Although cleansers, serums, and other skin care products are often the focus of your routine, there are many steps that can help you achieve healthy, glowing skin. Essence toners are our latest obsession. They can make a significant difference to your skin’s appearance.
An essence toner offers the best of both worlds. Instead of arguing the merits between toner and essence, it is a hybrid that combines the two. You’ve never heard of one? Good news: You’re in for a skin-softening, active-packed treat. Here’s what you should know.
Toner vs. Essence
First, it helps to have some context: You might already be familiar with face toner, which in the western world is typically used after cleansing to sweep away any gunk and debris, rebalance skin’s pH, and, in some cases, lightly exfoliate skin. Toner is best viewed as the first liquid treatment you apply to your skin. If you properly cleanse skin (we can’t wax poetic about the benefits of a double cleanse enough), you won’t need a harsh, astringent toner. Find a toner which targets your skin concerns. It could be hydrating dry skin or offering pore refinement benefits for congested and blemish prone skin. Our Watermelon Glow PHA+BHA Pore-Tight Toner actually targets both of these concerns in a gentle formula, if that’s what you’re looking for.
Essences are a staple in K-beauty, and they serve to quench your thirst. They’re basically Big Gulps of moisture, and work double-time to hydrate your skin while also prepping it. By doing this, they will help the rest of your skincare regimen perform better. “Skin needs humectants, [which draw moisture into the skin], and nutrients,” says cosmetic chemist Ginger King. “You can find these in an essence.” On top of that, they also tend to be more treatment-focused, offering active ingredients to brighten and firm skin. Texturally speaking, essences seem a whole lot like toner in that they’re slightly watery and less viscous than a serum, and they both help prep the skin for the rest of your routine.
What is essence toner?
Really, it shouldn’t be a matter of toner vs. essence, since they have some complementary perks. While many traditional toners — including our fan-fave Watermelon Glow PHA+BHA Pore-Tight Toner — contain exfoliating acids to balance skin and clear pores, essences are all about hydration.
Essence Toners combine both benefits in a single step. That’s why the Cloudberry Bright Essence Toner offers all of the skin-loving moisture you’d expect — along with powerful antioxidants and brightening ingredients.
The formula’s star ingredient, cloudberry, is a superfruit that thrives in harsh arctic environments; resilient and potent, it’s packed with antioxidants and fatty acids to deliver protective, brightening, hydrating, and skin-strengthening benefits (whew!). “Cloudberry is a natural source of vitamins C and E and fatty acids, and is a good, calming ingredient — so it’s perfect in essence,” says King. The triple-threat active defends damage from environmental factors that cause visible signs of skin aging, aids in hydration, and fortifies the skin barrier to prevent moisture from escaping — all while enhancing your complexion’s overall radiance.
CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant that works alongside cloudberry to brighten and hydrate the skin. It can actually protect other antioxidants, like vitamin C, effectively maxing out your skin’s protection against environmental aggressors like UV exposure and pollution. CoQ10 is a great ingredient to use with other products. It can boost their efficacy and make your products more effective.
Also in the mix is fermented rice water, which soothes and softens; oat and collagen amino acids, which further boost collagen production and enhance barrier strength; and glycerin, the beauty world’s favorite no-frills hydrator. Together they work with CoQ10 and cloudberry to leave the skin soft and moisturized.
As if that wasn’t enough, the Cloudberry Bright Essence Toner, being an essence, also helps to enhance the penetration of whatever active ingredients you apply on top of it, ensuring that the rest of your routine works to its maximum potential. Use it twice a day as a “serum booster,” and know that you’re getting the absolute most out of every single thing you’re putting on your face.
Learn more about toners and essences: