Why You Need a Hydrating Facial Essence and Which Ones to Buy

Do you really need a facial essence? If you're getting a bit overwhelmed by all the skincare steps in your routine, adding an Essence may at first, seem like work. But stick with it and we promise you(and your skin) will begin to crave an Essence in no time!

An essence is a watery lotion that is applied after a toner, but prior to your serum. The lightweight, watery formulas are packed with concentrated active ingredients that penetrate deeply into the skin, delivering intense hydration, nourishment, and rejuvenation.

Increasingly being seen as an essential step in any skincare routine, facial essences help to improve skin texture and tone. They are also the key to enhancing the efficacy of other products in your routine, making these work better and faster. As with other skincare, essences contain concentrated active ingredients and can treat a variety of skin troubles such as pigmentation, dryness and acne.

Here's our round-up of the top facial essence formulas in Singapore that provide just the right kick of hydration and efficacy. Not only will your skin look and feel better, but you'll also be giving it the love and care it deserves.

Best Facial Essence in Singapore

Fresh Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence

Indulge your skin in liquid gold as you protect your skin against the harsh effects of pollution and blue light with the new and improved Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence.

Did you know being exposed to pollution and blue light can cause the skin to become lacklustre, dehydrated, patchy and show signs of ageing? Double your skin’s defence with the unique double fermentation formula that will deeply penetrate 20 layers of your skin to protect, hydrate and repair your skin. Enhanced with advanced reparative metabiotic, the essence supports your skin’s healthy enzymes to help visibly repair your skin against stress for 24 hours. Bonus points for a fragrance that you’ll love indulging in!

Say hello to plumper, more hydrated skin with a luminous glow with Fresh.

Available for $139 at Sephora.sg

TAKAMI Skin Peel Essence - For “Step Zero” Hydration, Repair and Improved Skin Efficacy 

You know how taking Zinc with Vitamin C boosts your body’s absorption of the essential vitamin? Similarly, TAKAMI Skin Peel Essence formulated by the renowned Dr. Takami clinic in Tokyo, serves as the crucial "Step 0" in your daily skincare routine. It sets the stage for your serums, retinols and moisturisers to penetrate deeper and more effectively, into your skin.  

This transparent, almost weightless essence is composed of just 13 ingredients, and it works by nurturing the delicate 0.02mm surface of your skin. The Japanese call this layer “Kakushitsu”. As Kakushitsu is easily damaged by friction (think Gua Sha, exfoliating scrubs, and make-up brushes), our skin suffers from dryness, dullness, and patchy overall skin tone. 

By applying half a dropper of TAKAMI Skin Peel Essence right after your daily cleanse, and then leaving it on for 3 minutes, the essence will supercharge Kakushitsu cell turnover. This will significantly increase skin transparency and prep skin cells for absorbing skincare products that follow. Think of this as a daily “resurfacing” from the inside out, instead of a harsh chemical, top-down stripping effect. 

Reviews rave about TAKAMI Skin Peel Essence for its almost frictionless application and immediate efficacy. We cannot agree more! The watery texture absorbs almost immediately when placed onto your face with cupped hands, so there is no need to “rub” the product in. 

Considered a “soft peel” by dermatological standards, TAKAMI Skin Peel Essence is great if you have sensitive, acne-prone, or pore-congested skin. The award-winning formula is also preservative-free, and its minimalist approach ensures that it conditions, stabilises, and refines the skin without harsh acids, oils, or alcohol. What’s more, its high-density fruit extract AHA ingredients treat recurrent acne and other skin issues!

Shop TAKAMI online and in store at Sephora. 

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence

Pamper your skin and bask in the luxury of this longtime beauty favourite, SK-II Facial Treatment Essence.

Enriched with over 90% of its key ingredient, Pitera, the essence is packed with more than 50 micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals that are the secret to crystal clear skin. Add this lightweight yet powerful essence to your skincare routine and you’ll be sure to achieve softer, smoother skin that exudes radiance.

Available for $254 at Sephora.sg

COSRX Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence

Looking to soothe your skin? CORSX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence is your answer to hyperpigmentation and skin irritation.

The Korean cult favourite is enriched with 96.3% skin-boosting ingredient snail secretion filtrate. If you are not familiar with snail secretion filtrate, this special ingredient is commonly used in cosmetics to boost skin health and provide younger-looking and moisturised skin.

Looking to moisturise and keep your skin illuminated the whole day? Look no further, simply apply a small amount after cleansing and toning to achieve dewy, glass-like skin.

Available for $20.40 at Watsons.sg

Caudalie Vinoperfect Concentrated Brightening Glycolic Essence

Struggling with dark spots due to the constant sun exposure in Singapore? Try Caudalie’s Vinoperfect Glycolic Brightening Essence, the first step in the Vinoperfect anti-dark spot routine, for all women looking to prevent or reduce their dark spots!

Packed with skin-healthy ingredients like white peony, organic grape water and most importantly glycolic acid — this essence will help you gently dissolve any dead skin cells while keeping your skin hydrated.

