14 Best Korean Essences to Soak Your Skin with Hydration

April 28, 2024

Written by Anoushka Sinha, Skincare Coach & Writer

Updated on May 03, 2024

Korean Essences to Soak Your Skin with Hydration

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Give your skin the care of the best Korean Essence to prep it up for the rest of your skincare products. Let it act as a channel to magnify the effects of the other skincare products.

In recent years, Korean skincare essentials have taken over the beauty industry worldwide. It has become quite a popular trend with everyone incorporating it into their skincare regimen. But Koreans have taken special care of their skin since ages, keeping them natural and healthy. Their famed 10-step skincare routine puts equal importance to cleansing and toning as well as using an essence. Essence is an integral part of the Korean skincare routine. It comes after cleansing and toning to prepare the skin for effortless penetration of the other skincare products. It provides the skin with ample moisture and nourishment from the inside out to preserve and protect it from environmental stressors. Based on our observations, we have narrowed down the best essence for face that K-beauty has to offer.

Our top picks

What is Korean Essence?

A Korean essence can be termed as a softener which comes between your toner and serum. It makes the skin more supple and opens up the pores, letting the serum and moisturizer go deep inside the skin and work its magic. Although it is water-based, neither it is as light and watery as a toner nor its consistency is as concentrated as a serum. Its main aim is to provide extreme hydration to the skin.

What Exactly Does Korean Essence Do And Why Should You Use It?

A Korean essence is mainly used for hydrating the skin. Infused with skin-caring ingredients and botanicals, it assists in magnifying the benefits of serum and moisturizer. The lightweight texture aids in skin repair which promotes smoother and brighter skin. Use it after cleansing to let maximum absorption of the highly concentrated treatment delivered by the active ingredients present in serums. Formulated with hyaluronic acid, glycerine, and other hydrating agents, it soaks your skin with extra moisture while providing your skin with a strengthened barrier, balanced pH, and increased elasticity.

14 Best Korean Essences

Pamper your skin with a generous amount of AMOREPACIFIC's essence. Rich in antioxidants, this featherweight essence boosts hydration and adds life to your skin after a tiring day. It instantly reverses dull, dehydrated, and lackluster skin. This anti-aging formula is infused with Korean-grown green tea that improves skin elasticity and texture. Get improved radiance, even tone, and visibly healthier skin with just a few uses of this product that's been the recipient of Allure Best of Beauty winner.

Pros

Luxe formula
Aloe scent
Instant results
Featherweight formula

Cons

Very expensive

Best for Glowing Skin

SeoulCeuticals Korean Skin Care Essence

Improve your skin's appearance with SeoulCeuticals's hydrating Essence enriched with marine minerals. Regular use will give you brighter, healthier, and youthful skin, thanks to the organic aloe, cucumber extracts, and tamarind extracts. It effectively reduces fine lines and wrinkles, minimizes breakouts, and clears up blemishes to give your skin an even tone. Make this naturally derived Korean Essence a part of your daily skincare regime and see the result in just 3 weeks.

Pros

Hydrates dry skin
Delivers a dewy glow to the skin
Extremely nutrient dense essence
Reduces glow
Works great under makeup

Best for Skin Strengthening

numbuzin No.3 Super Glowing Essence Toner

Anything with niacinamide in it has to be an elixir for the skin. The No.3 Essence from numbuzin with the goodness of 50 fermented ingredients along with niacinamide targets skin dullness, loss of radiance, drying, and signs of ageing. The fermented ingredients provide the necessary peptides, acids, and enzymes that support a healthy skin barrier, potentially reducing skin inflammation and sensitivity. The multipurpose niacinamide makes the skin smoother, brighter, and stronger. Apply this essence toner after cleansing for moisturization, skin radiance, and improved skin texture.

Pros

Strengthens the skin
Improves bumpy, rough, dry, and aging skin
Ideal for dry, oily, and sensitive skin
It gets absorbed effortlessly into the skin
Noticeable difference in 2 weeks

Cons

The citrus scent is too strong

Best for Skin Illuminating

I'm From Rice Toner

Rice has been an integral part of Korean skincare due to its multiple benefits. It reduces lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, removes dead skin cells, protects from UV damage, and increases skin ceramide production. I'm From's toner has 77.78 % rice extract which effectively forms a protective barrier over the skin to prevent moisture loss. Using the toner replenishes dry and tired skin, providing luster and moisturization. The skincare essence has a double-layer texture of water and emulsion.

