COSRX Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser for acne-prone skin
Snail Mucin
Glycerin
Butylene Glycol
Coco-Glucoside
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
Superior
- SuperiorCombination Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best cleansers for acne-prone skin.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Excellent suitability for your combination skin and acne concerns is provided by snail secretion filtrate and glycerin, which hydrate without over-stripping and soothe inflammation. Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate and Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate effectively cleanse pores, addressing your blemishes and breakouts.
- The formula's gentle yet effective cleansing action ensures your skin remains balanced and comfortable.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it.
- This cleanser is the first step in your morning routine and the second step after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Always follow up with a toner and moisturizer .
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face in circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it work effectively against breakouts. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water .
- Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 1.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is highly regarded for its hydrating and non-stripping properties, making it ideal for dry and sensitive skin. Many users report a radiant complexion and improved skin texture. A small number of users experienced breakouts, found the fragrance strong, or disliked the slimy texture.
Highlights
Hydrating & Non-Stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “didn't dry out my skin”
- “leaves skin soft and bouncy”
- “face feels hydrated after washing”
- “no tight feeling”
Gentle & Soothing Often Mentioned
- “ultra-gentle formula”
- “calmed my redness”
- “didn't sting my eyes”
- “great for sensitive skin”
Improves Skin Texture Sometimes Noted
- “reduced my texture”
- “skin looks smoother”
- “gives a nice glow”
- “helped with dark spots”
Rich Lather & Texture Sometimes Noted
- “lathers very well”
- “a little goes a long way”
- “creamy foam”
- “thick gel texture”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “smells like old lady perfume”
- “fragrance is too strong”
- “wish it was unscented”
- “smells flowery/soapy”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “broke me out bad”
- “caused bumps on forehead”
- “aggravated my acne”
- “gave me whiteheads”
Drying for some Rarely Noted
- “made my skin drier”
- “left my face feeling tight”
- “stripped my moisture barrier”
Slimy consistency Rarely Noted
- “texture is too slimy”
- “feels weird to apply”
- “slippery and hard to wash off”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, iherb.com, nykaa.com, skinsort.com, sokoglam.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes COSRX Snail Mucin Cleanser one of the best fits for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is one of the best fits because snail mucin and glycerin hydrate your skin without making it oily while calming redness, and gentle cleansers clear out pores to prevent breakouts. It is very safe and unlikely to cause irritation because it leaves out harsh ingredients and includes soothing components.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Snail secretion filtrate and glycerin hydrate your skin without over-stripping while soothing inflammation, making this cleanser a great fit for breakouts. Additionally, gentle cleansing ingredients like disodium laureth sulfosuccinate and sodium cocoyl isethionate effectively clear out pores.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
What does Snail Mucin do for acne-prone skin?
Snail mucin helps calm acne-prone skin and significantly reduces angry red breakouts when used regularly. It supports skin recovery and helps manage inflammation so your face stays smoother and clearer.
What does Glycerin do for acne-prone skin?
Glycerin helps keep acne-prone skin hydrated and calm without clogging pores or feeling heavy. It supports the skin barrier so it stays soft and smooth while handling everyday treatments.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is used in the morning and evening as the first cleansing step in your daily routine. It helps wash away impurities from pores while keeping your skin calm and balanced without irritation.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this cleanser with retinol as part of your routine. Use the cleanser to wash your face before applying your retinol treatment to help keep your skin balanced and comfortable.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Its gentle cleansing ingredients and soothing snail secretion filtrate clean pores without drying out your skin or causing irritation.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is one of the best fits for acne-prone skin because it thoroughly cleans out pores while keeping the skin calm and hydrated. It is very unlikely to clog pores or cause irritation, though a few shoppers report having breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is unlikely to irritate your eyes or body because it has an excellent safety profile with very gentle cleansing agents and soothing components. Snail Mucin and Glycerin hydrate without over-stripping, while gentle cleansers clear pores.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A facial serum containing snail secretion filtrate, Calendula officinalis, and Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract significantly reduced inflammatory acne lesions compared to placebo in 66 participants with mild-to-moderate maskne over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Sodium cocoyl isethionate micelles are too large to penetrate stratum corneum aqueous pores, resulting in significant steric hindrance that prevents skin barrier perturbation and explains its skin mildness.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007Coco-glucoside powered emulgels containing probiotics and prebiotics demonstrated stability without phase separation and preserved probiotic viability for up to 11 days, supporting the skin's natural barrier.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2025Cruelty-free extracted snail slime promotes fibroblast viability, triggers recovery through Erk protein activation, reduces cyclooxygenase-2 expression, and increases angiopoietin 1 gene expression and collagen I release in skin cell populations.
Molecules, 2023HelixComplex snail mucus protected human keratinocytes and reconstructed human epidermis models from ozone-induced oxidative damage and pro-inflammatory response following exposure to 0.5 ppm ozone for 2 hours.
PloS One, 2020Topical treatment with Snail Secretion Filtrate significantly improves the speed and percentage of wound area closure, enhances proliferation and tissue remodeling, and reduces inflammation in a full-thickness excisional wound model in mice compared to untreated controls.
Veterinary Sciences, 2021Topical application of 48% and 96% snail mucus increases angiogenesis during wound healing in Wistar rat skin compared to lower concentrations and control.
F1000Research, 2021The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
Ingredients
Water, Acrylates Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Coco-Glucoside, Lauryl Betaine, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Arginine, Tromethamine, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Carbomer, Sodium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Disodium Edta
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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