Just a few years ago, facial essences were the unsung hero of K-beauty—an ancillary step in your skin-care routine, but not a must. Well, that’s no longer the case: Finding the best face essences, whatever your concern or skin type, is easier than ever, not to mention the status quo. “In my practice, far more patients are using them now than even a few years ago,” says Y. Claire Chang, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York; they’re especially common among those with dry or compromised skin. Face essences are part of an overarching shift in how people think about hydration: These days, “people understand that well-hydrated skin tolerates retinoids better, looks brighter, and responds more predictably to active ingredients,” says Dr. Chang. “An essence is often the easiest way to create that foundation without adding heaviness.”
Vogue’s Favorite Face Essences:
The formulas reflect this shift, too. While the earliest iterations focused on humectants, like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, newer versions include barrier-friendly lipids, niacinamide, and antioxidants. “Some products even contain botanical plant extracts that can have anti-inflammatory benefits,” says Rachel Westbay, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York. Intrigued? Keep reading for the essences that will set the stage for lasting hydration.
Best Overall: Mixsoon Bean Essence
- Why We Love it: Mixsoon’s Bean Essence has become emblematic of Korean skin care, thanks in part to its novel lineup of ingredients: fermented soybean extract, fermented barley (which is rich in beta-glucan), and fermented pomegranate (which is packed with alpha hydroxy acids). That gives it the ability to both exfoliate and hydrate skin at once, leaving it brighter and smoother. The fermentation is key, too: It shrinks each ingredient to maximize absorption, allowing you to get the most from the formula.
- Editor’s Experience: “Mixsoon’s Bean Essence embodies K-beauty’s ‘gentle exfoliation’ ethos. The formula’s lead ingredient, soybean ferment extract, is an exceptional resurfacing agent—improving skin’s texture, tone, and radiance without any harsh side effects. When paired with a handful of other fermented extracts, glycerin, and propanediol, you get a deeply nourishing, sticky essence that your skin will drink up. I don’t go a single week without using it!” —Kiana Murden, beauty shopping editor
- Key Ingredients: Fermented soybean, barley, pomegranate, and Korean pear
- Best for: Those with dark spots, dullness, and dryness
- Size: 50 ml
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Leaves skin soft, smooth, and bright | Has a slightly sticky texture |
Best for Dry Skin: Ilia The Base Face Milk
- Why We Love it: Living somewhere between a milky toner and lightweight lotion, this “a deeply hydrating and skin-fortifying formula designed to replenish moisture and strengthen the skin barrier,” Blair Murphy-Rose, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and Newport Beach, previously told Vogue. “With hyaluronic acid to plump and hydrate, a barrier-renewal complex rich in lipids and fatty acids to enhance resilience, and microalgae extract for an antioxidant boost, this essence nourishes and protects the skin.”
- Editor’s Experience: “My skin seriously loves this stuff. Not only is it lightweight and never ever pills, but it’s also full of good-for-skin ingredients—hyaluronic acid, prickly-pear-flower extract, and squalane—that improve the look and feel. I like to use this when my skin is on the drier side and requires a little extra moisture before face cream.” —Kiana Murden, beauty shopping editor
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, barrier renewal complex, microalgae extract, prickly pear flower extract
- Best for: Normal-to-dry skin, mature skin, sensitive skin, under makeup
- Size: 30 ml, 100 ml
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Creates a smooth base for makeup | The shake-to-dispense bottle may be frustrating |
| Doubles as a lightweight moisturizer |
Best for Mature Skin: SK-II Facial Treatment Essence
- Why We Love it: It’s one of the best known Japanese skin-care products, not to mention an essential for a bevy of A-listers, including Cynthia Erivo and Dianna Agron. (In fact, Iman herself told Vogue that she swears by it.) As the story goes, sake makers in Japan noticed that their hands were preternaturally youthful and smooth. That led researchers to Pitera, the now-proprietary yeast extract rich in vitamins, amino acids, and minerals; it’s similar in nature to skin’s Natural Moisturizing Factors, giving it the ability to support a bright, even complexion.
