1% Retinol Night Serum with 97.5% Snail Mucin 1oz
What it's good for
Key actives from our research database. Click any to read the full evidence dossier.
Speeds up how fast your skin renews itself so old, dull cells shed faster and fresher skin shows through. Builds collagen over time, smoothing fine lines.
Good for: Anti-aging
A plant-based alternative to retinol. Smooths fine lines and evens tone with much less irritation, making it safer for sensitive skin.
Good for: Anti-aging
A Korean-skincare staple that hydrates, soothes, and helps surface damage recover faster. Especially nice on dehydrated or post-acne skin.
Good for: Hydrating, Barrier repair
A bee-made resin that's antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. Calms breakouts and hydrates at the same time.
Good for: Anti-acne, Anti-inflammatory
A workhorse antioxidant that defends your skin from daily oxidative damage. Pairs especially well with vitamin C, and it's in nearly every good moisturizer for a reason.
Good for: Antioxidant
A pure hydrator that holds water in your skin. Makes skin look plumper and smoother almost immediately.
Good for: Hydrating
Evidence behind the ingredients
Real citations from our research database, one per tracked active in this product. Click any ingredient name to read its full evidence dossier.
Speeds up how fast your skin renews itself so old, dull cells shed faster and fresher skin shows through. Builds collagen over time, smoothing fine lines.
SCCS Revision of the Scientific Opinion on Vitamin A (Retinol, Retinyl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate), SCCS/1639/21, final version adopted 24-25 October 2022
Chien AL et al. Biomarkers of Tretinoin Precursors and Tretinoin Efficacy in Patients With Moderate to Severe Facial Photodamage: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Dermatology. 2022;158(8):892-900. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2022.1891 — RCT comparing topical retinol precursors vs tretinoin for photoaging; both showed equivalent wrinkle reduction at week 24 with retinol formulation causing 6x less erythema than tretinoin.
MFDS Approved Functional Cosmetic Active — Retinol (anti-wrinkle). Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Cosmetic Functional Active Ingredient List — listed alongside Adenosine, Retinyl Palmitate, and Polyethoxylated Retinamide in the Korean Functional Cosmetics Codex anti-wrinkle category
A plant-based alternative to retinol. Smooths fine lines and evens tone with much less irritation, making it safer for sensitive skin.
Fanning N et al., Human Clinical Trials Using Topical Bakuchiol Formulations for the Treatment of Skin Disorders: A Systematic Review, Journal of Drugs in Dermatology 2024;23(4):239-243 — bakuchiol trials suggest efficacy but are methodologically limited (mostly uncontrolled, combination formulations)
Hu L et al., Effect and Mechanism of Tricholoma matsutake Extract Combined with Bakuchiol and Ergothioneine on UVB-Induced Skin Aging, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology 2024
Puyana C et al., Applications of Bakuchiol in Dermatology: Systematic Review of the Literature, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology 2022
A Korean-skincare staple that hydrates, soothes, and helps surface damage recover faster. Especially nice on dehydrated or post-acne skin.
Sekar D et al., From Slime to Sublime: The Impact of Snail Mucin on Scar Therapy and Wound Healing in Dermatology, Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology 2025
Puaratanaarunkon T et al., Efficacy and safety of a facial serum containing snail secretion filtrate, Calendula officinalis, and Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract in the treatment of maskne: A randomized placebo-controlled study, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology 2022;21(10):4470-4478 — 12-week RCT (n=66): snail-secretion-filtrate serum significantly reduced inflammatory acne lesions
McDermott M et al., Advancing Discovery of Snail Mucins Function and Application, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 2021
+−3 more ingredients
A bee-made resin that's antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. Calms breakouts and hydrates at the same time.
Chantadee T et al., In Situ Thai Apis mellifera Propolis Film as Potential Protective Phytopharmaceuticals Against UVB-Induced HaCaT Keratinocyte Damage, Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2026
Effect of propolis on wound healing in sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease: a randomized controlled clinical trial, 2021 — accelerated wound healing from week 1 with greater effect days 14-28 vs control
Martin BA et al., A New Approach to Atopic Dermatitis Control with Low-Concentration Propolis-Loaded Cold Cream, Pharmaceutics 2021;13(9):1346 — low-concentration propolis cold cream reduced atopic-dermatitis severity
A workhorse antioxidant that defends your skin from daily oxidative damage. Pairs especially well with vitamin C, and it's in nearly every good moisturizer for a reason.
Neves JR et al., Efficacy of a topical serum containing L-ascorbic acid, neohesperidin, pycnogenol, tocopherol, and hyaluronic acid in relation to skin aging signs, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology 2022;21(10):4462-4469 — tocopherol-containing antioxidant serum reduced pollution-induced damage and improved aging signs
Warshaw EM et al., Patch Testing With Tocopherol and Tocopherol Acetate: The North American Contact Dermatitis Group Experience, 2001 to 2016, Dermatitis 2021;32(5):308-318 — 15-year NACDG data: positive patch-test reactions to tocopherol rare given widespread cosmetic use
Lin FH et al., Ferulic acid stabilizes a solution of vitamins C and E and doubles its photoprotection of skin, Journal of Investigative Dermatology 2005;125(4):826-832 — ferulic acid + vit C + vit E combo doubled photoprotection vs C+E alone (cross-listed; same paper cited for Ferulic Acid and Vit C)
A pure hydrator that holds water in your skin. Makes skin look plumper and smoother almost immediately.
Karabat MU, Tuncer MC. Effects of hyaluronic acid on skin at the cellular level: a systematic review. Rev Assoc Med Bras. 2025;71(8):e20250208. — Systematic review of 45 studies found low-molecular-weight HA stimulates keratinocyte proliferation and migration while high-molecular-weight HA drives skin hydration, supporting topical HA as an effective skin-hydrating and barrier-supporting ingredient.
Bravo B et al., Benefits of topical hyaluronic acid for skin quality and signs of skin aging: From literature review to clinical evidence, Dermatology and Therapy 2022;12(12):2657-2680 — HA-based cosmeceuticals reliably improve hydration and signs of skin aging
Lee SG et al., Hyaluronan Oligosaccharides Improve Rosacea-Like Phenotype through Anti-Inflammatory and Epidermal Barrier-Improving Effects, Annals of Dermatology 2020
Sources: 10 clinical journals and regulatory databases across the US, EU, Korea, Japan, and China. Every entry points to a specific document. See methodology for the full list and what each outcome label means.
Layering conflicts
Ingredients in this product that can react with common actives. Avoid stacking unless noted.
- Salicylic Acidhigh
Retinol + salicylic acid can over-exfoliate and damage the barrier. Alternate nights.
- Glycolic Acidhigh
Retinol + glycolic acid is a classic barrier-buster. Use on different nights.
- Lactic Acidmedium
Retinol + lactic acid is gentler than glycolic but still alternate nights to be safe.
- Mandelic Acidmedium
Retinol + mandelic acid — alternate nights to preserve barrier integrity.
- Benzoyl Peroxidemedium
Benzoyl peroxide can break down retinol. Use one in the morning and the other at night, or pick a stabilized formula made to combine them.
- Vitamin Clow
Vitamin C and retinol work best at different pH levels. Use vitamin C in the morning and retinol at night.
Similar comparisons
Not medical advice. GlowPal is educational. Patch-test new products and talk to a qualified healthcare professional before changing your routine, especially if you're pregnant, nursing, or have a diagnosed skin condition. See our terms.