All Caudalie products contain no parabens, phenoxyethanol, phthalates, mineral oils, PEGs, or animal-derived ingredients. So reach for this product, when you are looking for that Instagrammable glow without feeling greasy.

Available for $56 at Sephora.sg

Lancome Clarifique Refining Enzymatic Dual Essence

Ever heard of the skin benefits that come with Glycolic and Salicylic Acids? Gently exfoliate your skin without compromising your skin barrier with Lancome’s Clarifique Dual Essence.

Glycolic and salicylic acids in this essence work hand in hand to effectively exfoliate and remove dead skin cells, leaving your skin looking clearer and brighter than ever. The nourishing essence is also enriched with active ingredients such as French beech bud extract and vitamin C to achieve skin renewal by increasing protein production within your skin.

Available for $164 at Sephora.sg

Tatcha The Essence Skincare Boosting Treatment

Experience the wonder of Japanese skinfoods with Tatcha’s The Essence. Made of 100% Hadasei-3, a trio of fermented Japanese superfoods, this daily cooling essence is sure to hydrate and calm any skin type, improving skin hydration, dullness, and fine lines.

Inside every Tatcha formula lives a tiny symphony of superfoods, amino acids, and AHAs called Hadasei-3™. This proprietary complex of twice-fermented rice, green tea, and algae is rooted in the nutrient-dense Japanese diet, largely considered the healthiest in the world.

Pat this gently into your skin, to ensure maximum efficiency of your serums and moisturisers and leave your skin feeling refreshed and lightweight.

Available for $185 at Sephora.sg

Augustinus Bader The Essence

New to Augustinus Bader? Then The Essence is the perfect introductory product to discovering the brand that is the future of beauty.

The Essence caters to all your skincare needs, acting as an exfoliant, toner and hydrating essence all in one. The lightweight and refreshing product will not only amaze you with its versatility but balance and regulate your skin to achieve a glowing and hydrated complexion.

Augustinus Bader and all its products are founded on groundbreaking research into stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. 

Available for $150 at Sephora.sg

Juice Beauty Green Apple Brightening Essence

Having trouble with redness and dull skin? Juice Beauty’s Green Apple Brightening Essence bottles up its hero ingredient malic acid from green apples to provide powerful antioxidant activity, restoring your skin’s natural glow and beauty.

Its lightweight, fast-absorbing formula is also fortified with other beautiful ingredients such as zanthoxylum fruit, which is one of the most effective redness-reducer. Designed for sensitive skin, the formula abundant in antioxidants assists in reducing the visibility of pores, dark spots, and uneven skin tone, resulting in a radiant and soft complexion.

And fret not, they ship to Singapore!

Available for $60 at Juicebeauty.com

Kiehl’s Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence

Reactivate your skin with one of the best essences for anti ageing. Kiehl’s Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence is your first step to help smooth your skin texture, reduce fine lines and boost radiance.

Infused with the beauty of its key ingredient, Iris Florentina Root Extract, the essence meant for all skin types is known to help increase hydration while strengthening the skin barrier.

Get your hands on this and see visible improvements in the appearance of fine lines, dullness and rough skin texture over time!

Available for $70 at Kiehls.com.sg

Pixi Rose Caviar Essence

We are all familiar with the benefits of rose oil and its luxurious hydrating properties. Pixi’s Rose Caviar Essence, treats your skin to the same goodness via encapsulated flower oils suspended in a weightless essence.

Watch as the product melts into your skin, releasing nourishing botanicals and vital hydration to provide a powerful surge of luminosity. Formulated with natural oils that are high in antioxidants, this essence will be sure to smoothen, firm and improve the texture of your skin.

Free from parabens and animal testing, this essence is the ultimate skin brightener!

Available for $41 at Sephora.sg

Porcelain pH Balancing Essence

Restore your skin’s natural PH with the wonders of Porcelain’s pH Balancing Essence. This treatment essence is composed of a generous amount of Sodium Hyaluronate, Horse Chestnut Extract, and Tea Tree Extract, which effectively regulate excessive sebum production while providing the skin with ample moisture.

Porcelain is a cult-premium skincare brand from Singapore founded by veteran aesthetician, Jenny and her daughter, Pauline with the vision to marry craftsmanship and technology to create the future of skincare.

This essence targets redness and itchiness and promotes rejuvenation and repair, making it particularly beneficial for those with acne-prone skin, leaving your skin feeling as radiant as ever.

Available for $36 at Porcelainskin.com

Dior Capture Totale Intensive Essence Lotion

Looking for the perfect anti-aging facial essence? Dior’s Capture Totale Intensive Essence is the first step in the signature Capture Totale skincare regimen that will be sure to renew your skin’s youthful glow. 

The active ingredient rich formulation is composed of over 95% natural origin ingredients known as the exclusive “longoza-ferments blend”. The refreshing essences works to strengthen the skin's barrier and revive it’s natural radiance.Apply this to your skin and see the results of plumper more hydrated  skin in just a week.

Available for $118 at Sephora.sg