Essence and toner often seem similar, but they serve different purposes in your skincare routine

💧 What Is an Essence?

An essence is a lightweight, hydrating liquid (or gel-like) product that’s designed to:

Deliver a boost of hydration
Enhance absorption of serums
Often contain active ingredients (like antioxidants, fermented ingredients, or soothing botanicals)

Essences are typically used after toner and before serums in multi-step routines. They originated in Korean and Japanese skincare and are especially helpful for dry, dehydrated, or aging skin.

🧴 What’s a Toner?

A toner is a liquid applied after cleansing to:

Balance your skin’s pH
Remove residual impurities from cleansing
Prep your skin for better absorption of following products

Toners vary by type:

Hydrating toners (like rose water or glycerin-based)
Clarifying toners (with acids like salicylic or glycolic acid)
Astringent toners (more drying—typically alcohol-based, often best avoided)

🆚 Essence vs. Toner — Key Differences

Feature	Toner	Essence
Main function	Preps skin & balances pH	Hydrates and enhances absorption
Texture	Watery	Watery to slightly viscous
When to use	Right after cleansing	After toner (if using both)
Key benefits	Removes residue, refreshes	Deep hydration, preps skin for serums
Contains actives?	Sometimes (exfoliants, soothing)	Often (ferments, peptides, antioxidants)

🧬 Do You Need Both?

Not always. If you're:

Short on time or keeping it simple, pick one—hydrating toner or essence.
Layering products in a multi-step routine, toner goes first, then essence.
Using actives like retinol or acids, a hydrating essence can reduce irritation.