A post-facial glow is something we wish would last forever. Now we’ve found a way to get moisturized, glowy skin by adding one step to our skin care routine. It’s called an essence. It reminds us of a serum, except less concentrated, and it will become your skin’s best friend.
A facial essence’s texture feels much more like water than a serum. It should be applied before any products in your regimen, after face washing. It gives skin a boost of moisture without weighing it down and makes the rest of your skin care routine much more effective. These formulas work by gently exfoliating dead skin cells, helping with skin cell turnover and making it easy for products applied afterward to penetrate.
Each essence targets a specific concern, from anti-aging to dark spots, and a little bit of this miracle product goes a long way. Daily use of the concentrate will lead to enviable, dewy, lit-from-within skin. Check out our favorites below.
Update: Facial Essence: Your Skin’s New Best Friend
-
Update: Facial Essence: Your Skin’s New Best Friend #1
Tatcha The Essence, $105 at Sephora
Make this essence the first step in your skin care routine. Its proprietary fermented complex of rice, algae and green tea actually boosts the effectiveness of skin care products that follow. It also hydrates and protects your complexion from premature aging.
-
Update: Facial Essence: Your Skin’s New Best Friend #2
Fresh Kombucha Antioxidant Facial Treatment Essence, $72 at Sephora
Packed with antioxidants, kombucha and mandarin peel extract, this lightweight essence promotes luminosity and a uniform complexion. It even tackles those pesky fine lines and wrinkles.
-
Update: Facial Essence: Your Skin’s New Best Friend #3
SK-II Facial Treatment Essence, $99 at DermStore
Hollywood's favorite facial essence tackles multiple skin concerns, from dark spots to dryness and uneven skin tone. It has over 50 vitamins, minerals, amino acids and organic acids to treat your skin.
-
Update: Facial Essence: Your Skin’s New Best Friend #4
Laneige Water Bank Hydro Essence, $39 at Sephora
Laneige means business when it comes to hydration as this super nourishing essence relies on green mineral water to get the job done. Infused with kale, watercress and beet, the lightweight formula also evens out texture and combats oiliness.
-
Update: Facial Essence: Your Skin’s New Best Friend #5
Saturday Skin Daily Dew Hydrating Essence Mist, $34 at Saturday Skin
This no-nonsense hydrator boasts both kiwi and grape extracts to drench your skin in moisture. Use it under or over your makeup or as a quick pick-me-up throughout the day.
-
Update: Facial Essence: Your Skin’s New Best Friend #6
Neogen Real Ferment Micro Essence, $38 at Soko Glam
Featuring 93 percent naturally fermented ingredients, this facial essence will get you glowing.
-
Update: Facial Essence: Your Skin’s New Best Friend #7
Tata Harper Concentrated Brightening Essence, $235 at Tata Harper
Tata Harper's brightening booster not only illuminates, it corrects dark spots and uneven texture. And it's vegan to boot.
-
Update: Facial Essence: Your Skin’s New Best Friend #8
Kiehl's Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence, $46 at Kiehl's
An essential part of any anti-aging regimen, this essence hydrates and preps your complexion for the other age-battling products in your lineup. It even activates the exfoliation process to help reveal smoother, more radiant skin.
-
Update: Facial Essence: Your Skin’s New Best Friend #9
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, $25 at Ulta Beauty
Don't let this essence's 96 percent snail mucin formula scare you. It actually helps repair your skin as it hydrates, brightens and tones.
-
Update: Facial Essence: Your Skin’s New Best Friend #10
Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Glycolic Essence, $54 at DermStore
This essence uses glycolic acid and organic grape water to neutralize dark spots, moisturize and soothe your skin. Apply on clean skin, then follow up with serum and moisturizer.
-
Update: Facial Essence: Your Skin’s New Best Friend #11
Hanskin Hyaluron Skin Essence, $25 at Soko Glam
We all know how great hyaluronic acid is for dry skin and this essence offers an advanced form of the hydration powerhouse called sodium hyaluronate that holds 1,000 times more moisture than water. And the formula sinks in quickly so your skin gets the moisture it's been craving right away.
