The Essence of Essence: 3 Must-Try Products

For those who don’t already know: Essence is considered to be the heartbeat of the 10-step Korean skin care routine. A cross between a highly-concentrated serum and a moisture-prepping toner, essence goes on after you cleanse and before you moisturize. We like to think of this trendy Korean-inspired beauty product as the secret weapon towards achieving a soft, supple, well-nourished complexion. Ahead, we share three essences from The Body Shop that we can’t get enough of! 

The fountain of youth might not exist, but The Body Shop’s Drops of Youth line does and it is pretty much the next best thing. Formulated with stem cell technology and other nature-inspired ingredients that promote fresh, hydrated, and youthful-looking skin, the Youth Essence Lotion is a post-cleanse moisture replenisher that can refine the appearance of your pores, help skin texture to appear more smooth, and illuminate the look of your complexion—giving it a beautiful, healthy-looking glow. Infused with edelweiss, sea holly and criste marine, use the gel-to-water elixir after you cleanse and before you moisturize to replenish your complexion and prep your skin for hydration.

The Body Shop Drops of Youth Youth Essence Lotion, $24

Fall is just around the corner, which means that it is time to stock up on hydrating products that can replenish moisture and protect your skin through winter. Made with dry, sensitive skin in mind, the Vitamin E Aqua Boost Essence Lotion is formulated with antioxidant-rich vitamin E and wheatgerm oil. The vegetarian Essence Lotion helps your complexion look— and feel— soft, smooth, and replenished.

The Body Shop Vitamin E Aqua Boost Essence Lotion, $22

At Skincare.com, we can’t get enough of bi-phase products— and the Intensely Revitalizing Essence Lotion from The Body Shop’s Oils of Life line is no exception to that. Formulated with aging skin in mind, the Oils of Life Essence Lotion preps your skin for overnight hydration, providing it with deep nourishment and moisture that can revitalize the skin and reduce the appearance of premature signs of skin aging— think: fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots. Formulated with three super seed oils—black cumin seed, rosehip seed and camellia seed—the oil plus water elixir leaves  skin feeling softer, smoother, and more supple with time.  

The Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalizing Essence Lotion, $24

Want to use these essences as part of a greater—10-steps greater—Korean skin care routine? We detail the step-by-step regimen, here.