Wanna know a secret?
What if I told you that you could have the glowy skin of your dreams with this simple yet effective step of the Korean skincare routine a.k.a essence?
Though less talked about than its fellow Korean skincare products, a facial essence is a lightweight liquid ranging between a toner and a serum in terms of viscosity, usually used after your toner.
The right Korean essence nourishes your skin from within, blessing you with fresh, plump skin with a natural glow. With skin-friendly ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, essences enhance skin cell turnover and improve skin concerns such as uneven skin texture, fine lines, and dull skin.
If you want to switch up your skincare, it is high time you incorporate it into your skincare routine. (Time is of the essence, see what I did there?)
Since choosing the perfect Korean essence as per your skin type can be hefty, taking into consideration the vast choices and sticking to ONLY safe ingredients, we have done all the research for you in this list of best korean essences. Let’s get started!
8 Best Korean Essences – Ranking
Keeping up with the beauty trends but without compromising on safety, here are some of the best Korean essence products to choose from. It all comes down to your skin types and concerns when it comes to choosing the Best Korean essence for your skin to achieve effective results:
1. Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence
My verdict: Best essence to improve skin barrier
Nothing screams skin care like this essence. Period!
It is jam-packed with skin-friendly ingredients like probiotics (fermented ingredients like: bifida and galactomyces), rice extracts, sunflower oil, shea butter, ginseng, panthenol, squalane and ceramides.
This essence has anti-inflammatory properties, repairs the skin barrier, calms irritated skin and promotes skin elasticity.
It has a wonderful milky consistency and really feels on the skin like the most luxurious milk!
It helps to heal and hydrate the skin, and I would say currently it is the best Korean essence for sensitive and dry skin types that I tried!
Why You Will Love It
- Super moisturized skin
Everyone who tried this essence loves how it makes the skin feel hydrated, plump and healthy.
- Boosts skin health
It works wonders for compromised skin barrier and helps to sooth irritated skin.
I have a feeling that since I’m using this essence, my skin is less prone to freak out!
- Amazing glow
This milky essence is glowy skin goal. After application, the skin has lovely natural glowy, but doesn’t look too shiny or oily!
Keep In Mind
It takes a bit more time to absorb than other Korean essences.
2. Dr. Ceuracle Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence
My verdict: Best Korean essence for dry & mature skin
Looking for the best Korean essence for fighting signs of aging while also improving skin moisture level?
If you’re into K-beauty, I’m sure that at some point you have seen this milky dual-layer essence from Dr. Ceuracle!
What’s great is that this Korean essence is suitable for all skin types, but I recommend it especially for skin dryness.
Why You Will Love It
- Happy hydrated skin
Women who use this creamy essence regularly love how their skin feels so moisturized and plump. This essence is a moisture bomb for the skin.
- Strong skin barrier
Kombucha is such a hidden gem! It works like magic for dry and sensitive skin, as well as broken skin barrier.
So, if your skin is very sensitive (like mine) this essence is the solution. It’s has healing properties and strengthens your skin’s hydrolipid barrier.
Keep In Mind
Although it absorbs really well, some girls with combo and oily skin say it is a bit “too much” for them, or they only use it during winter when the skin needs extra hydration.
PRO TIP: If you’d like a product with the goodness of Galactomyces, but prefer a convenient form of a mist, you definitely need to check out Manyo Essence Mist.
3. Jumiso Snail Mucin 95 + Peptide Essence
My verdict: One of the best-selling Korean essences for dry skin
If you have dry, dull-looking, or mature skin, this is probably one of the best Korean essence products for you.
In Korean beauty, snail mucin is a big game changer when it comes to pampering your skin.
And this essence, puts the well-aging and hydration game on another level, because apart from 95% of snail secretion filtrate, it also contains peptides. They help to boost skin elasticity and aid in cell damage repair.
Why You Will Love It
- Long-lasting hydration
People who use this essence love how their dry and rough skin feels hydrated all day long, something that is a make-or-break deal when it comes to facial essences.
