Don't let the name confused youthis formula has all the samehydrating and moisturizingproperties you love in an essence but with the bonus smoothing benefitsof salicylic acid. Shoppers say it softens texture, reduces dark spots and fine lines, hydrates skin, and gives you a radiant glow. By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from POPSUGAR. Brittany (she/her) is a freelance lifestyle journalist and web producer for GQ. A Guide to the Best La Roche-Posay Sunscreen For Your Skin Type, 14 Dermatologist-Owned Skin-Care Products Our Editors Swear By. Again, the best expert-approved protocol is to apply your face essence after your toner (which should be used right after you cleanse!) It can work for all skin types but is specifically formulated to fight dryness and dehydration. Again, it totally depends on the formula (so check out the instructions on packaging for insight). This formula has a refreshing fragrance, and it contains light botanical extracts that can work beautifully with normal, combination, and oily skin types. This energizing essence comes with a spray top, so you can mist it on after toning to hydrate and brighten your skin, or after applying makeup in order to keep it looking fresh and dewy. It hydrates, repairs, and soothes the skin like no other. The internet's favorite dupe for a more expensive option that may or may not be on this list (hint, hint), this fragrance-freeskin essence containsfermented extracts, niacinamide, andceramides to replenish, restore,brighten, soften,and moisturize theskin. In a pared-down skincare routine, the right order to apply your products is pretty simple: First, you cleanse, then you moisturize, and then you finish with sunscreen. As with all things in skincare, theres now an endless array of face essences to choose from, each one purporting bonus benefits to suit specific skin types. "Essences are notoriously nourishing and deeply moisturizing, seeing as the skin barrier is best able to protect the skin when its adequately hydrated." But once you start throwing serums, retinol, face oils, and whatever else into the mix, that's when things get v confusing. You can buy it directly from Sephora. Skincare show-offs will know that they slip into a routine between the toning and serum-slathering, but what exactly is a face essence? This ultra-light essence is an especially great choice for oilier skin types, as it feels like water but hydrates beautifully. It's also got oat kernel extract for bonus soothing benefits. This essence is especially ideal for oily, combination, and acne-prone skin types, as it helps to remove damaged skin and minimize pores with a touch of salicylic acid. Youre probably familiar with Korean beauty by now even if you dont realise it. We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. We've updated our Privacy Policy, which will go in to effect on September 1, 2022. Get it online through Dermstore! Please select the topics you're interested in: Would you like to turn on POPSUGAR desktop notifications to get breaking news ASAP? 'Essences have similar benefits to a serum, and with a lower molecular weight than most daily creams, they work to penetrate the skin deeper than your average moisturiser,' she says. This hydrating essence is somewhat on the richer side, with a heavier texture than other facial essences. (. With ceramides and calming cucumber extract too, it's a very hard-working option for anyone looking to reduce enlarged pores or tackle uneven texture. Shop Alicia Yoon's favorite face essences: "This face essence is gentle and easy to use for all skin types. said a shopper. "It's an easy step to incorporate and really goes a long way since deep hydration can help turn around a range of skin issues. You love all the deets on skincare that actually works, right? A ferment complex in here boosts the skins hydration levels, especially when paired with all kinds of skin-soothing and anti-aging botanicals. (, If you're wondering if your toner can double as an essence (or just confused about the difference between the two), know that they aren't interchangeable. Since essences are primarily focused on hydration, with little emphasis on harsh actives and other potentially irritating ingredients, Yoon confirms that they can be used by anyone and everyone. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work. So do we. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, The Best Anti-Aging Serums According to the Pros. 'The active ingredients will penetrate even deeper into the skin, working to further enhance your other skincare products, making the whole thing a lot more effective,' says Marinkovich. For anyone unfamiliar (and not to be confused with toner), a facial essence should be used as the middle step before you slather on your serum or face moisturizer. Slightly thicker and oilier intexture than otheressences on this list, this formula ismade from 100 percent squalane (sourcedfrom sustainable plant sugars), whichmimics your skin's naturalwaxy sebum to help it to retain moisture. Emollients such as shea butter, cocoa butter, squalene, and lanolin can also help draw moisture to the skin barrier and keep it there, notes Dr. Hartman. Keep scrolling! "It's a Korean-born skincare category that is traditionally applied between the toner and serum step, and they're typically formulated to deeply hydrate and brighten your complexion." We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best But that's not all! "Whereas an essence is designed to prep the skin to boost the effectiveness of other skin-care ingredients and add moisture to the skin. Depending on the ingredients in your specific product, a skin essence can be used to increase cell turnover, brighten, balance, prep, or hydrate the skin. Kiehls jumped on the essence skincare trend with a product that works both to hydrate and to resurface the skin. This is another essence that will seriously boost your skincare routines hydrating and brightening capabilities. Undeniably luxurious (with a price tag to match), Tata Harpers floral essence is a total treat. Your Best Skin Ever: Skin Care Treatments and Products. These lightweight formulas feel similar to a toner, and are ideal for adding moisture to the skin, he adds. commission from the retailer or it may be a product that we produce This liquid is made primarily of Pitera, a fermented extract that hydrates and brightens the skin. It is available for purchase at Sephora. . ", "Delivered as a fine mist, this essence formulation soothes and nourishes the skin with licorice root extract, centella asiatica leaf water, and ferment filtrate. I