By Korea.net Honorary Reporters Roufida Abouelwafa and Bardise Eldeeb from Egypt
Photo = Roufida Abouelwafa
Cartoons = Bardise Eldeeb

Roufida Abouelwafa loves almost all Korean skincare products and knows a lot about them. Here, she will discuss one such product that I find quite interesting through the characters Barodiso and Roadiat.

Barodiso is kind of clueless about these products, so Roadiat will teach Barodiso more about them.

Though Barodiso doesn't use a lot of Korean skincare products, she does use a few daily as part of her skincare routine. One of them is snail soothing gel, which seems quite popular in Korea because of the use of snail mucin in a variety of skincare products such as gels, creams and mask sheets.

Before using the gel, Barodiso read a lot about it and found that it helps alleviate many skin problems such as dryness, stretch marks, inflammation and burns. This convinced her that the gel is perfect for any skin type even if one has no skin problems.

Snail gel products are easily found in Korea at stores and online.

The reason Barodiso loves this gel is because it's perfect for her skin. She was quite surprised when she discovered it because Egypt has no similar product.

But what about Roadiat, does she know about this gel, too? Let's see.

Barodiso: Have you heard about snail gel or slime before?
Roadiat: Of course. Products based on snail secretion are my favorite. Snail extraction was first used and promoted by Korean beauty brands, and there's a good reason for that. Scientists found out that snails secrete mucin when their shells are broken to help repair damage, and when an experiment was done on human skin, scientists discovered that snail mucin can repair skin tissue as well. What makes the ingredient amazing is its effectiveness on damaged skin, acne, dehydration or even scars. I've seen how snail-based products work after many years of use.



Barodiso: Have you used snail soothing gel before?
Roadiat: No, because I don't really like gels. I prefer to use the serum with 96-percent snail mucin extraction. Unlike gels, serums tend to be more concentrated.

Barodiso: What was your first impression about it before using it? Were you surprised when you found out about it? I sure was.
Roadiat: Yes, I was especially surprised because the natural texture of snail extraction is so sticky and gooey. I initially thought it was unpleasant but later got addicted to it.

Barodiso: In your opinion, is there another gel or cream just as effective as this gel?
Roadiat: No, because the snail extract is a natural ingredient. But from a chemical point of view, niacinamide (a form of B3 vitamin) has a similar effect and that's why it is found in many products as well.


Barodiso: I usually use this gel before going to bed because that's when I feel it’s most effective based on my personal experience. What about you? Do you use a specific Korean product before going to bed?
Roadiat: Yes, I use a sleep mask pack. I was introduced to such masks three years ago when my brother-in-law traveled to Korea and brought back a bunch of K-Beauty products. Among them were honey and herbal sleeping mask sheets that supposedly moisturize the skin during sleep. I later learned that fragrances are added to the masks to help wearers go to sleep.

Barodiso: Have you tried Korean snail mask sheets? I did and they're great.
Roadiat: I love the snail mucin ingredient so much that I've tried a range of products containing it such as serums, essences, foam cleansers and mask sheets. A favorite of mine is snail eye cream as it helps reduce wrinkles. I recommend that everyone tries a Korean snail product at least once.

Barodiso: Since you've tried so many snail products, what is the best form especially when concentration matters?
Roadiat: It depends on your skin type and needs. For moisture only, you can choose from snail creams, gels or even mask sheets. But if you have skin problems, look for snail essences, serums and ampoules. Personally, I prefer serums.

wisdom117@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.