Pros

Effective in skin illuminating and elasticity care
Deep moisturization
Gets rid of skin impurities
Improves the skin's oil and water balance
Vegetable-originated extract soothes dead, flaky skin cells

Best for Irritated Skin

COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence

The simple and clean formula of COSRX's Essence is composed of 95.4% galactomyces ferment filtrate and 2% niacinamide. It addresses dark spots, dull and rough skin, hydrating and moisturizing it to give you radiant skin. The skin-enhancing yeast-derived ingredient is the key component in delivering hydration and illuminating tired and dull skin. Restore your skin's natural balance with the highly concentrated levels of active ingredients present in the Korean essence. Nourish your skin for a visibly clear and radiant look every time you use it.

Pros

Improves firmness
Tone balancing essence
Made with natural ingredients
Lightweight formula absorbs quickly into the skin
Non-greasy

Best for pH Balance

DERMALOGY by NEOGENLAB Real Ferment Micro Essence

The key ingredients in this Essence work to give you a strengthened skin barrier, hydrated skin, and illuminated skin complexion. The probiotics provide intense hydration to the skin's natural barrier, increasing its immunity and defending it from UV damage. The skin-compatible natural fermented ingredients increases skin-elasticity and restores moisture balance. The facial essence provides quick hydration and healthy supple skin, deeply moisturizing it and protecting it from harmful skin irritants. It addresses your daily skin concerns and delivers dedicated skin solutions.

Pros

Promotes skin regeneration
Improves skin health
Retains moisture level
Minimizes appearance of redness and pores
Treats hyperpigmentation

Best for Rough Skin

MISSHA] Time Revolution Artemisia Treatment Essence

When Avenger Wanda Maximoff swears by MISSHA, you know its bound to have the best products. This Essence from the brand is formulated from a single ingredient, artemisia, extracting all of its power packed properties to give your skin a lightweight, soothing treatment. Artemisia is widely known for its healing effects, packed with vitamin A that offers skin renewal and regeneration, and vitamin C that makes skin brighter. This essence has double-fermented artemisia annua extracts that helps to soothe irritated, tired, rough, red, and uneven skin.

Pros

Artemisia has cleansing effects
Provides clear and soothing skin
100% artemisia extracts
Effectively absorbs into the skin
Ideal for sensitive, blemish-prone skin

Best for Regeneration

Hanskin Real Complexion Hyaluron Skin Essence

This multi-use high volume essence from Hanskin utilizes the power of hyaluronic acid to boost the skin's hydration level. Ideal for all skin types, it acts as a toner, essence, and moisturizing lotion all at once. Regular application of this Korean essence soothes skin inflammation and irritation, hydrates and moisturizes dull, dry skin, increases skin elasticity, and strengthens the skin's defending barrier. Bring back your skin's lost radiance with the elastin and collagen enriched formula.

Pros

Leaves skin feeling plump and dewy
Moisturizes dry and tired skin
Gentle on the skin
Suitable for all skin types
Can be layered on 2-3 times

Best for Hydration

MIZON Snail Line, Snail Repair Intensive Essence

Snail mucin is the holy grail of Korean skincare products. It has been used as a topical ingredient in almost all K beauty products. MIZON uses the benefits of snail secretion filtrate in its intensive essence. Snail mucin is believed to have antioxidant and anti-ageing properties. Besides fighting signs of ageing, this essence makes the inner skin highly-resilient, regenerating it, improving the tone and texture. Let it assist you in improving the skin elasticity, boost collagen production, soothe irritation, and prevent it from getting dry and rough.

Pros

Makes rough and fatigued skin radiant and healthy
Controls the appearance of pores
Regenerates damaged skin
Promotes skin renewal
Multi-functional formula

Cons

Not moisturizing enough

JIN JUNG SUNG Soothing Non-sticky Face Moisturizer Essence Serum

Bolstered with 8 moisturizing ingredients including hyaluronic acid, glycerine, ceramide, and beta glucan, JIN JUNG SUNG's Essence serum is hydrating, nourishing, and skin soothing. It provides excellent nourishment to dry, parched skin with ultra-hydration, improving the moisture barrier, and soothing damaged, irritated skin. Ideal for all skin types, it works great as skincare for dryness, wrinkle and acne. Formulated as a clear liquid, it has the perfect balance of moisturizing elements and naturally-derived ingredients.