- Key Ingredients: Pitera
- Best for: Signs of aging, like wrinkles and sun spots
- Size: 2.5 fl. oz., 5.4 fl. oz., 7.7 fl. oz., 11 fl. oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Leaves skin brighter and more radiant over time | The effects are subtle and take time to see |
| Gentle enough for sensitive skin |
Best for Sensitive Skin: CoSRx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
- Why We Love it: From a beloved K-beauty brand, this essence is fueled largely by snail mucin, “which can help hydrate, repair, and brighten the skin,” says Chang, who calls it her go-to essence in dry winter months. What’s not snail mucin—which comprises 96%—is a blend of similarly nourishing ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid and panthenol. Vogue editors have deemed it one of the best Korean skin-care products, full stop, and stars are similarly smitten: Singer Nessa Barrett credits it with helping her acne-prone skin, while Emily Ratajkowski also considers it a key part of her routine.
- Key Ingredients: Snail mucin, panthenol, hyaluronic acid
- Best For: Dry or sensitive skin, enlarged pores
- Size: 3.38 fl. oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Quickly softens, smooths, and hydrates skin | Nothing to note |
| Has a silky, almost sticky, texture that absorbs quickly |
Best Mist: Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence
- Why We Love it: Immortalized as one of the best clean-beauty products on the shelf, this garden-inspired essence is brimming with botanicals grown on Harper’s sprawling Vermont farm. Lavender water, rose water, and beet root extract help smooth and soften skin, while two forms of hyaluronic acid work to hydrate. It’s also multifunctional: You can use it to refresh skin and set makeup, which might explain how it earned a place in model and food expert Padma Lakshmi’s beauty routine.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, rose water, beet root extract
- Best for: Dry or dehydrated skin
- Size: 1.7 fl. oz., 4.1 fl. oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Has a nice floral scent | Its effects tend to be temporary |
| Mist format is easy to use |
Best for Oily Skin: Iope Bio Conditioning Essence
- Why We Love it: This antioxidant-rich essence is powered by saccharomyces ferment filtrate, green tea extract, and niacinamide; the strategic combination of ingredients can help balance, brighten, and protect skin in one fell swoop. Moreover, “it is perfect for the summer, given how lightweight it is and how fast it dries on the skin,” says Chang. Niacinamide can even help regulate sebum production, making this an especially worthwhile option for those prone to shine.
- Key Ingredients: Saccharomyces ferment filtrate, green tea extract, niacinamide
- Best For: Oily or acne-prone skin
- Size: 5.68 fl. Oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Ideal for hot or humid weather | Not as hydrating as other options |
| Can help address post-acne dark spots |
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Shiseido Eudermine Activating Essence
- Why We Love it: Few essences take large pores and blemishes into consideration, which is where Shiseido’s lightweight (yet supremely hydrating) formula stands out. It offers two forms of hyaluronic acid with yuzu extract, which work together to soften skin and replenish hydration, as well as witch hazel to clarify congested skin. Plus, the sleek bottle is endlessly refillable.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, yuzu extract, vitamin C
- Best for: Combination or oily, skin or those with breakouts
- Size: 4.9 fl. oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Hydrates skin without clogging pores | The added fragrance is polarizing |
| Refill option is less expensive |
Best for Redness: SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Essence Mist
- Why We Love it: Redness can arise for any number of reasons, be it an aggressive in-office procedure, exposure to allergens, or innately sensitive skin. To treat it, this refreshing mist sets out to quell inflammation on contact with a two-pronged approach. Hyaluronic acid and glycerin (two potent humectants) help draw water into skin, immediately hydrating it. Meanwhile, a blend of soothing botanicals—cucumber, thyme, olive leaf, and rosemary extracts among them—work to dial down the flush. All the while, it’s gentle enough for even the most compromised skin.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, cucumber extract
- Best for: Irritated or sensitive skin, redness
- Size: 1.7 fl. oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Mist format is convenient to use | Contains fragrance, which may be irritating |
| Soothes skin immediately |
Best for Combination Skin: Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Essence Water
- Why We Love it: You could argue that this is as much a hydrating toner as it is a face essence, in part because it contains 0.2% beta hydroxy acid, better known as salicylic acid—which helps gently resurface skin and clear pores. Then there’s niacinamide, which also helps control sebum production and even out tone—making for a duo that works well for oily and acne-prone skin types alike. But the 80% hydrating ginseng water places it firmly in essence territory, for a well-rounded and versatile formula that address multiple skin concerns at once.
