The main goal of an essence is to hydrate the skin and to help the other products in your skincare routine better absorb into your skin. An essence includes a lot of great benefits for your skin and acts as a primer for your skincare routine. It makes the active ingredients in your existing skincare steps that much more effective. It provides a ton of moisture deep within the skin, restoring the natural moisture balance.

Essences have a texture much more liquid-y than a serum, but still thicker than water, and the formulas are usually completely clear. Because of this, it's difficult to picture that they actually do anything, but they work to improve the overall efficacy of the products you layer on top of it.

What does an essence actually do? 
Essences originated in Korea and are considered the powerhouse step in the skincare routine. Essences usually carry a higher dose of active ingredients and are meant as a 'treatment' for the skin.

An essence is used to support the benefits of all the other products in your routine. The active ingredients within an essence will penetrate even deeper into your skin, working to better enhance your other skincare products and making your entire skincare routine more effective. It's a vital part of maintaining your skin's health.

When should essences be used in your skincare routine? 
Cleanse your skin first then apply the essence immediately after. If you are using an astringent or pH-balancing toner in your routine, that should go between your cleanser and essence, but typically, you want your essence to be the first layer that goes onto dry skin. After that, you can apply the rest of your routine as normal (lightest to heaviest, starting with serums and working toward moisturizer). 

Are essences meant to layer on top of each other the way serums do? 
Essences are lighter in weight and less concentrated than a serum, so you only need to use one essence in your skincare routine at a time. The skin can only absorb so much, so you don't want to layer too much on the skin as you'll waste product.

What is the difference between traditional toners (i.e., astringent formulas) and essences? 
Essences can easily be confused with toners because they have a consistency that can range from watery to a light serum, but they should be respected in their own category. Toners are meant to help balance the skin pH and prep the skin for more efficacious ingredient delivery in the products to follow. Serums generally have a higher molecular weight than essences and carry more emollient and humectant properties. Because they're specifically made for the delivery of active ingredients in a lightweight formula to be absorbed well by the skin, it makes it one of the most important steps of the Korean skincare routine.

You apply an essence with your hands whereas with a toner, you typically use a cotton pad of some sort to wipe across your face. Using a cotton pad with an essence essentially leaves a lot of product on the cotton pad, not on your skin.

Is an essence a necessity in a skincare routine?
Especially nowadays—while wearing face masks—using a hydrating, serum-infused toner [or essence] a few times a day will go a long way. They pamper and soothe thirsty skin cells by delivering moisture deep into the skin. Doing this a few times a day will remove dirt and oil buildup while simultaneously soothing the skin.

Try our newly launched Elderflower Facial Essence

Every single day, a new so-called revolutionary beautification product is brought to our attention by a certain brand that promises to change the entire market of skin care products as we know it. If you are tired of aggressive promotional slogans and just want to count on a no-nonsense solution that can rejuvenate, hydrate and protect your skin from the inside out, try to go back to the all-natural remedies that do not contain any chemicals. Facial oils based on plant extracts are Mother Nature’s gift ensuring a flawless skin and an effective shield against various conditions that could impact your look, including excessive dryness or oiliness, acne and premature signs of aging.

Choose a Facial Oil Based on Ingredients That Can Address the True Cause of Your Aesthetic Problems

Some of the most common issues that can affect your skin may result in a constant discomfort, and aesthetic concerns associated with a low level of self-esteem. Fortunately, it is in your power to address this impediment by simply applying the right type of facial oil on your delicate skin. If you want to go for commercially available formulas, don’t forget to read the product label and take a closer look at the list of ingredients. Every single ingredient responds to a certain need and can help you attain very specific beautification goals.

For instance, carrot seed essential oil ensures smoother skin and also boosts cell regeneration. This product can be a solid ally for women over 40, as it tends to tone aging skin, while making scars become less visible. On the other hand, Frankincense essential oil is known for its amazing anti-inflammatory properties and acts as an amazing natural toner by minimizing pores. In addition, this popular essential oil represents a remarkable cytophylactic, meaning that it protects existing cells while also favoring the development of new, perfectly healthy ones.

Due to its antibacterial properties, lemon essential oil is great for women who are battling acne. Moreover, this type of essential oil is also seen as a redoubtable natural astringent agent. Bottom line: there are hundreds of different types of essential oils that may appeal to you. My advice as a skin care specialist is to choose the formula that will go on your skin not judging by its fragrance or price tag, but based on the proven properties of its ingredients and the ways in which they can solve your current facial skin problems.

Making an Informed Choice

When it comes to selecting a potion that works for all types of skin and provides stunning results year-round, you have to go for a complex formula based on several natural ingredients that can do wonders for your skin. The Skin Potion comprised of the Miss Julie line fits this description. Made using a wide assortment of beneficial essential oils, this elixir of youth will rejuvenate, tone and hydrate your skin, making it seem healthier, suppler, firmer and more luscious. The Skin Potion that I recommend to my clients features some of the most effective ingredients that are both abundant and accessible, including lemon peel, vanilla, Rose Hip seed oil, jojoba oil, jasmine, Bulgarian rose, German chamomile, carrot, fennel, and various others. The diversity of ingredients used to design this complex formula guarantees its effectiveness. By addressing more than one aesthetic concern, this skin care solution succeeds in helping all women achieve perfection, regardless of their skin type and specific problems. For more information on this innovative facial oil, schedule your first appointment with me and make a big step towards cultivating a deeper bond with your own facial skin.