Beauty 6 years ago

Toner vs. Essence

I’m sure you guys have seen me using many toners and essences in my skincare routine after I slept with my makeup on and while traveling.

I always get tons of questions asking the difference between toner and essence… from you all and even some of the girls on the CINCteam! So, using the best of my skincare knowledge and a little bit of research, I wanted to give you guys the breakdown of what the actual difference is!

To Put it Simply…

A toner is used to balance your skin’s PH level and get rid of any other impurities left on your skin after cleansing.

An essence is most commonly used in Korean Skincare as a way to best prepare your skin for the rest of your routine.

Just like any other skin care product, there are dozens of variations on the market as well as some that work for certain skin types as opposed to the others!

To break it down even further…

A Toner…

… is mostly used in Western skincare, a toner (like this one or this one) is great for hydrating and smoothing. Beyond replenishing moisture, toners really help to get rid of any other impurities left behind on your skin from cleansing. Once upon a time, cleansers were a lot harsher than they are now, so a toner was heavily relied on for restoring your skin’s PH balance!

An Essence…

… is considered one of, if not the most important part of a Korean skincare routine. An essence is what all Korean women swear by to hydrate their face after they cleanse and apply their toner to help their other products absorb into their skin better. (I love this one, this one, and this one!)

The main goal of an essence is to hydrate the skin. Not to mention, they’re packed full of vitamins and antioxidants and are most comparable to a serum. They help your skin cell turnover (great for anti-aging) and there are different types of essences depending on your skincare needs.

I like to apply an essence with my hands, gently pressing it into my skin as opposed to wiping.

Do you guys use a toner or an essence? Maybe both? Let me know in the comments below!

 

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Photography by Karla Ticas

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Photography by Karla Ticas