What’s an essence?! Is it a toner, solely thicker? A serum, solely much less moisturising? A hybrid in between the 2? Most significantly, is it a revolutionary product it’s essential to incorporate into your skincare routine… or simply one other Korean gimmick designed to make you spend more cash for little to no advantages? Yep, that’s me, all the time the sceptical one. I want to check one thing earlier than I can get all excited and provides it my seal of approval. And after testing my justifiable share, right here’s all it’s essential to learn about pores and skin essences and whether or not you actually need one. Let’s discover out:

What’s An Essence?

An essence is “a skincare product that’s water-based, usually in resolution or liquid type, meant to be sprayed or utilized on the pores and skin straight after cleaning,” says board-certified dermatologist Rachel Nazarian.

An essence is a hybrid between a toner and a serum. It’s not as heavy and concentrated as a serum, but it packs extra of a hydrating punch than a toner. Essences have light-weight, usually runny textures, that make it simple to pack on the hydration with out weighting pores and skin down beneath layers of grease.

For this reason they’re so fashionable in Korea. When the climate’s that humid, your pores and skin wants all of the hydration it will possibly get. An additional hydrating step or two in your routine is smart. However what in the event you dwell in a special local weather? Do you continue to want an essence?

Associated: 4 Issues I’ve Realized From Korean Skincare

Struggling to place collectively a skincare routine that banishes dryness and makes your pores and skin supple and dewy? Obtain your FREE “Greatest Skincare Routine For Dry Pores and skin” to get began (it options product suggestions + proper utility order):

How Do Essences Work?

Essences are loaded with humectants, a household of elements that pulls and binds water to the pores and skin. Hyaluronic Acid is essentially the most well-known member of this household. Research present it attracts and binds to the pores and skin as much as 1000 instances its weight in water! It really works properly in excessive and low humidity situations, too.

Different humectants you’ll usually discover in essences are Glycerin, Panthenol, Urea, and Biosaccharide Gum-1. All of them do the identical hydrating job as Hyaluronic Acid. Right here’s why this issues…

Hydration is the inspiration of wholesome pores and skin. When your pores and skin lacks moisture, it wrinkles like an previous prune. It feels tight and uncomfortable in the course of the day. It fully loses its radiance. Add the moisture again in and your pores and skin transforms. The additional moisture plumps up your pores and skin so high-quality traces and wrinkles look smaller; it makes it softer to the contact; and provides it that lovely as-if-lit-from-within glow.

P.S. Some essences additionally comprise antioxidants and brightening elements to struggle untimely growing old. However their essential job is hydration.

Associated: If Your Pores and skin Is Completely Hydrated, Do You Want To Fear About Anti-Getting older, Too?

Essence Advantages: What Does It Do For Pores and skin?

now that essences hydrate pores and skin. However why do you have to go along with an essence as a substitute of a toner or serum?

• Straightforward layering: You probably have dry or dehydrated pores and skin that wants the additional moisture in the course of the day, an essence is a simple method to sneak it in with out turning your face right into a greasy mess.
• Additional hydration: The extra moisture your pores and skin has, the softer and plumper it turns into.
• Penetration enhancer: When your pores and skin is moist, lively elements penetrate your pores and skin extra simply. Plus, essences don’t often comprise occlusives that will stand of their method and stop full absorption. “Essences have comparable advantages to a serum, and with a decrease molecular weight than most lotions, they work to penetrate the pores and skin at a deeper stage than your common moisturiser,” says Julia Marinkovich of COSRX.

Associated: Dry VS Dehydrated Pores and skin: What’s The Distinction And How To Deal with Them?

Who Wants An Essence?

It’s true that hydration is the inspiration of wholesome pores and skin. You need to use all one of the best anti-aging actives on the earth, but when your pores and skin isn’t correctly hydrated, it’ll all the time look tough and lacklustre.

That doesn’t imply you must go mad with hydrating merchandise and add an additional layer or two simply cos. I’m a giant believer in utilizing solely what your pores and skin wants when it wants it.

