From lauded skincare routines like the Korean ten-step routine to skincare diet philosophies, it can be incredibly overwhelming to understand which routine is best for you and which step is essential. Especially when it comes to Toner and Essence. They’re both seemingly clear liquids with a watery texture that appear to perform exactly the same. What’s the difference?

To put it simply, toners are there to balance the pH of your skin post-cleanse. Each time you cleanse your skin, even if it’s with a gentle one, the natural pH is thrown out of balance. Toners are made to restore your pH and bring your skin back to its natural state while infusing it with a gentle dose of hydration. This step is essential as it helps to fortify and protect your skin’s moisture barrier which is there to safeguard your skin from environmental irritants like bad bacteria, pollution, and sun damage.

Traditionally, toners were heavy on the alcohol which was supposedly meant to combat oil-production but they actually did the opposite causing more oil and as a result skin damage from all of the drying alcohols. Thankfully, moisturizing toners have taken over with extra-gentle formulas that help to refresh and balance the skin.  

Essences are quite similar to serums as they contain potent concentrations of high-performance actives that boost cell turnover, smooth and hydrate the skin, and enhance the absorption of all of your other skincare products. Because of these excellent benefits, you would use an essence AFTER your toner so it can help your serums and treatments absorb effectively. Another important thing to note is that unlike toners essences are meant to deliver moisture deep within the skin helping to hydrate beyond the surface level.

💚While toners and essences may appear similar, they both play different roles in your routine unless you’re using a hybrid product like our Bitter Green Essence Toner where you can get the benefits of both in one product.

But keep in mind, there's no set rule on how many steps you need to have or what products you are required to use. It's always best to pay attention to your skin, read ingredients lists, and choose the products that will work for your particular skin needs.