Hydrating heroes: new essences

If your skin looks and feels thirsty during this heatwave, take a tip from the Korean beauty experts – essences are the new superhero hydrators for your skincare routine

MAKING SENSE OF ESSENCES News just in from Korea – the undisputed experts in all things beauty – an essence is absolutely essential to your skincare regime. As an integral part of their seven (or nine, or 10, or even the exhausting sounding 12) step K-beauty routine, the lightweight lotion sits between toner and serum. An easy way to remember the steps, if you are going to undertake them, is to apply formulas from the thinnest ( your clarifying toner or acids) to thickest ( good old-fashioned face cream). Slippy and watery, an essence is unique in its application too: instead of swiping around with a soggy cotton-wool pad, you pat or press it into the face from the bottom to top. And some can even be spritzed on.

SO, WHAT DOES IT ACTUALLY DO? ‘ The purpose of an essence is to prepare clean skin for treatment,’ says Tata Harper, co-founder of her eponymous skincare range. ‘By kick-starting the skin regeneration process, the new layer of cells can take in the active ingredients in the serums and boosters that follow.’ Usually mega-concentrated with nourishing goodness, such as hyaluronic acid or antioxidants, this extra dose of moisture for the skin not only leaves a happily conditioned base for your more active serums to get to work on, but it’s also the glow-boosting secret behind that Insta-worthy ‘glass skin’ trend of late.

THE ESSENTIALS With the effects of adding an essence to your line-up quite literally visible, it’s no wonder that the trend has spread, with Western skincare companies adding them to their repertoire like there’s no tomorrow. This last year alone, L’occitane, Nuxe and Caudalie have released their versions of the Asian beauty staple, and in case we needed more proof it’s a ‘thing’, so have Chanel – their Hydra Beauty Micro Liquid Essence promises to ‘soak the skin in a wave of freshness’ and comes in très chic, shelfie-worthy packaging.