CosRX Shield Fit Snail Essence Sun SPF 50+ PA+++ Review & Swatches
CosRX Shield Fit Snail Essence Sun SPF 50+ PA+++ ($16) is a new lightweight “essence-light” and hydrating chemical sunscreen (SPF) that contains snail mucin which launched recently from the brand. I got this Friday and have been using it daily since that time so, I thought I’d share some thoughts and a review on it as I know many of you, like me, are big fans of CosRX.
There are actually two formulas available of Shield Fit at the moment. The other is Shield Fit All Green Comfort Sun but I ended up going with Shield Fit Snail Essence Sun as it sounded great for drier skin.
The idea behind this SPF is great. A chemical sunscreen with the moisturizing benefits of snail mucin? Sign me up! Sadly, CosRX literally destroys this formula with alcohol and essential oils. First off, let’s discuss size. This is $16 and 1.18 oz in size. I can go through this in a flash of an eye. My beloved Allie is over 3 oz in size. Seriously, 1 oz? I can get maybe two weeks out of this at best.
Size aside, let’s chat formula. They called this “essence-light” which I find very inaccurate and even misleading. It’s a pretty traditional milky SPF with a runnier formula. I think when essence comes to mind I think quick to absorb, lightweight and perhaps serum-like, refreshing, non-sticky. This isn’t exactly quick to absorb! The milkier texture does take a moment to full absorb into skin. It leaves behind that sort of rubber hugging effect a lot of traditional SPF formulas do. It’s not a uncomfortable feeling in the least as once it does absorb it feels like nothing at all on my skin. But initially it does feel a little greasy and weird on my skin. I was disappointed as knowing it had snail I was hoping for something that absorbed in a sec but it does not. I also, didn’t feel like it was super hydrating either but let’s not forget one of the top ingredients is alcohol. However, I won’t be holding alcohol against CosRX. Most Japanese SPFs I love contain alcohol. It’s what gives them that gel-like formula that absorbs in a snap. It does have a white cast initially but that disappears fairly fast once absorbed.
I will however, rant that this contains a host of crummy essential oils like bergamot, mandarin orange, and basil. It also contains hyaluronic acid but it’s so far down the list I have my doubts it makes and real difference in the formula at all! Even Snail Secretion Filtrate is lower on the list with all the essential oils higher up. WHY, Cosrx, Why!? It does have a light fragrance that was orange-like.
I feel like there’s so much loss potential with CosRX Shield Fit Snail Essence Sun SPF 50+ PA+++ with it being a chemical screen and containing snail mucin but it’s such a disappointingly small amount plus the essential oils are such a buzz kill!
Oh well!
Where to buy
CosRX Shield Fit Snail Essence Sun SPF 50+ PA+++ is a new chemical sunscreen that launched for Spring 2019 along with the new Shield Fit All Green Comfort Sun which is also, a chemical sunscreen. I purchased this formula due to the promise snail mucin but it contains so little of it not sure if it will make much difference in how hydrated my skin will look and feel. This is a milky, runny formula that takes a few seconds to fully absorb and initially leaves a white case and a greasy film. Once absorbed both the white cast and greasiness disappears. I was disappointed in the overall texture just because they promises an “essence-like” formula but this doesn’t really have an essence formula at all. The most disappointing aspect is the fact it contains a lot of unnecessary essential oils that could irritate skin or sensitize it. This was a real deal breaker for me!
Water, Homosalate , Alcohol Denat., Octocrylene, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Acrylates Copolymer, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane,Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Beheneth-25, Caprylyl Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Oleate, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil, Disodium EDTA, Ocimum Basilicum (Basil) Oil, Allantoin, Panthenol, Dipropylene Glycol, Maltodextrin, Moringa Pterygosperma Seed Extract, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, 1,2-Hexanediol, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate
- Comfortable to wear and wears well under makeup.
- Contains essential oils.
- Contains fragrance.
- Better ingredients are located way down the list.
- Contains alcohol.
If you don’t mind the essential oils, alcohol, and fragrance you might want to give CosRX Shield Fit Snail Essence Sun SPF 50+ PA+++ a try!