Versus

COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence Versus Dermalogica Circular Hydrating Serum

Essence
Serum
Korean Brand South Korea
American Brand United States

Updated on March 07, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 6 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin, sensitive skin, scar healing and dark spots

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens, silicones or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

What's inside (and what isn't)

What's inside (and what isn't)

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Benefits

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Circular Hydrating Serum

Water

Skin Conditioning

PEG-8

Humectant

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Methylpropanediol

Solvent

Propanediol

Solvent

PPG-24-Glycereth-24

Emulsifying

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning

Xylitylglucoside

Humectant

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Hydroxyethyl Urea

Humectant

Panthenol

Skin Conditioning
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Hydroxyacetophenone

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Lactic Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Hyaluronic Acid

Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant
0 / 0 Hyaluronic Acid Icon

Dunaliella Salina Extract

Skin Conditioning

Avena Sativa Kernel Extract

Abrasive
Exfoliant IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil Icon

Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil Icon

Citrus Limon Peel Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Santalum Album Oil

Masking
Oil IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Laminaria Digitata Extract

Skin Protecting

Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract

Masking
Fragrance Icon

Chondrus Crispus Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Gigartina Stellata Extract

Skin Protecting

Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract

Skin Conditioning

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil

Skin Conditioning
3 / 0 Oil IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract

Skin Conditioning

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil

Masking
Oil Icon

Cupressus Sempervirens Oil

Masking
Oil Icon

Cistus Ladaniferus Leaf/Stem Extract

Masking

Juniperus Virginiana Oil

Masking
Oil IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Rosmarinus Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract

Masking

Tagetes Minuta Flower Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil Icon

Rosa Damascena Flower

Skin Conditioning

Hydrolyzed Rice Protein

Skin Conditioning

Pentylene Glycol

Skin Conditioning

Sodium PCA

Humectant
0 / 0

Anhydroxylitol

Humectant

Xylitol

Humectant

Polyglutamic Acid

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Lactobacillus Ferment

Skin Conditioning

Lysine Hcl

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Betaine

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Sclerotium Gum

Emulsion Stabilising

Sodium Lactate

Buffering

PCA

Humectant

Glucose

Humectant

Serine

Masking

Alanine

Masking

Glycine

Buffering
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Silanetriol

Pantolactone

Humectant

Glutamic Acid

Humectant

Threonine

Arginine

Masking
Good for Scar Healing IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Proline

Skin Conditioning

Xanthan Gum

Emulsifying

Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate

Polysorbate 20

Emulsifying
0 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Sorbitan Isostearate

Emulsifying
1-2 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Citric Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Sodium Hydroxide

Buffering

Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

Emulsion Stabilising

Amylopectin

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Emulsion Stabilising

Sodium Benzoate

Masking
Preservative Icon

Potassium Sorbate

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Limonene

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Linalool

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Betaine is a common humectant (a substance that promotes retention of moisture). It's known to be gentle on the skin and can help balance hydration.

This ingredient is best for improving hydration and soothing irritated skin. Studies also show it helps even out skin tone.

Fun fact: Betaine is naturally created in the skin and body. The kind found within cosmetic products can be either plant-derived or synthetic.

Learn more about Betaine
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.
  • It has mild preservative properties.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse. 

It is a:

  • Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
  • Emollient, helping to soften skin
  • Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
  • Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives 
Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.

Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.

Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.

These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:

Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning

Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.

There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.

D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.

Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):

Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.

This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.

Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.

This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.

Learn more about Panthenol
Masking, Skin Conditioning

Arginine is an amino acid that is important for human development. Your body uses is it to produce hair keratin and skin collagen.

As a cosmetic ingredient, Arginine has antioxidant properties and can also help repair damaged skin. This ingredient is derived either synthetically or from animals.

Arginine isn't fungal acne safe when used in the presence of other lipids (fats, fatty acids, oils, esters, etc). Oils and fats occur naturally within the skin, so take caution when using Arginine if you're prone to fungal acne.

Learn more about Arginine

When to use

20,866 Routines
48% use in am
52% use in pm
97% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
50 Routines
46% use in am
54% use in pm
78% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence 12 ingredients

3.6 /5
from 337 ratings
Hydrating (95) No Scent (79) Works Well (67)
cgi's avatar

cgi

1 year ago
Review

this snail mucin essence really is one of the best ones out there— it's a holy grail. this product was my very first impression of cosrx, and the short ingredient list is very surprising with how effective it is. i've been using it for about a year now, and it's become a staple in my routine. after my first couple weeks of use, a lot of my dark spots disappeared and calmed down my hormonal acne & Show more

#expensive
#hydrating
#light
#absorbs well
robinorr's avatar

Robin Orr

10 months ago
Review

This ruined my face! I didn’t know that my dust mite allergy also made me allergic to this. I used it for five months and everything seemed fine, but then I started to get a goatee of fungal acne with big red patches. I’d also been getting a lot of big pimples in my hairline from it. It’s taken me months to understand what happened and to soothe my sad skin. Be warned not to jump off the bridge Show more

#broke me out
#irritating

Dermalogica Circular Hydrating Serum 70 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 1 rating
Etai's avatar

Etai

1 year ago
Review

The hydration change is instant