Lets talk essence. This is my favourite part of the Korean skincare regime, and probably the one that is most unique to Korean skincare. Essences are watery-like gels that are designed to be part of the hydration process of your skincare regime. A good way to describe the way essences work is to think of our skin as a sponge - when dry, a sponge will soak up and retain much less water than one that is already wet. Essence works to hydrate the skin so that it will retain much more moisture from and better absorb other products, a good thing if you want to make the most of all your lovely creams and serums. Essences are also very lightweight in texture (they can vary from being quite gel-like to more watery consistences) so they absorb quickly and don't feel heavy or greasy, more like you have just splashed water onto your face.

So, how do we use them? Essence comes in after you have cleansed and toned your skin and before you use any other moisturising products like serums or creams (see my outline of a Korean skincare regime here). To apply, you simple take a few drops in your hand - a little goes a long way with this stuff - and pat it into your skin, rather than sweeping it across your face, which helps it absorb into the skin and avoids too much stretching or pulling. Essence can be used as part of both your morning and nighttime regime due to it being so lightweight.


One essence that I have been using at the moment, and one which is easy and affordable to pick up is The Body Shop Drops of Youth Essence Lotion. Although I will definitely be branching out and exploring more, I have been loving using this one and I think it is a great and easy to get hold of product if you are new to essences. This one is a little more gel-like than more traditional Korean essences but it feels so refreshing on the skin, and has a very fresh scent. As part of the 'Drops of Youth' range this product also boasts anti-ageing properties so will help smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as helping the skin look hydrated and healthy. Sheet masks also contain essence, which gives them their intensely hydrating effects.


All in all, I think essence is a great addition to any skincare regime and one that is becoming increasingly popular. If you adopt anything out of a Korean regime I would definitely recommend that it be this one, especially if you have dry skin. This is one of the main things that I really feel has made a difference to the hydration of my skin, and I now can't imagine not using one in my regime! Although this may sound like an unnecessary step to some, essences are a really easy addition because they absorb quickly into the skin and are so simple to apply. The unique texture and hydrating properties mean that essences really add to skin hydration, keeping your skin looking healthy and keeping wrinkles at bay! What more could you want?