes and firms skin cells

My impression:

I don't know if I'm the only one who thinks this but I find the cream SAMPLE to be lighter than the moisturizer (please read the green font below!!). Like many other reviewers, the cream was more of a gel consistency and I found that my skin absorbed it very fast and felt refreshed after. With the moisturizer, I felt like it was clogging my skin and it definitely needed a minute or two before it was absorbed. The allergic reaction definitely didn't help either. But I would daresay that people with oily/combination skin should go for the cream instead of the moisturizer (Not anymore, please read the green font below). I live in a fairly dry climate (compared to the humid jungle known as HK/Japan/Korea) and it's light enough for me to wear the cream in the morning for my combination skin.

As for effect, wow, I totally understand why this snail mucin has been and still is the rage in Asian skincare. My skin went through some stress and broke up in crazy acne 2 years ago to the point where I had to take accutane to get rid of it. Even though my skin is a lot better now, I've still got scars and redness especially on my nose and on my cheek area right next to my nose. The first time I put on this cream, as early as 5 minutes after putting it on, my skin felt moisturized and the redness calmed down. The next day, when I woke up, my skin felt more even, brighter, and healthier.

Many of Missha's products, including this one, are colorant, paraben, and mineral-oil free. That's always a plus especially if they're products you're going to be using long-term. 

I've currently run out of samples and ordered the cream but fortunately I also bought Missha's Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Sleeping Mask that I can use at night :D

[Edit Sept 22 2012]: So I bought the actual jar of Missha snail cream and started using it after I was done with my samples. The actual cream is NOT like the samples. I've read this before from reviewers too that when it comes to Korean skincare brands the samples are sometimes not like the actual product...but this is the first time I've experienced this. With the samples, I can basically put on more than needed and my skin still absorbs it all within several minutes and not feel oily. With the actual cream, I put on LESS than what I did when I was using the sample and my face feels oily instantly upon application. As a result, I got a clogged pore that became a pimple that day -_-;; 

Once you experiment a few times and get the right amount to put on your skin without being too oily, it still has the same effects. I must say that it has lost that instant refreshing feeling though, because it doesn't absorb as fast so the oiliness does stay for awhile.

So I take back my statement about how the cream is less oily than the moisturizer. The cream SAMPLE is less oily than the moisturizer but the actual cream product is MORE oily than the moisturizer. For those who have combination/oily skin, it may be better to try the moisturizer first.

[Edit Mar 6 2013]: For those who have oily/combination skin and want to use snail creams but are worried that this will break you out, take a look at my post on Mizon All In One Snail Repair Cream. It offers better oil control and gives a matte finish!

Summary:

It does what it says: I really felt like my skin looked healthier and had an even complexion. The scars and redness that remained from my acne decreased significantly.
I find that the cream has a lighter consistency than the moisturizer and would recommend the cream for combination skin.
$33 for a set of 47ml cream and 20ml sleeping mask on eBay

Grade: 5/5 4/5 because it works, contains 70% snail mucin extract, makes my skin feel refreshed, calm, smooth, takes away those little bumps, and I can use it without breaking out even though I have combination skin! Minus 1 mark because the actual product is NOT the same as the samples, it is oilier, takes longer to absorb and clogs my pores if I put too much on

Value: 5/5 because $33 to make my skin like that to me is a great deal

Repurchase? Yes!! Missha actually has a sale from now until Sept. 16. I already ordered two snail cream and sleeping mask sets :D