adore a two-in-one product, especially when its this well-formulated. Ever since I have been using it, my skin feel cleaner and softer. Pitera, a yeast-derived ingredient, is the key to its miracle formula it contains more than 50 micronutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to condition skin. ", "Setting out to nourish and brighten, this face essence does just that with 93% naturally fermented ingredients, including bifida ferment lysate, and 28% saccharomyces ferment filtrate.". productslearn more about If you're someone who hates spending more than five minutes getting ready, essence is an extra step that you don't really need. It is very pricey, but I put three drops in my hand and pat it on my face, careful not to waste any. With more than 50,000 "loves" on Sephora's site, this essence could be considered a cult favorite, much like the one from SK-II. Its lighter than most, so feels more like a moisturising mist, yet is packed with plant-derived hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture before youve even reached for a serum. Here, see the best ones weve tried and the skin types they suit. Additionally, we all have different needs when it comes to our complexion, and sensitivities vary greatly. While you may be trying to weigh the advantages of using a facial essence on your skin versus it being another bottle to schlep to the gym or during travel, it can actually benefit your complexion especially if you tend to suffer from dryness and help the ingredients in your other skin-care products penetrate better. Let's overanalyze them together. "I spray it once in the morning and once a night and it has been hydrating my very dry skin in the cold winter months," reported a reviewer. You'll also love how itfills and plumps fine lines(albeit temporarily, but still) so much thatyou won't mind adding another step to your routine. While some face essences might run a bit thicker with a more viscous consistency, they're typically on the thinner sideand have a water-like texture. Here are our top, editor-approved picks of the best facial essences. Don't think about what you're putting on your face, just know that it's an absolutely brilliant hydrator that'll get you to 'glass skin' faster than anything else. Essences, on the other hand, prioritize hydration above all else, which will make your skin really happy and enhance the effects of your other skincare products. ", When shopping for an essence, look for major hydrators, such as hyaluronic acid or glycerin in the ingredient list. ", Buy It: Belif Hungarian Water Essence, $42, amazon.com. This might be a toner-slash-essence hybrid, but you want find any harsh alcoholthat strips and sucks the life out ofyour skin here. And what do they really do? It contains lavender and rosemary extracts to fortify the skin against environmental damage while keeping it tightened and refreshed. Essences are known for their ability to give the skin a hydrated glow and an instantly healthier look. It effectively hydrates, and it actually combines the essence and moisturizer step while pampering skin with antioxidants and nourishing ingredients. So I turned to Cho and Yoon to help set the record straight on what exactly essences are and how they're different from other popular skincare categories. Caudalies offering is unusual in that its focus is on exfoliating, making itideal for anyone with combination or oily skin. If using organic and all-natural products is important to you, then Tata Harper made one of the best essences for you to try. The Easiest Way to Get Rid of Acne Scars at Home, This Is How to *Permanently* Remove Your Hair, The Top 50 Must-Buy Beauty Products on Amazon, The 17 Easiest, Most Gentle Waxing KitsEver, Skin Essence: What It Is, Who Needs It, and the 9 Best Products to Try, BeautyStat Cosmetics Universal Moisture Essence, Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence RX, Shani Darden Skin Care Sake Toning Essence, Tatcha The Essence Plumping Skin Softener, Innisfree Firming Energy Essence With Fermented Soybean Facial Serum, Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence. Ive written about this essence before, and I will certainly write about it again. This all-natural skin essence works double-duty, to both deeply hydrate the skin and to seriously brighten it. Triple-weight hyaluronic acid plumps cells on multiple levels remarkable skincare technology for such a reasonable price tag. The same goes for sleep masks, snail extracts and those plaster-style pimple patches we just cant get enough of (if youre yet to try them, head straight for Zitsticka theyre a revelation). Another pick from Dr. Hartman, this facial essence contains kale, watercress, and beet in its ingredient list all of which work to provide hydration. Now, every brand you can think of has its own versions, many of which are more serum, toner, or mistthan trueface essence. Containing 96% snail mucin, you know this is a zero-filler product, too. ", "Ultraconcentrated, this face essence uses propolis, which is celebrated for anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, to hydrate while simultaneously fortifying and soothing the skin.". It includes a whole collection of moisture-attracting humectants, along with uplifting rose water and a touch of nourishing castor oil. Who What Wear is part of Future US LLC, an international media group and leading digital publisher. The Glowsly editors independently test and choose the best products. The simple formula is fragrance-free, and will work for even those who are acne-prone or oily. ", "This essence is created by Korea's largest spa and does double duty, as it deeply hydrates while helping to curb breakouts. So, Here's the Thing About Stretch Mark Creams Hi, Here Are the Best Moisturizers for Oily Skin, All the Weird Reasons You Might Be Breaking Out. When make-up brands pivot to skincare, the result isn't always impressive, but Hourglass' new line is largely a triumph. It contains glycolic acid to gently dissolve dead skin cells and keep your pores clear, ensuring a glow that never feels greasy. Some people like to apply 2-3 pumps to a cotton wool pad and sweep over the face, but this means a lot of the essence just sits in your pad, and you end up wasting quite a bit of product,' says Marinkovich. It has a thicker texture than some facial essences, so it might be closer to a serum, but it is still powerfully hydrating. You can pick it up online from Ulta. Each product is hand-selected by our editors because we think you'll This is assuming, of course, that the idea of putting snail slime on your skin doesnt squick you.