- Smoothes out fine line
With the snail mucin and peptides, this gooey essence has lifting and firming properties.
By the way, some people even say that this essence is better than viral COSRX snail mucin essence!
Keep In Mind
Some people are allergic to snail mucin, and of course this type of essence is not vegan.
4. Dr. Ceuracle Vegan Active Berry First Essence
My verdict: Great Korean essence for well-aging
This hydrating essence offers a range of skin solutions: it is anti-aging and deeply hydrating while giving you clear and firm skin with an improved tone. Need I say more?
This fragrance-free essence improves signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles, while making your skin plump from within.
All thanks to resveratrol – which is sometimes even considered as an alternative to retinol when it comes to anti-aging benefits.
Why You Will Love It
- All for well-aging
This essence looks so beautiful with tiny lilac capsules with resveratrol. But it’s not only about the texture!
Resveratrol, according to studies, has great benefits for mature and aging skin. It helps with fine lines and wrinkles.
- Hydrating and brightening
What girls love about this essence is that it keeps their skin supple and nicely hydrated.
Plus, it helps to brighten and even out skin tone.
Keep In Mind
It is super hard to get it out of the bottle, because it has really viscous texture. You will have to shake that bottle really hard!
5. Skin 1004 Probio-Cica Essence Toner
My verdict: Hydration & soothing locked in a bottle
As the name suggests, this essence toner contains fermented Centella extract.
There’s also panthenol and Ceramide NP and a few other highly hydrating ingredients.
It has slightly viscous consistency which I always like in my toners and essences!
This is the best Korean essence for people with sensitized and dry skin or those who need to address their tired and dull skin.
Why You Will Love It
- Great for sensitive skin
Individuals with delicate skin find this essence soothing and hydrating, leaving them with irritation-free skin, and no flare-ups.
- Strengthens the skin barrier
Most users love how their skin appears healthier and plump, as the essence protects the skin’s moisture barrier.
- Hello, radiance!
Women who use this essence love the glowy, even tone they wake up to with regular use.
Keep In Mind
For the ultimate soothing and hydrating experience, you may want to pair it with the Probio-Cica ampoule. It has nice milky consistency and even for my dry skin type it feels so hydrating that sometimes I can even skip the moisturizer afterwards!
6. Beauty Of Joseon Ginseng Water Essence
My verdict: Great Korean essence for oily & mature skin
One of the main ingredients in this essence is ginseng, niacinamide and adenosine, which hydrate the skin deeply, improve its elasticity, texture, and fine lines, and help to control sebum production.
Why You Will Love It
- No oily residue
It’s perfect for oily skin, because it provides enough hydration, and doesn’t make the skin looking too shiny. It doesn’t leave any sticky residue either.
- Fine lines be gone!
Ginseng is considered to be super helpful for reducing the signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles.
- Antioxidant power
As an antioxidant, ginseng is also perfect for acne-prone skin type.
Keep In Mind
At times when I had super dry skin, this essence was feeling not hydrating enough. But during summer, when my skin acts more like a normal type, it was perfect!
7. COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence
My verdict: Best anti-aging Korean essence
This is the best Korean essence for mature skin, especially if you want to leave your dull skin days in the past.
If you’re into Korean products, you might be familiar with the active ingredients of this essence. The 95% Galactomyces ferment filtrate is a superstar when it comes to boosting your skin’s health.
This hydrating essence helps keep excess sebum and blackheads away while improving the skin tone.
Next, we have Niacinamide which supports our skin barrier, prevents moisture loss, and brightens the skin with its antioxidant properties.
This anti-aging essence has a lightweight formula and absorbs easily into the skin.
Why You Will Love It
- Revitalizes skin
What women love about this essence is that it gives them radiant clear skin. It’s amazing if you’re looking for anti-aging benefits in a product.
- Hello, glow!
