Made famous by K Beauty, facial essence products have a fast-growing following in the rest of the world - and for good reason. They benefit the skin by delivering lightweight hydration, nourishing ingredients, and prep your facial skin for the rest of your routine.

What Is an Essence for Face?

A facial essence for skin care routine is almost like a primer for makeup. It prepares your skin for your serum and moisturiser - all while delivering benefits of its own. Some famous essences contain skin-beneficial ferments derived from sake or yeast extracts. It sounds crazy, but the proof is in the pudding - these skincare ingredients really work. The benefits of these fermented skincare products include more radiant and younger-looking skin.

Essences for face are unique - they’re like a serum and a toner, all in one. They’re a product formulated with concentrated skincare ingredients suspended in a refreshing, watery solution. However, some ingredients suit face essences better than serums or toners! They should also be used differently from toner - here’s how.

How to Use Essence

When it comes to using essence, Korean skincare sets the best example to follow. You’re meant to pour a small amount onto your palm (maybe 20c worth) and gently pat it on your face and neck until fully absorbed. Pro tip: apply to slightly damp skin to improve absorption and hydration for some serious glow. Now, your skin is perfectly prepped for the rest of your routine! They can be used day and night to make the most of all of your skincare.

Essence vs. Toner

A facial essence is designed to deliver a dose of ingredients and helps it to absorb the next step in a skincare routine. Toners are usually for refreshing and purifying. If you want to use both, use the cleansing toner first. If you use the toner after, all you’ll do is wipe off all the goodness - a bit of a waste of product!

Essence vs. Serum

Compared to an essence, a serum usually has a concentrated dose of skincare ingredient(s) to target a specific concern. This might be Vitamin C or Retinol - in comparison, an essence won’t contain such a potent active ingredient.

However, that doesn’t mean it won’t be as effective! They usually contain high levels of skin care ferments - aka, ingredients that are fermented because of their unique abilities to nourish skin. Using serum after is the best way to go - that way you can benefit from both skincare products in your routine.

A skin essence benefits all skin types, too! You can consider them a skincare step that ensures the overall health of your skin, ensuring that it’s radiant and glowy.

At Beauty Affairs, we’ve got everything you need to ensure your skin stays that way, too - the iconic SK-II Facial Treatment Essence is just one of the amazing products we’ve got on hand. Luxury beauty brands like La Prairie, L’Occitane, and Guerlain have facial essences to nourish and hydrate - get your beauty affairs in order and shop now!