The first time I tried my friend’s snail gel moisturizer a few years ago, I didn’t know what to expect. The moisturizer wasn’t slimy at all—it just felt like normal moisturizer. But I was definitely intrigued. I decided to order COSRX Snail Mucin Essence 96 to see if it would help my skin at all.

If you read my comparison of CeraVe baby sunscreen vs. adult sunscreen, you already know that I have a strange affinity for baby skincare products. I love the idea that baby products are designed to be tolerated by the most sensitive skin ever: baby skin. So could they be better for adults who have sensitive skin?

I’ve harbored mixed feelings about the importance of using toner as part of one’s skincare routine. I’ve used toners off and on since my teenage years. I suspect that most of the positive effects were psychological—using toner made my face feel cleaner than using face wash alone. Recently, I’ve been using Thayers Cucumber Toner, and I think it might continue to play a regular role in my skincare routine, for a number of reasons that I’ll go into later in this post.