Among benefits, users rave about the healthy glowing skin they adore after regular use of this Korean essence.
- Intense hydration
Most women that use this essence are really impressed by its ability to keep their skin moisturized throughout the day.
Keep In Mind
A few users with reactive skin complained that the serum broke them out initially.
8. I’m From Mugwort Essence
My verdict: Great soothing & affordable essence
This is the best Korean essence for people with sensitive skin, dry skin, and acne-prone skin types.
Mugwort has been a part of Korean beauty for centuries, and rightly so. Its ability to soothe skin, boost hydration and promote healing makes it a great choice for all skin types that need some TLC.
What I also like about this K-beauty essence is that you get a big bottle and little goes a long way, so it will serve you for good few months!
Another advantage is the consistency: not too watery, but also not too sticky.
Why You Will Love It
- Say goodbye to sun damage
Most women love how it helps soothe their sunburn and damage from UV rays as if forming a protective barrier that heals their skin.
- Reduces redness and sensitivity
Among benefits, most users rave about this essence’s ability to calm irritation and soothe skin, making it a permanent member of their skincare routine.
So if you need the best Korean essence for your agitated sensitive skin, look no further my friend!
- Great for acne-prone skin
Not only does this lightweight essence reduce acne, but it even heals acne scars.
Most girls with acne-prone skin tag this Korean essence as their holy grail.
Keep In Mind
A few users think this Korean essence smells a tad bit too “herbal” for their liking.
Final Decision: What Is The Number 1 Essence In Korea?
Though it all depends on your skin concerns and type, my pick from this list of best Korean essences has to be Haruharu milky essence with probiotics.
It works on several issues such as sun damage, redness, and irritation while enriching the skin with its hydrating, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and soothing properties.
Whether you have sensitive, dry, or acne-prone skin, this essence will soothe and repair your skin like no other.
What Exactly Does Korean Essence Do?
Korean essence products are designed to replenish the skin’s moisture, prepare the skin for better absorption of subsequent products and nourish the skin with their concentrated active ingredients, according to specific skin concerns.
With watery consistency and easy application, Korean essence can make a huge difference in your skin.
Here are some reasons why you should include essence in your skincare routine:
- Long-lasting moisture: The first and foremost function of essence is to enrich the skin with hydration with humectants (hyaluronic acids, glycerin, aloe vera).
- Nourished skin: With skin-friendly ingredients like vitamin B5, green mineral water, organic plant blend, and amino acids, facial essences leave the skin nourished and rejuvenated.
- Improved skin texture: Some essences include AHAs and BHAs that remove dead skin cells and boost skin cell turnover resulting in smoother texture and reduced signs of aging.
- Even skin tone: With actives like niacinamide, snail mucin, Cica extract, and vitamin C, essences can even out your skin’s tone and add a natural glow to your complexion.
- Primes the skin: With moisture-retaining ingredients like niacinamide, vitamin B5, or glycerin, Korean essence makes sure your skin is plump and ready for other skincare products.
Remember that essence should be used after a toner. Once it’s fully absorbed, you can follow up with a serum or ampoule (for example Korean hyaluronic acid serum) if you have dehydrated skin or want to fight signs of aging).
If you’re in a hurry you could also move straight onto next step – moisturizer.
The purpose of this article is informative and entertaining. It’s not a substitute for medical consultation or medical care. The author of this article does not accept any responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from any information or advice contained here. Safety should be your priority.
All pictures in this article with YouAreBeautie logo belong to YouAreBeautie.com and were taken by the owner of this website. All these images are copyright-protected.
Sources of pictures:
- Pictures of Dr. Ceuracle Kombucha essences belong to Dr. Ceuracle Brand. Source: https://drceuracle.pl/
- Pictures of Jumiso essence belong to Jumiso Brand. Source: https://jumiso.us/
- Pictures of Probio-Cica essence belong to Skin1004 Brand. Source: skin1004.com/