When you’re already utilizing a very good moisturiser and Hyaluronic Acid serum AND your pores and skin nonetheless feels tight and dehydrated, go forward and add an essence to your routine. Everybody else, you don’t want it.

FYI, everybody can undergo from dehydration, together with oily pores and skin. Fortunately, essences are appropriate for ALL pores and skin sorts.

Associated: How To Determine Your Pores and skin Sort (Plus, FREE Check)

How To Apply A Pores and skin Essence

You apply an essence after cleanser (and toner), however earlier than serum and moisturiser. When you’re confused, the rule of thumb is to layer merchandise from thinnest to thickest.

“Some individuals like to use 2-3 pumps to a cotton wool pad and sweep over the face, however this implies numerous the essence simply sits in your pad, and you find yourself losing fairly a little bit of product,” says Marinkovich. She says it’s finest to dispense “4-5 pumps of the essence into the palms of your fingers, then urgent the product gently into your pores and skin.”

Aspect Results Of Pores and skin Essence

Most essences are very mild hydrating concoctions that anybody can use with out unwanted side effects. Just a few will accommodates highly effective elements, like retinol or glycolic acid, that would irritate delicate pores and skin. Dr Nazarian explains: “[The] danger of irritability will increase when used on this type as it’s being utilized on to cleansed pores and skin in a method that will increase penetration.”

Pores and skin Essences VS Toners

Each pores and skin essences and toners are very light-weight merchandise designed to extend hydration. Conventional toners comprise “astringent properties to tone and clear extra totally and take away extra oil and grime,” says Dr Nazarian. Mentioned that, numerous trendy formulations aren’t astringent and by no means totally different from a pores and skin essence. When unsure, examine the ingredient record.

Pores and skin Essences VS Serums

Essences are barely totally different than serums. They’re extra light-weight and comprise a decrease focus of lively elements. In different phrases, they’re not as highly effective. They will complement a serum, however aren’t any alternative for it.

What Are The Greatest Essences To Make investments In?

• Benton Fermentation Essence ($27.00): A soothing essence with probiotics to cut back irritations and hydrates pores and skin. Out there at Soko Glam, Stylevana, Superdrug, and Sure Model.
• Cosrx Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence ($24.00): A hydrating essence with soothing probiotics and niacinamide, a do-it-all ingredient that brightens pores and skin, soothes irritations, and helps deal with zits. Out there at Magnificence Bay, Look Unbelievable, Sephora, Stylevana, and Sure Model.
• Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Essence ($14.00): An excellent hydrating essence with 3 types of hyaluronic acid and urea to plump up wrinkles and restore softness and suppleness to all pores and skin sorts. Out there at Ulta.

Do You Want A Pores and skin Essence In Your Skincare Routine?

All of the dermatologists I’ve talked to agree {that a} pores and skin essence is a nice-to-have for most individuals and a bonus for dehydrated pores and skin. However they’re not at all vital. Dr Nazarian says: “whereas a pores and skin essence is a pleasant addition to your skincare routine, it’s not as essential as, say, your moisturizer.”

Medical facialist, Kate Kerr, shares: “Personally, I’m not a fan of essences. That is purely as a result of the lively cosmeceutical serums I like to recommend are efficient sufficient with no need to make use of them, come backed by scientific science and are confirmed to ship enchancment in pores and skin well being and performance.” I 100% agree together with her. You probably have a fantastic skincare routine working for you, you don’t want an essence too.

The Backside Line

Essences are a hybrid between a toner and a serum. Extremely hydrating, their light-weight textures permit you to pack on a number of layers of hydration with out the greasiness. They’re appropriate for all pores and skin sorts, however use them provided that you want the additional hydration.

About Gio

Hello, I am Gio. I am a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is pores and skin coach and author on a mission that can assist you obtain your finest pores and skin day ever – day by day. I bust skincare myths and debunk advertising jargon that can assist you work out what’s definitely worth the splurge and what’s finest left on the shelf – utilizing science, not hype. I additionally supply skincare consultations that can assist you create one of the best skincare routine to your distinctive wants.