Skin essences have become very popular in the last few years thanks to the Korean skincare trend.
And the Koreans may have actually gotten the idea from the Japanese.
It’s hard to pinpoint the origin.
But products like these can make it feel like you’re complicating your skincare routine.
Gone are the simple days of our grandmother’s and mother’s routine of Ponds cold cream or the pink Oil of Olay.
And that’s okay … improvements can be amazing.
Especially coming from cultures whose women usually have such beautiful and radiant skin.
But what exactly are these skin essences and do you really want to add another product to your collection?
Well, some people think that skin essences are just another toner.
But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Asian women don’t use toners because they dry the skin. In their routines they never strip the skin. Instead, they plump it with essences and seal it in with a moisturizer.
You see, skin essences are used to prepare your skin for your other products. They create a canvas that’s nourishing and hydrating with active ingredients.
Essences are applied by putting a few drops into the palms and patting into the skin. Or spraying directly onto the skin and then patting as well.
Never should they be applied with a cotton pad and dragged on the skin.
And, since there are so many different skin types and concerns, there are many different essences to match.
So choosing one would be based on the skincare benefit you are looking for. Some people will even use more than one essence, as they dry quickly.
But, here a few examples of what they can do (besides hydrating):
- Reduce redness
- Tone and purify
- Lighten and brighten
- Eliminate dead skin cells
The list goes on … but, you get the idea.
So have fun and check them out the next time you are at a store with beauty products.
But if you want a simple, DIY, version of a skin essence you can try the one I’m using (making).
All I do is make a cup of green tea. After it cools I put it in a travel sized spray bottle. The entire cup will not fit so I drink the rest :).
Green tea topically is anti-inflammatory, treats acne (antimicrobial), hydrates, reduces redness and soothes irritation and itchiness.
After I use my DIY green-tea essence, I follow up with my homemade hyaluronic acid (HA).
HA helps keep the moisture in my skin all day.
And if you missed the article on how to make your own HA – click here.
All in all, I love the benefits of the extra step in my skincare routine (it’s easy) and I think you will too!
Have a great weekend.
For a younger you!
Sandy
Sandy DeRose
