A Makeup Artist Asked Me How I Get My Skin So Glassy—This No-Snail Snail Mucin Is My Secret Weapon

Skin-related compliments are always a win in my book, but I especially light up (pun intended) when the praise comes from a makeup artist. The pros, after all, are extremely well-versed in color correction, subtle dimension, and disguising blemishes until skin appears practically airbrushed. When one of said pros mentions how smooth and even your complexion looks without a stitch of foundation? Score!

I found myself in such a scenario not too long ago while getting ready for a dear friend's wedding. I was seventh in the assembly line of bridesmaid makeup chairs, and as soon as I sat down, the MUA grabbed my foundation (Chantecaille's Future Skin Oil-Free Foundation), took one look at my skin, then put it down in disbelief. "How do you get your skin so… glassy?" she mused. I proceeded to spill the ride-or-die formulas I've been hoarding to prep for my own upcoming wedding, then remembered I recently added a new player to the lineup: Glow Recipe's Prickly Pear Peptide Mucin. The formula is lauded for its skin-smoothing and collagen-supporting abilities, so I have a strong feeling it's what moved the needle for my bouncy, glass-like glow and those coveted "OMG, your skin!" compliments.

What is Glow Recipe's Prickly Pear Peptide Mucin?

Let's first discuss the "mucin" portion, shall we? If you consider yourself an avid beauty fan, you're likely familiar with snail mucin. The gel-like mucus is responsible for keeping snails' bodies nice and lubricated so they can glide their way through life, and those hydrating properties can benefit human skin too. Namely, snail mucin helps skin retain moisture, which, in turn, "reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improves the 'bounce' of skin, and provides a healthy, youthful appearance," double board-certified dermatologist Brendan Camp, MD, of MDCS Dermatology once told WWW about the ingredient.

It's been a K-beauty mainstay for ages, but there have been some concerns over the years about ethical sourcing methods. Extracting the mucin can cause snails major distress, which is why Glow Recipe decided to create a 100% vegan version powered by prickly pear cactus. These plants must store water in order to survive their dry desert environments, which results in a mucin-rich, gel-like substance that's equally hydrating for the skin. It even has a similar "bounce" to traditional snail mucin, but the viscous consistency never makes my skin feel tacky. A pleasant sensory experience is a cornerstone of Glow Recipe (the products all look, smell, and feel as good as they perform), and this serum totally fits the bill. In addition to that glorious texture, there's no added fragrance—just a fresh, light aroma that naturally comes from the cactus itself.

Its main gig is hydration and skin-barrier repair, but the formula also features peptides to improve skin's elasticity, ectoin to calm inflammation, and an amino acid–rich fermented yeast extract (called galactomyces ferment filtrate, if you feel like sounding fancy) to brighten and smooth skin texture. Altogether, these ingredients create a plump, firm, glass-like canvas—no snail slime necessary.

How I Use It

I use the Prickly Pear Peptide Mucin in my morning skincare routine right after applying my beloved mandelic acid serum and before slathering on moisturizer. I adore the dewy glow it immediately provides (even when the formula completely dries down, my skin still has a healthy sheen), and despite its bouncy texture, the serum never feels sticky. When I use highly concentrated hyaluronic acid serums, which tend to come with a tacky residue, I usually have to wait a beat before applying sunscreen and makeup to avoid pilling—not with this prickly pear serum. I'd argue it's even more hydrating than my star HA formulas.

How It Transformed My Skin

After using Prickly Pear Peptide Mucin every single morning for 45 days, I can confirm my skin looks noticeably smoother, brighter, and more hydrated than ever. I'm dewy in all the right places without appearing too shiny, and it's as if I glossed a shimmer-free highlighter over my cheekbones. I've had more makeup-free days than I can count, and at least one person per day over the past month has commented on how great my skin looks. (One instance was backstage during NYFW among a swarm of perfect-looking models. That's when you know!)

I'm getting my hair done here, but my makeup-free skin is looking *chef's kiss.*

While this isn't marketed as one of the main benefits, I do find that the product has a significant pore-tightening effect. I haven't had Botox yet, but I've been toying with the idea to smooth out the pesky expression wrinkle in my forehead that seems to deepen with stress. Since adding this Glow Recipe hero to my routine, my forehead has never looked more firm or taut—no furrow line in sight. It's not a replacement for Botox by any means (any product marketed as such should be met with a very critical eye), but those impressive plumping effects are surely worth calling out.

Is the Prickly Pear Peptide Mucin worth it?

Take my results as proof: This no-snail snail mucin is 1000% worth the $32 investment. I'm a true Glow Recipe stan (other favorites include the Cloudberry Bright Essence Toner and, of course, the award-winning Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dewy Flush), but this skin-smoothing serum is well on its way to becoming my all-time favorite formula. I've been using it every single morning for over a month, and I have no plans to swap it out any time soon. In fact, I might even increase the application to twice daily as I inch closer to my November wedding. If glowing, glass-like skin is your goal, consider this mucin your vegan liquid gold.

Shop Glow Recipe's Prickly Pear Peptide Mucin

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