What Is An Essence and Why Your Skin Needs it?

An essence is often mistaken for a toner or a serum, but it lies somewhere in between. These lightweight elixirs, a mainstay of K-beauty, serve as the foundation of any multi-step skin care routine. They can be game-changers for people of all complexions. Continue reading to discover the skin care step you didn't realize you needed.

What is an essence?
The Benefits of an Essence
Can I skip a toner and use an essence?
Do I still need a serum?
[video] How To Use An Essence
Eminence Organics Essences
[video] Why You Need An Essence

What is an essence?

Essence is a water-based skin care product with a high concentration of ingredients that are active in hydrating, protecting, and enhancing skin health. After using a cleanser and toner, apply essence to clean skin to assist the skin cells regain moisture.

The easiest way to think of an essence is as a primer that helps all of your other leave-on treatments work better.

What is essence in skin care for?

Essences aid in hydration optimization and works by increasing skin care product absorption in a skincare routine. Additionally, they are brimming with healthy elements that hydrate the skin and shield it from the drying effects of external stresses.

The Benefits of an Essence

Increases Hydration

A strong skin barrier is essential for having a healthy complexion. The skin's moisture barrier helps to retain in helpful hydration and keep out dangerous environmental irritants that lead to dryness and early ageing when it is well-protected and functioning. By restoring the skin's moisture levels and offering long-lasting hydration, essences maintain healthy barrier function.

Firms Skin

The skin starts to lose fullness and volume as we age. Once-plump skin might appear to deflate and droop when reserves of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid deplete (by up to 50% by age 40). When the skin is moisturized and properly hydrated, the cells are more luminous. Humectants and emollients included in essences pull in water, replace moisture, and give skin a plump, young appearance.

Protects Skin

Additionally, antioxidant-rich compounds included in essences combat free radicals and shield skin from the damaging effects of the outside environment. Damage to skin cells from pollution, blue light, and UV radiation can manifest as dryness, inflammation, and the outward indications of ageing.

Improves Skin Care Results

Essences prepare the skin to better absorb subsequent skin care products by improving skin health and hydration. Your skin can more readily absorb the active elements in your serums, oils, and concentrates when it is properly hydrated.

Can I skip a toner and use an essence?

Using both an essence and a toner in your routine will be beneficial to your skin. Toning gives your skin a foundational layer of hydration that refreshes and balances it, while using an essence adds more moisture and gets your skin ready for the subsequent skin care products. A facial essence usually has a more substantial feel than a toner and contains active components that shield the skin and lessen ageing symptoms.

Do I still need a serum?

An essence serves as a vehicle for serums, oils, and concentrates with even higher concentrations. An essence's light texture allows it to deeply enter the skin and deliver healthy elements to trouble spots. Additionally, as serums, oils, and concentrates are frequently created to address certain issues and ailments, they merit their own unique position in a skin care programme.

How To Use An Essence

Generally speaking, we suggest using your skin care products in weight order, beginning with the lightest (your toner) and finishing with the richest (your serum, oil or concentrate). Essences should be applied after toner and before face serums, moisturizer, and SPF.

Here is how to apply an essence:

Use after cleansing and toning your skin.
Shake a few drops of essence into your palm.
Warm the product between your hands.
Gently press the essence into your skin (this minimizes friction and aids absorption).
Follow the remaining steps in your skin care routine

Eminence Organics Essences

Restore your skin’s natural balance with the Eminence Organics Kombucha Microbiome Balancing Essence. A blend of pre, pro* and postbiotics work harmoniously to enhance luminosity and gently prime the skin ahead of your full skin care ritual.

Rehydrate skin with the Eminence Organics Birch Water Purifying Essence that lightly replenishes moisture levels. Botanical collagen enhances elasticity and improves the protective hydration barrier, while birch water purifies the skin.

Refresh, purify and ultra illuminate your skin to achieve a dramatic and healthy-looking glow with the Eminence Organcis Kombucha Microbiome Collection Refresh Duo Bundle. Formulated for all skin types, including dry and sensitive these products are crafted with kombucha, ginger, white tea and jasmine work in unison to refresh and support your microbiome’s natural balance the skin without compromising the moisture barrier.

Why You Need An Essence

Next Steps

Are you ready to enjoy the skincare benefits of an essence?

Take a look at our products picks

Add this step to your routine with an Eminence essence.

Take our Eminence skincare quiz

Find the best Eminence Organics products for your skin type that will have dramatic results and get $15 towards your order by taking our exclusive skincare quiz.