Quick context

Cold/dry air + strong indoor heating

Sensitive/reactive; combo but dehydrated on the cheeks

No prescription actives; I added only this essence during the test week

Why I tried it

It’s famous for smoothing texture and bringing back glow. My skin was rough/dull from stress, so I wanted a gentle bounce-back. I ended up with my worst reaction in a while.

3-Day Log

Day 1 — Pea-size on slightly damp skin after cleansing. Slippy, syrupy gel; felt fine at first.

Day 2 — Same amount AM + PM. Brief warmth after applying, then it faded, so I kept going.

Day 3 (AM) — Within minutes: stinging + hot flush. Rinsed it off, moisturized, and stopped immediately.

Next morning — Cheeks were diffusely red and patchy with a clear edge (see photo). Felt sandpapery; zero glow—just heat and roughness.

Photo note: broad pink-red flushing across the cheek; looks rosacea-like (not a diagnosis—just describing the look).

How it actually felt (before I quit)

Texture: slippy, syrupy gel that spreads easily

Dry-down: shiny/tacky ~1 min, then seemingly weightless

Sensation: Day 2 warmth → Day 3 sting/heat

Net result: redness ↑, roughness ↑, glow 0

What probably went wrong (not medical advice)

Snail filtrate can be a trigger for some sensitive skin—“gentle” isn’t universal.

Barrier was likely compromised (cold + heating); high humectant load may have pulled water in ways my skin didn’t love.

Pace: jumping to twice daily by Day 2 was too fast for my reactive skin.

The slick, slightly occlusive feel may have trapped heat/irritation instead of letting it vent.

Reset that worked

Stopped the essence immediately.

Kept routine to cleanser → very plain hydrating toner → ceramide/panthenol cream → SPF.

Cool compress 5–10 minutes when my face felt hot.

Avoided heat (long hot showers/saunas) and all actives.

~72 hours later the stinging faded; the rough texture took longer to settle.

If you still want to try it (sensitive-skin tips)

Patch test 2–3 nights on jawline/behind ear.

Start night-only, 2×/week → every other night → daily only if there’s zero warmth or prickling.

Apply on slightly damp skin; seal with a cream to hold water in.

Don’t stack new products; alternate with acids/retinoids.

At the first sign of increasing sting or heat, rinse and stop—don’t “push through.”

What I learned

A simple INCI doesn’t guarantee safety for reactive skin. Lots of people find this barrier-friendly; on me it was a clear mismatch. After 3 days I had more redness, more roughness, no glow—the opposite of my goal.

My take (sensitive-skin POV)

Hoped for: smoother texture + glow during a rough month

Got: stinging, flushing, rougher texture → stopped on Day 3

Re-buy/re-try: No. My barrier and this essence don’t get along.

If you see rosacea-like flushing or a burning feel, stop and check with a professional—no cult favorite is worth a full-face setback.

Short verdict

Beloved by many, but on my early-20s sensitive skin it was a hard miss—more redness and roughness, zero glow. If you’re reactive, proceed very slowly or skip and stick to simple ceramide/panthenol care.