Editor’s tip: For those prone to redness, consider the brand’s Time Revolution Artemisia Treatment Essence, which contains 100% mugwort, another popular fermented ingredient in K-beauty known for its anti-inflammatory properties.
Key ingredients: fermented yeast extract, niacinamide, ceramides | Who it’s for: everyone | Fragrance-free: yes
Best Fragrance-Free Essence: Hourglass Equilibrium Restoring Essence
Why it’s worth it: Hourglass’s Equilibrium Restoring Essence has earned a Best of Beauty Award winner seal, so you know that a robust team of beauty editors fully backs it. The ingredient list is surprisingly short but stacked with hydrating humectants like calcium PCA, calcium gluconate, and glycerin—as well as irritating-mitigating alteromonas ferment extract, which is excreted by a microorganism that lives in hydrothermal deep vents.
Editor’s tip: Phosphatidylglycerol is a vegan form of a compound found in amniotic fluid, a.k.a. what surrounds you in the room; it can encourage skin cell turnover and fortify the skin barrier.
Key ingredients: phosphatidylglycerol, ectoin, hyaluronic acid | Who it’s for: dehydrated skin | Fragrance-free: yes
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between a toner and essence?
Unlilke a toner, which also follows cleansing but is intended more for exfoliation or to balance your skin’s pH, “An essence is ideal for those who want to really drive moisture into the skin,” Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Yale University, previously told Allure. (That said, you can also find hybrid facial essence-toners, which both exfoliate and hydrate skin to smooth and soften skin texture.)
Another benefit of essences is they have a lightweight texture that’s super easy to layer beneath other products. Cosmetic chemist Ni’Kita Wilson explained to Allure that you won’t find any waxes and emollients in essences for the face—so they don’t clog pores or feel heavy or greasy. Essentially, think of them as a lighter, non-tacky, and pilling-free version of a serum, lotion, or cream. As a result, all skin types can benefit from essence in their routines—whether you’re looking to nourish dry skin, hydrate oily skin, or improve elasticity.
Meet the experts
- Mona Gohara, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Yale University who specializes in skin of color and medical and surgical dermatology.
- Ni’Kita Wilson is a cosmetic chemist and formulator.
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.