Skincare routines can get very complicated. Korean routines are very popular these days and have 12 steps! However, you don’t necessarily need all 12 steps every single morning and night in order to have great-looking skin. But which ones are more important? We’re here to talk about the essence step and its importance.
Essence is a hydrating step that helps other products absorb better into your skin. It helps the active ingredients in other skincare products be more effective. It’s perfect for deep moisturizing and helps restore the natural balance.
“Essences originated in Korea and are considered the powerhouse step in the skincare routine,” Vanessa Lee, a renowned aesthetic nurse and injection educator, told RealSimple. “Essences usually carry a higher dose of active ingredients and are meant as a ‘treatment’ for the skin.”
When you use essence, it will help all the other products do a better job so you don’t have to use so many of them. In short, you can definitely skip some steps of the famous Korean 12-step skincare routines, but you should keep essence in your routine.
If you’re not sure when to use it, it’s best to do it immediately after cleansing and before serum and moisturizer. The typical skincare routine order goes from lightest to heaviest products, so keep that in mind.
