The essence of facial essences

If you are an avid fan of K-beauty, chances are you would have come across facial essences, an important skincare step in your daily beauty regimen.

Facial essences are generally formulated with ingredients to help restore balance and hydration to your skin. Often times they are easily confused with facial toners and serums. Read on to find out what benefits they hold and how they differ from other skincare products.

What are essences?

Essences are water-based skincare products that are formulated with active ingredients to promote protection and hydration to the skin while boosting skin health.

Essence is best applied to clean skin, after a layer of toner has been applied but before serums and moisturisers. This helps prepare the skin to better absorb the next layer of skincare products.

Some of the common ingredients found in essence include water, glycerin or glycol, hyaluronic acid, vitamins and minerals, all of which are known for their moisturising and hydrating properties.

Read more: Best skincare ingredients for oily skin

What’s the difference between essence and toners?

As mentioned earlier, essences are often confused with toners. While they may look the same in terms of consistency, they have different jobs when it comes to skincare.

Toners are generally alcohol-based and serve to give skin a deeper cleanse after you have washed your face. Toners can also help to tighten pores and rebalance skin tone for a smoother complexion.

Using an essence after a toner can help to rehydrate and rebalance moisture levels in the skin.

Read more: Crystal healing: yay or nay?

What’s the difference between essence and serums?

While it’s true that both essences and serums contain high levels of active ingredients, again they each play a different role.

You would probably notice that serums are mostly thicker than an essence, meaning it aims to penetrate deeper into the skin to work its magic.

While essences help to improve hydration levels in general, serums are more specific in targeting skin concerns, be it dull skin, pigmented skin or ageing skin. Plus, it’s always recommended to apply a layer of moisturiser after using serums to lock it into the skin.

Applying a later of essence before serums help the skin to better absorb serums and its intended benefit into the skin.

Beach vacay here we come! But don’t forget these skincare essentials!

Who doesn’t love a beach vacation? The sun, sand and sea at our very doorstep for the next few days is just a picture of sheer bliss and relaxation.

While you go about deciding on your favourite swimsuits and resort wear, do not forget the one most important thing you need to take care of – your skin!

Skincare should rank tops when it comes to making preparations for your beach holiday or any other holiday for that matter. Here are our must-have essentials to keep your skin happy through.

Read more: Hidden gems in Katong that only Easties know about!

Sunscreen

This goes without saying… but which types should you bring along with you? SPF 30 is the minimum coverage you should be getting from your sunscreen, this helps to block 97% of the sun’s UVB rays.

Look for ones that say broad-spectrum, meaning it will protect you from both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays are responsible for aging you and giving you unwanted wrinkles and pigmentation whereas UVB rays are to blame when you get a sunburn.  

Be liberal with your sunscreen and be sure to reapply regularly, at least every 2 hours.

Sheet masks

These are a godsend at the end of a hot day lounging by the pool, and not just for how good they make our skin feel.

Sheet masks are a quick and simple way to hydrate the skin, especially after a day of being out in the sun which can be harsh and dehydrating for the skin. They are found easily over the counter and are compact to pack. Simply pop them into the mini fridge upon check-in so you have cool sheet masks readily at your disposal, which can be used daily for your skin to reap its benefits.

Look for sheet masks with ingredients that help to replenish moisture and hydration levels.

Read more: Best skincare ingredients for oily skin

Hyaluronic acid

Did you know the sun can dry out the skin and deplete essential fatty acids from the skin? This can result in skin looking and feeling dry. You can imagine how this gets exacerbated when you spend long hours under the sun. While you’re loving your new-found tan, your skin may be making a silent plea for help.

Hyaluronic acid can help to restore hydration levels by filling the skin with moisture. Not only does it improve skin’s elasticity, hyaluronic acid is renowned for its ability to improve the skin’s overall appearance.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera has been used for thousands of years to help soothe and calm the skin, especially if you had a little too much sun. It is applied topically and can help to provide relief quickly and efficiently.

Any sting or itching from bug bites or mosquito bites can also be quelled with this all-natural ingredient.