Pros

Leaves skin soft, supple, and bouncy
Lightweight and quick absorbing
Minimizes wrinkles and age spots
Soothing and brightening serum
Helps to balance the moisture in combination skin

- Best for Instant Moisturization

Blithe Asian Skincare 5 Roots Clear Essence Lotion

5 strong roots come together in this Essence lotion from Blithe to nourish and hydrate dry skin, repair damaged barriers, and revitalize exhausted skin. Ideal to use for both AM and PM, the water essence is rich in vitamins and amino acids. Each root type provides its own unique benefit such as antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory benefits, and nutrition to enhance the skin's natural strength and energy. Specifically beneficial for flaky and rough skin, or dehydrated and tight skin, this skin care essence is a must for dry, sensitive skin, delivering instant moisture and energy boost.

Pros

Provides quick absorption
Promotes even skin tone and texture
Improves skin vitality
Stimulates blood circulation
Brightens skin complexion

PURITO Fermented Complex 94 Boosting Essence

The boosting essence from PURITO is infused with 94% highly concentrated micro-particles that penetrate deep into the skin to hydrate and moisturize it from within. The additional benefits of niacinamide and adenosine stimulates skin elasticity and improves its texture. The key ingredients are rice ferment, rich in amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and protein nourishes tired skin; morus alba root extract revitalizes and enhances skin's moisture content; and niacinamide strengthens the natural barrier. The lightweight, clear texture of the essence revives dull skin.

Pros

Improves skin tone and texture
Revitalizes skin's barrier
Softens dry skin
Diminish the dullness of skin
Delivers long-lasting hydration

[Mixsoon] Bean Essence

Control your skin's sebum production in just 2 weeks with the bean essence from Mixsoon. Fermented soybeans get rapidly absorbed into the skin and start working to replenish the moisture content, curb excess oil production, remove dead skin cells, and reduce enlarged pores. Applying this mild essence 2-3 times a week visibly evens out skin tone, reduces acne, prevents UV damage, detoxifies the skin, and promotes overall skin health. Fill your skin with moisture and give it the tender love and care it is worthy of.

Pros

Fast absorption into skin
Non-sticky formula
Boosts collagen production
Prevents premature ageing
Brightens skin tone

Cons

Not for sensitive skin

Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Essence Water

The blend of ginseng root water, niacinamide, and adenosine makes this Essence from Beauty of Joseon a powerful hydrating formula. It incorporates the benefits of ginseng to fill your skin with intense moisture and nutrients that last you for a long period. The rich saponin present in ginseng helps in maintaining moisture deep inside the skin's layer, creating a nourished and healthy skin. The essence forms a strong moisture barrier, shielding the skin from external impurities and stressors.

Pros

Calms down skin surface
Promotes even skin tone
Improves skin texture
Maintains oil and moisture balance of the skin
Suitable for all skin types

Why Use A Korean Essence At All?

Korean essence provides an added layer of moisture, drenching the skin with hydration which is specifically needed for mature skin. It helps in bringing the correct pH that balances with the skin. It is applied before a serum or moisturizer as it makes the skin more porous to absorb their benefits. An essence also increases the skin density, strengthens the skin barrier, and improves the skin texture. Korean essence products are infused with fermented ingredients that produce lactic acid and probiotics that help in retaining skin moisture and balance the microbiomes.

How Do I Choose the Right Korean Essence for My Skin Type?

Keep these following points in mind while choosing the right Korean essence for your skin type:

Ingredients: Korean essence mainly contains fermented ingredients, snail mucin, propolis extracts, hyaluronic acid, ginseng, and rice water. Look for one of these elements when you buy yourself a Korean essence. Also look for ingredients like sodium hyaluronate, form of hyaluronic acid, honey extrac74, , and polyglutamic acid for naturally glowing skin.
Sharing a few benefits of ingredients like snail mucin and rice water, our contributor Ollie Wertheim, Founder and Chief Formulator at Sensitive Skin LLC, says, “Snail mucin is known to brighten the skin. Its hydrating properties support skin regeneration, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation and contributing to a more radiant complexion over time. On the other hand, incorporating rice water into your daily routine can benefit your skin, thanks to its vitamins and minerals that enhance skin brightness. It's essential to be mindful of individual skin sensitivities, adjusting the frequency based on personal needs for the best results.”
Fermented ingredients: Apart from the ones that hydrate and moisturise your skin, the product you choose also needs to be rich in ingredients that have been aged like rice, grapes or tea. Fermentation not only improves texture but the higher concentration formulas create a healthier ecosystem. Look for products rich in hyaluronic acid, licorice water, green mineral water and centella asiatica leaf water.
Need of the skin: Korean essences are infused with different botanicals based on the skin type to provide a targeted treatment and care. Choose an essence based on the need of your skin to keep it healthy and nourished.
Customer Reviews: Customer Reviews are important to know the authenticity of the products. Going through the reviews let you know how long it will take to show results or whether the essence will be beneficial for your skin type.

Contributor: Ollie Wertheim, Founder and Chief Formulator, Sensitive Skin LLC

Conclusion

K-beauty products have taken the beauty world by storm and for all the right reasons. Their holistic approach to skincare not only preserves the skin's beauty but also protects it from environmental aggressors. Our findings show that Koreans consider essence to be one of the important steps that provide them with their dewy, glowy skin. A Korean essence hydrates the skin in light layers, boosting the skin's ability to take in the goodness of the skin-loving ingredients and letting them work their magic from deep within. Apart from hydrating, the best Korean essences nourishes the skin and addresses the skin concerns. Whether you have dry or oily skin, sensitive or acne-prone skin, the essences address and treat them with specific ingredients and careful formulations.

FAQ's

Is Korean essence the same as a toner?

No, Korean essence is not the same as a toner. A toner helps in maintaining the skin's pH balance while an essence provides the skin with hydration.

Is facial essence necessary?

Facial essence hydrates and soothes thirsty skin cells, enhancing the skin's capacity to absorb the skincare products for better results.

Is Korean facial essence the best?

Korean facial essence provides an added layer of moisture to the skin which is beneficial for dry skin. It also helps in reducing fine lines and wrinkles, and strengthens skin barrier in sensitive skin.

Can I use Essence every day?

As essence is water-based and its main aim is to provide hydration to the skin, it can be used 1-2 times a day, preferably during the morning and nighttime skincare routine.

Can a Korean essence help with hydration and moisturization?

Yes, Korean essence helps with hydration and moisturization.

Which is better – essence or serum?

Essence and serum, both play different parts in your skincare routine. An essence offers hydration while a serum uses active ingredients that penetrate deep into the skin to work their benefits.

hat goes before and after an essence?

An essence is applied after cleansing and toning the face. And after the essence sets into the skin, a serum is applied.

Can I skip toner and use essence?

Essence should be applied after toner. Toner is not advisable to skip as it clears away any impurities that might have stayed behind after cleansing.

Which is the better essence or moisturizer?

Both essence and moisturizer have their own benefits. An essence provides the skin with hydration while a moisturizer helps in locking in that moisture.

How long does it take to see results from using a Korean essence?

Regular and consistent use of Korean Essence shows visible results in 2 to 3 weeks.

Why Trust Pinkvilla

The author, Anoushka, is our in-house skincare expert. She is on a constant hunt for the best skincare solutions that she can bring to her readers. A firm believer in a proper skincare routine to keep the skin healthy, she keeps a tab on all the latest beauty trends and viral products, going through their effectiveness and authenticity. Today, she has discussed the benefits of using a Korean essence and the reasons why it has become such a rage amongst skin enthusiasts recently. After trying out multiple essences, she has curated a list of the best Korean essences that will provide you with layers and layers of hydration. Before recommendation, she has gone through each of the product's ingredient list, skin type, and customer reviews to bring you the best of the best.

Our product experts study the specifications of every product we suggest and try them out to bring what’s proven to be worthy of your money, time, and energy. We also have subject matter experts from various fields like Fashion, Skincare, Haircare, Home Decor, and Health & Fitness onboard to make sure our suggestions are credible and trustworthy. You can trust Select to be your faithful shopping guide for all the right reasons!

Author BIO

Anoushka is certified in Professional Skincare and is a Mass Media (Journalism) graduate from Mumbai University. As a More

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