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Byrdie / Lecia Landis
If you’re a skincare 10-stepper or a fan of the Korean skincare routine, you probably know all about essences. The name itself sounds so obscure—what even is it?—so it takes some research to really understand what it does. That’s where we come in.
You might be thinking that essences are just fancy toners, right? Wrong. We asked Charlotte Cho of Soko Glam and Christine Chang and Sarah Lee of Glow Recipe to break it all down for us. "Toners are traditionally more thought of as an astringent, pH balancing, clarifying step—almost as a second step after cleansing," they say. "Toners are often dispensed onto a cotton pad, which helps to wipe away any residue after cleansing. Essences are liquid treatments that efficiently infuse the skin with hydration and/or anti-aging actives and have a lightweight texture that is great for layering."
If you can't wait to try an essence (*raises hand*), you're in luck—we've rounded up some of our favorites for all skin types. Pro tip: If you happen to have sensitive skin, opt for one that is fragrance-free.
Read on for facial essences that your skin will love.
Best Overall
SK-II Facial Treatment Essence
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Courtesy of Sephora
Hydrating
Smooths skin
Quick results
Expensive
Who else recommends it? Popsugar, Cosmopolitan, and Who What Wear all picked the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence.
What do buyers say? 83% of 6,000+ Nordstrom reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.
You’ve probably seen ads for this essence all over social media (shoutout to James Corden for that skin #selfcare!), but this essence has been a fan-favorite in the beauty world for some time now. Infused with Pitera, an ingredient derived from yeast fermentation, the formula contains over 50 micro-nutrients that do everything from nourish, condition, smooth, and hydrate your skin. What users love most is how quickly they see a difference—even after a few days of use.
Price at time of publish: $235
Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best K-Beauty
Neogen Real Ferment Micro-Essence
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Courtesy of Amazon
Reduces redness
Boosts radiance
Hydrating
Reviewers note results aren't drastic
Looking to achieve “honey skin” status? Here’s your ticket there. For the ultimate smooth, balanced, and even complexion, this fermented formula—with 17% hydrating birch juice and 9% brightening rice extracts—is exactly what you need. Because it’s packed with a ton of humectants, it draws in moisture and keeps it there.
Price at time of publish: $38
Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Acne-Prone Skin
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
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Amazon
Hydrating
Fades hyperpigmentation
Bottle lasts a long time
Reviewers note results aren't drastic
I know what you’re thinking—is she seriously suggesting snail secretion? Yes. I am. And with good reason. This essence is 96% snail secretion filtrate and what that means for your skin is a plethora of essentials vitamins that intensely replenishes and revitalizes your complexion. Snail mucin also moisturizes dry patches, treats acne breakouts, and decreases hyperpigmentation. It’s basically your all-in-one, especially if you tend to have blemishes that won’t quit. Because this formula is so potent, you only need a small amount to thoroughly treat your face.
Price at time of publish: $25
Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Large Pores
Kiehl’s Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence
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Courtesy of Sephora
Improves texture
Hydrating
Boosts radiance
Contains fragrance
Key Ingredients
Sodium hyaluronate is a water-soluble salt that's derived from hyaluronic acid, which can be found naturally in the body. Like hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate binds up to 1,000 times its own weight in water, but this form can penetrate deeper into the skin due to its lower molecular weight and is more stable.
Refine your skin’s look and texture with this velvety concentrate infused with sodium hyaluronate and lipohydroxy acid. The formula helps to reduce the appearance of pores, combat dryness, and bring dull skin back to life. Reviewers were impressed with its skin-resurfacing ability.
Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Uneven Texture
Fresh Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence
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Courtesy of Sephora
Hydrating
Fades fine lines and wrinkles
Boosts radiance
Can feel sticky
Key Ingredients
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring polysaccharide found in the human body. It acts as a cushioning and lubrication agent for our joints, nerves, hair, skin, and eyes. When used in skincare, it acts as a moisture binder, which means that it will attach itself to the water in the cells (while also attracting and holding water from the air) making them plump.
This power-packed essence has every skin-smoothing ingredient you could think of, like kombucha, Africana fruit extract, hyaluronic acid, and mandarin peel extract. These ingredients work together to improve skin’s bounce, fade fine lines, and encourage luminosity. Users not only love the glowy results, but also the small bottle, which is travel-friendly.
Price at time of publish: $36
Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Dry Skin
Laneige Water Bank Hydro Essence
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Courtesy of Laneige
Hydrating
Lightweight
Absorbs quickly
Contains fragrance
Think of this Laneige facial essence as a big drink of water for your skin. The star of its formula is the brand's proprietary green mineral water, which is infused with extracts from vitamin-rich vegetables (including kale, watercress, and beet) for a punch of hydration that lasts all day. Plus, it's super lightweight and absorbs easily.
Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Sensitive Skin
Pixi Rose Caviar Essence
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Courtesy of Pixi
Affordable
Provides antioxidant protection
Boosts radiance
Not as hydrating as other options
We're big fans of Pixi by Petra's skincare collection here at Byrdie HQ, so it's no surprise that this facial essence is on our list. This gentle, antioxidant-rich formula features ingredients like rose oil, anise extract, and mulberry extract to soothe and brighten even the most sensitive skin.
Price at time of publish: $16
Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Oily Skin
Caudalie Vinoperfect Glycolic Brightening Essence
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Courtesy of Amazon
Oil-free
Boosts radiance
Hydrating
Expensive
If you have oily skin, reach for this natural, oil-free facial essence from French skincare brand Caudalie. Not only does it brighten and even out your skin (thanks to glycolic acid and white peony)—it includes organic grape water for a punch of hydration.
Price at time of publish: $59
Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Dark Spots
Tata Harper Concentrated Brightening Essence
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Courtesy of Tata Harper Cosmetics
Fades hyperpigmentation
Fades fine lines and wrinkles
Thicker texture
Expensive
Hyperpigmentation, dark spots and discoloration…we’ll pass. Considered a brightness booster, this essence formula works to battle uneven skin. With an ingredient combo of fruit extracts and acids, it encourages cellular turnover and diminishes the look of dark spots and wrinkles. Reviewers report that the consistency is thicker than other essences, making it feel more luxurious on the skin.
Price at time of publish: $260
Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Mature Skin
MISSHA Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence RX
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Courtesy of MiSSHA
Gently exfoliates
Hydrating
Boosts radiance
Expensive
Turning back time is more than just a song when it comes to this essence (cue Cher’s chorus). Another fermented formula, this concentrated essence improves the skin’s texture by exfoliating and brightening. Yeast fermentations deliver serious moisture while pearl reef extracts exfoliate the surface to remove dead skin cells. After swiping on the product with a cotton pad, gently massage any leftover essence into the skin with your fingers.
Price at time of publish: $24
Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Dull Skin
Juice Beauty Green Apple Brightening Essence
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Courtesy of Amazon
Boosts radiance
Hydrating
Reduces redness
Reviewers note it has a weird smell
Tired of dull skin? Thanks to green apple and malic acid, this essence improves skin’s texture and brings out your natural glow. It also features zanthoxylum fruit, which is an effective redness-reducer. After consistent use, you’ll find that discoloration and bumpy skin have decreased.
Price at time of publish: $38
Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
How We Researched
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
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