I Almost Gave Up on Maintaining My Year-Round Glow, But This One Product Officially Gives Me Hope

I don't want to brag, but...

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Best Essences for Face
(Image credit: Courtesy of Maya Thomas; @hannahjuneva)
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At the risk of completely bragging, my skin has been completely thriving over the past few months. Yes, I can certainly credit living in the hydration-heavy Pacific Northwest for the moisture and plumpness my complexion has been experiencing from season-to-season, but I'm also giving flowers to the tweaks I've made in my skincare routine over the last year that has helped me combat hyperpigmentation and texture irregularities. Plus, my makeup applies like a total dream (and in about half the time it did last spring). So, what gives? If have a few working theories of why my skin has been at its best, but the one at the top of the list has to be the fact that I started experimenting with adding facial essences to my product lineup.

If you've never understood the hype around facial essences (or, have yet to see it pop up on your Instagram's Timeline or Explore Page), don't stress about it: they're ridiculously underrated. Below, I'm diving into the world of essences with the help of a skincare expert, then sharing some of the best one's money can buy below with tips, tricks, and glowing five-star reviews.

Rhode's Glazing Milk pictured by Associate Beauty Editor Maya Thomas

(Image credit: Courtesy of Maya Thomas)

What Are Essences?

Board certified dermatologist Ariana Eginli, MD, FAAD, tells says essences are a lightweight, hydrating step that helps prepare the skin for the products you'll use in a well-rounded lineup. "Unlike serums, which contain higher concentrations of active ingredients and are formulated to treat specific concerns, essences serve as a hydrating step that helps skin feel refreshed and ready for the products that follow," Enginli tell us. They typically contain humectants and low concentrations of antioxidants or soothing compounds to help the skin feel calm, plump, and balanced.

As helpful as they can be for supporting the overall health of your skin, she says that most people don't need an essence to a have a great routine, but for those, "looking to increase hydration or improve how efficiently their active ingredients penetrate, they can be a really nice addition." While not essential, using an essence can be a simple and effective way to give skin an extra dose of moisture and prepare it for the rest of your routine. Eginli recommends using an essence after cleansing and before serum, followed by a moisturizer and sunscreen in the daytime.

"Pairing an essence with products like DRMTLGY’s Needle-less Serum ($52) or Hydration Booster 10X ($31) can enhance hydration and leave skin looking supple and radiant," explains Enginli. While selecting an essence to incorporate into your skincare routine, she advices opting for a product formulated with well-studied, hydrating, and soothing ingredients with minimum fragrances. She discourages conflating confusing the role of an essence in your skincare routine with that of a serum. "Essences do not replace serums," she continues. "Serums remain the step with the most clinical impact, delivering the concentration necessary to address concerns like wrinkles, pigmentation, acne, or redness. Essences are best viewed as a supportive layer—not a treatment step."

Hannah Juneva with dewy skin, flushed cheeks, and berry-toned lips

(Image credit: @hannahjuneva)

Which Ingredients Are In Essences?

As with all the skincare products you can spot on the shelves of your go-to beauty retailer, there are some ingredients that are more frequently found in the majority of facial essences than others. Eginli says essences often include ingredients, "that have clinical evidence for improving hydration or calming the skin." This includes humectants, soothing agents, fermented extracts containing amino acids, minerals, and antioxidants to support barrier repair and antioxidant activity, plus antioxidants like niacinamide, green tea, and licorice root. Overall, these products are designed to deliver supportive (albeit, not very high) concentrations of actives, which is why she says they're best thought of as hydrating primers instead of treatment products.

Are Essences Ideal For All Skin Types?

If you've been hesitant to begin using facial essences for fear of upsetting your skin, allow Enginli to put your worries at bay. "Typically essences are generally suitable for most skin types, because their formulations tend to be gentle and focused on hydration," she says. Enginli highlights essences as being particularly beneficial for dry and dehydrated skin since formulas use humectants (such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and beta-glucan) that attract and bind water, to replenish moisture. Sensitive of barrier-impaired skin may also respond to these products, since they're frequently crafted with soothing ingredients like panthenol or Centella asiatica.

While the the added hydration can also help support individuals in their skincare journeys that are using stronger actives (including retinoids and AHA/BHAs), Enginli recommends stopping the use of actives if their too irritating for the skin and discussing which actives, if any, are appropriate for the skin with a board-certified dermatologist. She typically advises that patients with sensitivity, eczema-prone, and acne-prone skin, avoid using products with fragrance since, "it can sometimes worsen dermatologic conditions."

The Best Essences, Listed

Best for Softer-Feeling Skin: The Ordinary Multi-Active Delivery Essence

Best for Combating Hyperpigmentation: Missha Time Revolution The First Essence 5X

Best for Prompting Plump Skin: COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence

Best for Soothing Irritated Skin: Paula's Choice Resist Advanced Replenishing Toner

Best for Achieving 'Glass Skin': Rhode Glazing Milk

Rhode's Glazing Milk tested by Associate Beauty Editor Maya Thomas

(Image credit: Courtesy of Maya Thomas)

Best for Reducing Dark Spots: Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Glycolic Essence

Best for Enhancing Skin Clarity: Superegg Pure Transparency Treatment Essence

Best for Delivering Suppleness: Fresh Kombucha Antioxidant Facial Treatment Essence

Best for a Refined Complec: Natura Bissé Diamond Cocoon Hydrating Essence

Best for Increasing Moisture Levels: Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Moisture Essence

Amaka Hamelijnck with a glowing complexion and knotless braids

(Image credit: @amaka.hamelijnck)

Best for Minimizing Appearance of Wrinkles: Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence

Best for Boosting Cell Renewal Rate: SKI-II Facial Treatment Essence

Best for Combating Free Radical Damage: 111Skin Antioxidant Energising Essence

Best for Improving Elasticity: Amore Pacific Vintage Single Extract Essence

Best for Decreasing Size of Pores: La Prairie Skin Caviar Essence-in-Lotion

How I Chose

As with all Who What Wear buying guides, we compile our edits based on original testing and expert recommendations. To pull together this edit of the best facial essences currently on the market, I turned to dermatologist recommendations and tips as well as my industry knowledge (plus, first-hand testing experience). Throughout my research process, I considered several factors, including differenced between ingredients in formulations, determining their overall effectiveness, and the skin concerns they were designed to address. I'm aware of how important these factors are for a wide range of preferences, so I made sure to list out all the helpful details to improve your shopping process. Of course, customer reviews were also kept in mind when creating this list.

Why Trust Who What Wear

At Who What Wear, we know that beauty isn't one-size-fits-all. Over the years, our editors have tested thousands of products—including skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.

We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they're affordable favorites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how, and what we'd truly recommend to our closest friends and family members.

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Maya Thomas
Maya Thomas
Associate Beauty Editor

Maya Thomas is an Associate Beauty Editor at Who What Wear. Her strong love for all things beauty and fashion stems from a strong childhood interest in the fine arts. During a gap year spent in Paris studying the history of French fashion, she shifted her focus to English literature and journalism as a student at Loyola Marymount University. After graduating in May 2021, Maya began freelancing for Parade.com as a contributing commerce writer. When she's not writing, Maya spends her free time catching up on reading, perusing art galleries, and enjoying a night out at the ballet every now and then.