My skin-care routine is already about a million steps long, so I need to be able to understand exactly how a product fits into the line-up in order to get excited about using it. That said, I can tell you that facial essence is definitely worth the extra effort. If you've ever seen me in real life and wondered why I look pleasantly damp but not sweaty, even in the winter, the answer is essence.
Originating as part of the traditional Korean skin-care routine, facial essences have become a sensation Stateside with the growing influx of K-beauty brands at Western retailers. Ever picked up a bottle of watery liquid at Sephora and wondered how, exactly, it would benefit your skin? You're definitely not alone.
According to The Klog, essence is in a skin-care class — shelf? — all its own. It's not toner, though the textures can be similar. Toner is more for resetting the skin's pH after cleansing, as The Klog writer Ben Neily explains, while essence is meant to moisturize and get the skin ready to absorb the products you apply afterward. "Good essences are filled with ingredients that hydrate, nourish, and brighten the skin," Neily writes.
I apply them as directed — after toner but before any serum, moisturizer, oil, or spot treatment. The order goes like this: cleanse, tone, apply essence. Though most essences are very fluid, I use my hands to massage them into my skin to get the most out of the formula. Then I pat the excess onto my arms, neck, and hands to make sure I'm not wasting a drop.
Missha Time Revolution First Treatment Essence is the recommendation that pops up most frequently on lists of the best essences and K-beauty products. Shoppers and beauty experts agree that this stuff is the real deal.
This essence contains conditioning fermented yeast extract, which, according to Allure, "plumps the skin, smooths texture, and reduces hyperpigmentation," plus hydrating hyaluronic acid and redness-reducing niacinamide. Customers on Amazon rate Missha's Time Revolution First Treatment Essence highly, giving the product an overall 3.9 out of 5 stars, based on 500+ reviews.
"The biggest thing this product does for me is that it helps my skin stay hydrated without becoming oily [...] I never understood why my moisturizers would always leave a film behind and why my skin becomes so dehydrated. After I put this essence on, it pretty much locks in the toner and allows the good stuff in my moisturizer stay soaked into my skin," writes one shopper.
It's also been recommended by Allure, Byrdie, Bustle, The Klog, Fashionista, The Strategist, and StyleCraze.
Pros: Hydrating, soothing, minimal scent, large bottle, little goes a long way
Cons: None
I'm sorry to tell you this, but the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence is actually worth the hype. I don't say that lightly, considering it costs $179. Most of my skincare faves are much, much cheaper. But, hey, when it's good, it's good.
The product description says the product has been "essentially unchanged for more than 35 years" and lists a slew of accolades. The hero ingredient, as with most items in the SK-II range, is Pitera, "a bio-ingredient rich in vitamins, organic acids, minerals, and amino acids" that the brand claims will help smooth uneven texture and encourage cell regeneration.
SK-II is very gentle and refreshing to use, and over time, should help your skin look brighter and glowier, feel smoother, and appear less wrinkled. It has a 4.1-star rating on Sephora based on 773 reviews and has been featured by Byrdie and Marie Claire. Shoppers with acne especially approve of the breakout-reducing effects.
"It gave my skin a youthful, supple texture and it's evened out my previously combination skin. It has also helped my adult acne. This is why I love this product — it addresses all my issues from aging to acne to texture — which is why it's so worth the purchase," writes one fan.
Pros: Gentle, long-lasting, treats variety of skin issues
Cons: Expensive
You wouldn't rub a snail on your face (probably), but you should consider picking up a bottle of Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence. As the name suggests, this essence contains 96% snail mucin, "known to aid in skin repair, hydration, brightness, and tone," per the product description.
According to Allure, "It also aids in repairing existing damage, like from acne scars to sun damage." Despite the main ingredient coming from, well, snails, using this is not a gross or unpleasant experience. The essence is a bit thicker and less watery than others I've tried and comes with a nice pump for minimal spillage.
This is one of the most universally beloved essences on the market, garnering recs from Allure, Fashionista, The Strategist, StyleCraze, Health, and The Klog. It has an overall 4.6 rating on Ulta, based on 130 reviews.
"I have very sensitive dehydrated dry skin that acts up with almost everything, even natural products. My t zone gets red and burns but I don't have rosacea, my barrier is just damaged from the years of sun. I've noticed the significant improvement in my t zone when using this before my moisturizer. If I go without it I get the rash again. Love this stuff," writes one Ulta shopper.
Pros: Soothing, hydrating, pump dispenser, relatively affordable
Cons: Caused some reviewers to breakout
