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. COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence
Our 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.
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 this Manyo Essence Mist.
2. I’m From Mugwort Essence
Our verdict: Overall best Korean 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.
3. Manyo Galac Niacin 2.0 Essence
Our verdict: Best Korean essence for uneven skin tone
Looking for the best Korean essence for fighting signs of aging while also improving skin moisture and tone?
This little guy is bursting with the goodness of galactomyces ferment filtrate (93.69%), hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide, so you’re bound to see your skin transform with regular use.
What’s great is that this Korean essence is suitable for all skin types.
Why You Will Love It
- Improves skin tone
Most users love how this essence helps improve their skin tone and texture, removing dead skin cells and giving them clear and soft skin.
- Happy hydrated skin
Women who use this essence regularly love how their skin feels so moisturized and plump. It’s almost as if this essence is a moisture bomb for their skin.
- Radiant complexion
Among benefits, users swear by the healthy glow in their skin, after regularly using this product.
Their complexion feels radiant and the compliments keep rolling in, thanks to the brightening ingredients!
Keep In Mind
A few users think that this essence is not enough to combat the harsh winter.
4. NEOGEN DERMALOGY Cica Repair Snail Line
Our verdict: Best essence to improve skin barrier
Nothing screams skin care like Cica. Period!
This essence is jam-packed with skin-friendly ingredients like snail mucin and Cica complex.
The snail mucin, a superstar in the K-beauty world, is an anti-inflammatory ingredient that repairs the skin barrier, calms irritated skin and promotes collagen production and skin elasticity.
Next, the Cica complex, derived from the Centella Asiatica plant and root extracts, is known to heal and hydrate the skin, making it the best Korean essence for sensitive and dry skin types.
Why You Will Love It
- Super moisturized skin
People who use this essence love how it makes their skin feel hydrated and healthy.
- Boosts skin health
Most women swear by the improvement in their skin health, thanks to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of this essence.
- Anti-aging
A lot of women notice a significant decrease in their skin issues such as fine lines, dark spots, and wrinkles.
The hyaluronic acid and increased collagen help reverse the signs of aging.
Keep In Mind
A few users believe the texture is a little thick than other Korean essences.
5. COSRX Advanced Snail Radiance Dual Essence
Our verdict: Effective Korean essence for wrinkles and dull skin
As the name suggests, this essence boosts skin radiance with the added benefits of snail mucin.
With a 74.3% triple snail complex, this essence ensures your skin gets the hydration it needs while balancing the skin’s pH levels and protecting against UV damage from the sun.
Next, it is full of multivitamins like niacinamide and panthenol and antioxidants such as glutathione, that retain skin moisture and add radiance to the skin.
Hence this is the best Korean essence for people with mature or 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 without leaving them with irritated skin and redness.
- 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
Some users are not too fond of the sticky texture of this Korean essence.
6. MIZON Skin Power Original First Essence
Our verdict: Great moisturizing Korean essence
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.
The galactomyces ferment filtrate, niacinamide, amino acids, and sodium hyaluronate are a winning combination to address almost all skin concerns.
Why You Will Love It
- No more uneven tone
Most women who use this essence love how it evens out their skin tone, greatly reducing the flushed redness.
- Doubles up as a moisturizing lotion
What girls love about this essence is that it can be used as a hydrating lotion that keeps their skin supple, soft, and moisturized.
That being said, some keep it in a spritz bottle and use it as a setting spray on the go.
Keep In Mind
A user complained that this essence did not suit her sensitive and reactive skin.
7. MISSHA Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence 5X
Our verdict: One of the best-selling Korean essences for dry skin
If you have sensitive, dry, or dull-looking skin, this is probably one of the best Korean essence products for you.
In Korean beauty, Yeast ferment extract is a big game changer when it comes to pampering your skin.
The first essence is chock full of this, which helps to hydrate the skin and protect it from environmental irritants.
Other than that, the treatment essence has the nourishing ceramide NP and niacinamide that ensure your skin’s protective barrier stays reinforced and there is no moisture loss.
Why You Will Love It
- Long-lasting hydration
People who use the first treatment 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.
- Soothes the skin
Thanks to the yeast filtrate, women love how this essence calms their angry skin and prevents any irritation.
Keep In Mind
A user with oily skin claimed that this essence did nothing for her skin.
8. COSRX Hyaluronic Acid Hydra Power Essence
Our verdict: Great Korean essence for dehydrated and mature skin
One of the main ingredients in COSRX Hydra Power Essence is hyaluronic acid which hydrates the skin deeply and improves elasticity, texture, and fine lines.
The best thing? It is suitable for all skin types.
Why You Will Love It
- Plump and supple skin
Most women who use this essence love how it makes their skin feel bouncy and hydrated.
- Great for everyone
Among the benefits, users love the lightweight texture of this essence, making it a great option for any skin type.
Keep In Mind
A few users think the texture is a little tacky but nothing when compared to the amazing benefits of this essence.
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 this I’m From Mugwort Essence.
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. This article contains affiliate links.
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 COSRX essences belong to COSRX Brand. Source: https://www.cosrx.com/
- Pictures of Missha Time Revolution essence belong to Missha Brand. Source: https://misshaus.com/
- Pictures of Neogen Dermalogy Snail Essence belong to Neogen Dermalogy Brand. Source: https://neogenlab.us/
- Pictures of Manyo Galac Niacin 2.0 belong to Manyo Brand. Source: https://manyo.us/