So today, I’m reviewing a lesser-known, but surprisingly fabulous Korean sunscreen that may well be on its way to becoming my favorite sunscreen.

When I’m making a Roseroseshop.com order, I like to browse the hot sale section to find fun cheap items to pad out my order (RRS’s shipping operates on a tiered system, so I want to make sure I maximize the products I can buy without going up a tier). I came across the 3WClinic UV Snail Day Sun Cream on one of these browsing sessions and was intrigued. First of all, the price was intriguing — it was a whopping $4! For 70ml! I was curious as to whether such a cheap product could be any good.

Second of all, the ingredient list was intriguing. It’s alcohol free, and the ingredients looked awesome. Some ingredients, like collagen (moisturizing, anti-aging), arbutin (whitening), snail mucin (anti-inflammatory, anti-acne, soothing, moisturizing), and adenosine (firming, anti-aging), I’d expect to find in a much more expensive sunscreen. I also liked the inclusion of many moisturizing agents like aloe and beeswax, which sounded like a godsend to my dehydrated and dry skin.

Winter is coming. Well, in Southern California that just means that it gets slightly cooler, but the sun is still pretty intense. I’ve been looking at switching to an alcohol-free sunscreen in a cream formula to help keep my skin moisturized during the winter, and I figured, at $4, it was worth a shot.

The tube is pretty bling, but I happen to like it =). I’m kinda on a rose gold kick these days anyway.

UV Snail Day Sun Cream Ingredients

Water, EthylhexylMethoxycinnamate, Titanium Oxide, 1,3-Butylene Glycol, 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Bees wax, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3Methylglucose Distearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Clyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Methylparaben, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Xanthan Gum, Aloe Barbansis Leaf Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Propylparaben, Disodium-EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Arbutin, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Adenosine, Betaine, Perfume

It looks like a pretty solid ingredients list. It’s a combination physical-chemical sunscreen, and the sun filters are the ones that tend to be less irritating (at least to me). There’s no drying alcohol, which can irritate already-dehydrated skin like mine. There ARE plenty of fatty alcohols though, so steer clear if you’re sensitive. Also, this sunscreen is not paraben-free, so if you’re concerned about preservatives, it might not be for you. I don’t have a problem with parabens — they don’t irritate me and I believe they are the most effective compounds for preventing microbial growth without releasing dangerous by-products (but don’t take my word for it, check out this post by the Beauty Brains).

And there are some great ingredients in there! Collagen! Aloe! Arbutin! Snail! Adenosine! True, most of these ingredients are pretty low down on the list so the effect is probably minimal at best, but still, they are there!

Texture and Experience

I LOVE the texture of this sunscreen, you guys. It’s a true sun cream. It’s very creamy, with a LOT of slip so it glides on like a dream. Unlike some other cream sunscreens I’ve tried (ahem, Innisfree eco-safety perfect sunscreen!), there’s no tugging or struggling to get it to spread.

Despite the lack of alcohol, it absorbs VERY fast and you can add another layer or move straight to your makeup without waiting. I have been using the Missha Safe Block Sun Milk Soft Finish lately, and although I really like it, I do have to wait for it to dry. No waiting for this one.

And the FINISH! It absorbs completely with absolutely no white cast, leaving my skin noticeably softer and more supple, with no shine! The finish is matte, but still glowy and healthy. It is moisturizing enough that if I have done a good job with my hydrating essences and serums, I can use this sunscreen as a moisturizer (and I have pretty dry skin on my cheeks and jaw). It doesn’t make my skin irritated throughout the day and works great under makeup. Unlike what you’d expect of a sun CREAM, it doesn’t make me feel greasy or oily, just nicely moisturized. However, I do have pretty dry dehydrated skin, so if you’re oily, it may be too moisturizing for you.

It has a light baby-powder smell that dissipates after a few minutes. It’s quite moderate, but in case you’re sensitive to smells, it might be important to know that this is not unfragranced. In general, I don’t like synthetic smells, but this doesn’t bother me.

Basically, I’m in love, guys. I wholeheartedly recommend the 3wClinic UV Snail Day Sun Cream. It’s a great value. RRS has it for $4, but you can find it on eBay for around $10.

The Bottom Line

Love, love, love it! No alcohol, highly moisturizing, no white cast, great ingredients. I can’t think of anything bad to say for this one, sorry.

Where to Buy

Roseroseshop.com: $4.02 (the best price I can find, and this is not an affiliate link)

I just LOVE it when I find a little-known, super-cheap product that works wonders for me, don’t you?