- Key Ingredients: Ginseng water, niacinamide, beta hydroxy acid
- Best For: All skin types, including combination and oily skin
- Size: 150 ml
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Works well for most skin types | May be too powerful for sensitive skin types |
| Has a good value |
Best for Uneven Texture: VT Cosmetics Reedle Shot 100
- Why We Love it: While this isn’t a traditional essence—it’s billed a face serum—it’s worth considering for a few reasons. First, it harnesses spicules technology (akin to microneedling, though on a much milder scale) to allow ingredients to better penetrate skin. That allows other ingredients to better penetrate, yielding improved results and smoother skin texture—which may explain why it’s bound to be a big K-beauty trend this year. This formula pairs the spicules with centella asiatica and hyaluronic acid, which offer immediate hydration and calming in addition to whatever else you layer over it.
- Key Ingredients: Centella asiatica extract, propolis extract, sodium hyaluronate
- Best For: Uneven texture and tone
- Size: 50 ml
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Helps address breakouts and pores | Tingly sensation may take some adjustment |
Best for Eczema-Prone Skin: Rhode Glazing Milk Ceramide Facial Essence
- Why We Love it: This is an excellent example of the shift toward more barrier-focused essences, according to Dr. Chang. “The ceramide trio, beta-glucan, magnesium, zinc, and copper make it especially helpful for sensitive, over-exfoliated, or post-procedure skin,” she says. She also likes the milky, serum-like texture, which tends to layer well under active ingredients. The combination of ingredients keeps skin hydrated and makes quick work of flakes, uneven skin texture, and other barrier-related concerns. Plus, the formula has a Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association.
- Editor’s Experience: “I’m a big milky toner girl; and while I’ve had the Rhode Glazing Milk in my possession—I only recently started reaching for it. Hydration and skin-soothing properties aside, I love the weight of it. It pairs well with other ingredients without heaviness, and imparts a natural, almost satin finish excellent for days I want a glow without dewiness—a sensorial feat.” —Kiana Murden, beauty shopping editor
- Key Ingredients: Ceramides, magnesium, zinc, copper, vitamin E
- Best For: Redness and eczema-prone skin
- Size: 124 ml
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Safe for eczema-prone skin | It’s fragrance-free, but some don’t like the smell |
| Leaves a glowing finish |
Best for Compromised Skin: Aestura AtoBarrier365 Hydro Essence
- Why We Love it: Aestura is popular in Korea for the brand’s emphasis on barrier care, and this essence is no exception. The ingredients are reminiscent of that of a barrier cream, with “ceramides, fatty acids, cholesterol, glycerin, and squalane that reinforce the skin’s lipid structure and reduce transepidermal water loss,” explains Dr. Chang, who notes that using it regularly will leave skin calmer and more resilient. “The texture is light and breathable, making it excellent for dry, reactive, or retinoid-using patients.”
- Best For: Dry or compromised skin
- Key Ingredients: Ceramides, fatty acids, cholesterol, squalane, glycerin, vitamin E
- Size: 200 ml
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Gentle enough for very sensitive skin | May cause breakouts in acne-prone skin |
| Absorbs quickly despite milky texture |
Best Value: The Ordinary Multi-Active Delivery Essence for Hydration
- Why We Love it: The Ordinary’s minimalist option is a favorite of Dr. Chang, as it “focuses on improving hydration and helping subsequent products penetrate more effectively,” she says. “Humectants like glycerin and propanediol draw water into the skin, while the elegant, water-light texture prevents pilling.”
