Facial essences, otherwise known as lotions, have long been an essential step in Korean and Japanese beauty regimes. It was only in the past few years that Western skincare brands saw the benefit of them and started introducing such essences. Most facial essences have similar base ingredients, using either hyaluronic acid or glycerin to hydrate the skin and keep it plump and moisturised.
While traditional toners are designed to balance skin’s pH, most of them tend to also have some cleansing benefits as a back-up to eliminate any traces of makeup and grime left behind. However, essences do not have cleansing properties. They focus on restoring skin’s pH and moisture levels, as well as resetting skin by infusing it with a host of nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to amplify the effects of serums and moisturisers applied thereafter.
After the essence, the next step in your beauty routine should be serums. And if you’re unfamiliar with what it is exactly that serums do, serums are specially formulated to deliver high concentrations of active ingredients into the skin. Power-packed and often designed to target specific skin concerns, make sure you apply serums before you move on to your moisturiser.
There’s a reason why these steps are essential in the Korean skincare routine. Here are 11 of the best facial essences and serums to jumpstart your journey to healthy, radiant skin.
