This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Snail Secretion Filtrate and Madecassoside to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness.
This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Snail Secretion Filtrate to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMadecassoside
AntioxidantCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEthyl Hexanediol
SolventHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
ChelatingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantSnail Secretion Filtrate, Glycerin, Water, Sodium PCA, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Madecassoside, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethyl Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycosyl Trehalose, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSnail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingC12-14 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
ChelatingSucrose
HumectantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingAgrimonia Eupatoria Extract
AstringentSalvia Officinalis Oil
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSilybum Marianum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPerilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
MaskingSodium Chondroitin Sulfate
Skin ConditioningBroussonetia Kazinoki Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Capillaris Extract
Cimicifuga Dahurica Root Extract
AntioxidantSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Snail Secretion Filtrate, C12-14 Pareth-12, C12-14 Pareth-7, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Trehalose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Allantoin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Sucrose, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Agrimonia Eupatoria Extract, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Silybum Marianum Seed Extract, Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Broussonetia Kazinoki Root Extract, Propolis Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Cimicifuga Dahurica Root Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Madecassoside, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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
Centella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is one of the most researched botanical extracts in skincare with decades of studies backing its effects on inflammation, collagen, and the skin barrier.
That research keeps pointing back to the same four triterpenoid saponins: Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, and Madecassic Acid.
These compounds allow centella to dial back inflammation, encourage the skin to build and hold onto collagen, support the barrier and hydration, and bring solid antioxidant activity to protect against signs of aging.
Centella also carries a nice supporting cast of Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and amino acids. Put it all together and you get an ingredient that soothes, hydrates, and protects, all at once.
Most of centella's magic comes from the four big compounds (Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, and Madecassic Acid). These are the actives doing the heavy lifting in almost every centella study.
Here is the short version of what they do in the skin:
So it is not just soothing for the sake of soothing. Centella calms the skin AND helps it rebuild.
Just FYI, not all centella on an ingredient list is the same. What you are getting actually depends on the extract:
Fun fact on the ratios: the leaves tend to be richest in Madecassoside and Asiaticoside, and lower in the two acids. The exact amounts shift with where the plant is grown and how it is processed. This means purity really does vary brand to brand.
Centella is one of the most easygoing actives out there.
It layers well with basically everything: niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and vitamin C, and also pairs nicely with stronger actives like retinoids and exfoliating acids where it can help take the edge off irritation.
On the safety side, centella and its triterpenes are classified as weak sensitizers, meaning allergic reactions are possible but uncommon.
Patch tests at 1% and 5% came back negative in test panels, and creams at typical use levels did not cause allergic reactions across large groups of people.
But as with any new active, a patch test is still a smart move for very reactive skin.
Centella is widely used because it is effective at low percentages. For context, human safety testing found no meaningful irritation from creams containing centella extract at everyday use levels (the tested amounts were well under 1%).
The irritancy threshold in animal testing was also above 30% (so real-world formulas sit far below anything concerning).
In collagen lab studies, higher concentrations drove more collagen synthesis, so serums built around centella tend to feature it more prominently.
Bottom line: you will find centella working nicely anywhere from a fraction of a percent up to hero-ingredient levels depending on whether it is a supporting soother or the main event.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinMadecassoside is one of four active compounds found in Centella asiatica and is one of the main reasons Centella is so effective at calming irritated skin and supporting the moisture barrier.
There's a solid body of peer-reviewed research backing Madecassoside for several skin benefits. Studies have found:
Madecassoside pairs well with other hydrating or antioxidant ingredients like Ascorbic Acid or Hyaluronic Acid.
Learn more about MadecassosidePentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSnail Secretion Filtrate (the slimy mucus that garden snails produce) is a multitasking ingredient that shows up in "skin repair" formulas.
This ingredient works because it's a grab bag of skin-friendly stuff like:
In a formula, it acts as a humectant and barrier-supporting soother and the research backs this up as well.
A 2025 systematic review of human clinical trials found that snail-derived ingredients improved signs of aging, increased skin hydration, decreased transepidermal water loss, and improved healing after radiation therapy/fractional laser treatment.
Lab studies have also shown the secretion promotes the proliferation, migration, and survival of the cells that rebuild skin (keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts).
There's also a placebo-controlled study where a serum containing it helped with mask-related acne.
Overall, this is a gentle, water-based multitasker that works great for hydrating and supporting the skin barrier. However, please see the section below if you have dust mite or shellfish allergies.
You'll see snail filtrate listed at very different percentages depending on the product. Some Korean serums list it near the top of the ingredients at 90% or more while other products use just a few percent.
This doesn't mean the high-percentage ones are far stronger. Raw snail filtrate is mostly water to begin with so using a lot of it isn't the same thing as using a lot of the active ingredients.
Other products use a concentrated version so a small amount goes a long way. Either approach can work well. Just know the percentage on the label isn't a reliable way to judge how effective a snail product will be.
Being cruelty-free means a brand does not experiment on animals. If you're worried about the well-being of the snails, we recommend looking more into the company of the product. Many brands claim to have developed humane methods to collect snail mucin.
There is much debate on this subject. On one hand, this ingredient comes from an animal. On the other hand, many will argue the ingredient is naturally secreted (like a natural by-product) and therefore vegan. If you have reservations, you can look into Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate or Centella Asiatica Extract as alternatives.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe. Its core composition lacks the fatty acid/ester triggers that Malassezia depends on.
True allergy to Snail Secretion Filtrate is uncommon and most documented cases are linked to a dust mite allergy.
Snail proteins (including Tropomyosin) are similar enough to dust mite proteins that the immune system can confuse them.
In most documented cases, the dust mite was the original trigger and tropomyosin turned out to be only a minor player in some studies (so this has not been fully confirmed).
Another thing to know is that nearly all the evidence comes from eating snails or inhaling the protein and not from cosmetics.
However, the allergenic proteins can survive filtration into a finished product; a topical reaction is biologically plausible but there's little published evidence of it actually happening.
People who are allergic to dust mites (or sometimes shellfish) are the most likely to react.
Learn more about Snail Secretion FiltrateWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water