- Editor’s Experience: “I’m fond of the streamlined ingredient list of this serum—packed with only the essentials to adequately condition skin. It’s thin, serum-like texture makes it excellent for oily or combination skin types, or when it’s warm out. At just $12, it doesn’t get much better.” —Kiana Murden, beauty shopping editor
- Key Ingredients: Glycerin, propanediol, glycogen
- Size: 100 ml
- Best for: Dry or dehydrated skin
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Clinical testing shows improvement in absorption of following actives | Works best in tandem with additional products |
| Lightweight texture |
Everything You Need to Know
What is an essence?
A face essence is a lightweight hydrator that you apply to skin between cleansing and moisturizing. “The primary function of an essence is to provide deep hydration to the skin,” says Chang. “It prepares the skin to better absorb subsequent products, such as serums and moisturizers, enhancing their efficacy.” Think of skin as a sponge; dampening it first theoretically helps it better accept and absorb other formulas applied to it.
Who should use an essence for face?
In short: Practically everyone can benefit from a face essence. “All skin types can use an essence,” says Dr. Westbay. “It just depends on what type of skin concerns you have.” Chang, for her part, has found that essences can be especially beneficial for those with dry or dehydrated skin, as well as people with a weakened skin barrier. For that reason, “I like to recommend adding this step in the winter when the air and your skin can be drier, she says.
It’s also helpful for those with mature skin. “Because an essence has a very hydrating formula, it can deeply hydrate your skin barrier and increase luminosity and elasticity, which is why those with fine lines and wrinkles may want to use it,” says Westbay.
What to Look for in an Essence
The exact ingredients to seek out depend on your skin type and concerns. Since they’re meant to hydrate skin, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and panthenol are easy to find, and a good option for most people. “For those looking for skin brightening and anti-aging, I recommend looking for additional ingredients like niacinamide, licorice root extract, arbutin, and vitamin C,” says Dr. Chang.
Meanwhile, calming ingredients like centella asiatica (commonly known as cica), green tea extract, aloe vera, and chamomile can help quell redness and irritation. And finally, if you’re seeking extra hydration and skin repair, “consider fermented ingredients, like galactomyces ferment filtrate and saccharomyces ferment, and snail mucin,” she says.
How to Use an Essence
First, begin by gently cleansing your skin to remove oil and dirt—ideally, your skin should be clean and slightly damp, says Dr. Chang. You’re welcome to use a toner after your cleanser if you want to, but “it’s not necessary if using an essence,” she says. “Pour a few drops of the essence into your palm and gently pat the essence onto your face and neck.”
Once the essence has fully absorbed into your skin, move on to your serums and any targeted treatments, such as eye cream, before applying your moisturizer. “In the morning, this can be followed by a thick layer of sunscreen,” says Dr. Chang. Face essences are typically very gentle, and thus can be used both morning and night.
How does an essence differ from a toner and serum?
Unlike essences, which are designed to supply hydration and prepare the skin for additional steps, “toners are typically focused on removing any remaining impurities after cleansing and balancing the skin’s pH levels,” says Chang, who also notes that toners tend to have a more watery consistency. And although hydrating toners do exist, they’re not quite as nourishing as essences.
Serums, meanwhile, serve their own purpose. Infused with a higher concentration of active ingredients, these “target specific skin issues like wrinkles or pigmentation,” says Chang. Depending on your skin needs and your own preferences—for instance, you might have neither the time or patience for several steps ahead of moisturizer—you can choose which among these works best for you.
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity estheticians—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to facial essences, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, texture, hydration benefits, application, finish, and the skin-care concerns they address. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.
Meet the Experts
- Dr. Y. Claire Chang is a board-certified dermatologist at Union Square Laser Dermatology in New York.
- Dr. Rachel Westbay is a board-certified dermatologist at Marmur Dermatology in New York.
.png)