However, unlike a daily toner or moisturizer, ampoules aren't mean't to be incorporated into your skincare routine everyday. "Due to their high concentration and active ingredients, ampoules should not be used consistently," Josie Holmes, esthetician at SKINNEY Medspa in New York City, says.
An ampoule is a supercharged serum with higher concentrations of active ingredients that you're meant to use for a finite amount of time as a booster or when you're having a skin crisis of some sort. Chang recommends using them before your essence or serum. Ampoules usually come in smaller bottles with droppers.
They usually aren't as light and watery as toners, but they aren't as ultra-concentrated as serums. Since a main goal of an essence is to nourish skin, they are usually formulated with ingredients that are safe for regular, everyday use, unlike some, more targeted toner and serum formulas.
Instead, plan to use an ampoule two to three times a week after cleansing and toning, when the skin is best adjusted to absorb the active ingredients, says Dr. Chang. "I recommend applying serums and moisturizers after using the ampoules so that the higher concentrations of active ingredients are absorbed first."
Understand the difference.Traditionally a toner is used as the final step in cleansing, and an essence is used as the first step in treatment. The main function of a toner is to balance the pH level of skin after cleansing and to remove the last traces of dirt and residue that your cleanser may have missed.
The 5 Best Korean Ampoules
- The 5 Best Korean Ampoules. Mizon Snail? Repair Intensive Ampoule.
- Cosrx Centella Blemish Ampoule. Best for Acne-Prone Skin.
- Tosowoong Propolis Sparkle Ampoule. Best for Sensitive Skin.
- Missha Time Revolution Night Repair. Best in Anti-Aging.
- TonyMoly Vital Vita Brightening Ampoule.
While the addition of a skin essence (for me personally) isn't an essential step in a skincare regime, it certainly can be an added bonus. Many skin essences can help to add in an extra layer of hydration for dehydrated skins and are great for priming the face for makeup," says Felton.
Essences aren't a replacement for your usual moisturizer. “A moisturizer will have occlusive agents and emollients that give you longer lasting moisturization,” says Perry Romanowski, a cosmetic chemist and co-host of The Beauty Brains podcast.
Skincare routine: around 1-2 times a week after cleansing and toning, but before moisturizing. Depending on which products you use, you should use some essence, then ampoule, and then finish off with serum, or your moisturizer (these products should be applied from lightest to thickest consistency).
Skin Care Ampoules usually include serums. To use the ampoule, clean your face first and dry it (for example at night time before going to bed). Then, open the ampoule and gently apply the serum on to your skin (pat onto the skin). Follow this step with your moisturizer creme and leave everything on overnight.
The key to knowing when to use a sheet mask in your skincare routine is to know the steps.
- Start by double cleansing (oil cleanser followed by water cleanser).
- Follow that up by using a toner for your skin type.
- Next comes the serum/essence/ampoule/oil.
Like we said, using a set of skin ampoules before a big event or if your skin is having a rough go—maybe a dry spell or a serious breakout—can be a good idea. Or, you can use one or two ampoules weekly to give an added boost to your skin care routine.
It is not necessary to have a serum in your skincare regimen. Serums help give your skin a fresher, younger and healthier appearance." The most expensive serums aren't always the best, but they do tend to contain higher quality, more concentrated ingredients.
It goes a bit like this: a balm or oil cleanser (1), a foaming cleanser (2), an exfoliant (3), a toner (4), an essence (5), an ampoule or serum (6), a sheet mask (7), an eye cream (8), a moisturizer (9), and then either a thicker night cream or sleeping mask or an SPF (10).
Limit to Two Serums Per RoutineWe recommend you use no more than two serums per routine. Again, alternating skin care items is a strategy here. If you have many serums that you like, use one to two in your morning routine and two different serums in the evening.
Keep scrolling for the best of the best when it comes to serums.
- Best Overall: SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic.
- Best Anti-Aging: BioEffect EGF Serum.
- Best Budget: Rosen Skincare Paloma Serum.
- Best Brightening: Ole Henriksen Truth Serum.
- Best Calming: Dr.
- Best Drugstore: Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Serum.
Here, find our favorite facial essences that your skin will love.
- Best Overall: SK-II Facial Treatment Essence.
- Best K-Beauty: Neogen Real Ferment Micro-Essence.
- Best for Acne-Prone Skin: COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence.
- Best for Large Pores: Kiehl's Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence.
Oily Skin: Skip exfoliating and essenceOn those days, it's particularly awful putting an oil cleanser on your face, but don't skip this step. The double cleanse is critical in ensuring that you're cleaning deep and removing all the impurities in your skin.
Typically, serums have active ingredients in them that you want to penetrate deeply as possible into your skin. For this reason, you should always apply a serum directly to your skin after cleansing or toning and before your moisturizer and sunscreen. They absorb quickly, and can be used both morning and night.
The closest thing you can find to rose water for cooking or baking is rose essence. Like most other varieties of food essence, this one also is basically a concentrated form of the beautiful fragrance you get from a rose flower. As a result, you can have the same flavor or aroma in the dish which required rose water.
Although the Korean way is to apply an essence after your toner (that 10-step system can be a bit much to some), it's OK to replace your regular toner with an essence if you're looking for more hydration in your routine.
Think of your essence as injecting a first round of moisture into freshly-cleansed skin. Notably, using an essence before bed also helps your skin absorb other products in your nighttime skincare regimen, rendering products like serum more effective. But it will leave your skin super dry and irritated.
Serums should be applied twice daily. “They are the first products that should be applied to the skin after cleansing and toning,” Geyer explains. “A sunscreen should be applied over the serum in the morning, and a moisturizer appropriate for an individual's skin type should be used over the serum at night.
Less watery than the Missha First Treatment Essence, since it is a more concentrated formula. How do you use essence? Korean women would never forget essence in their skincare routine, whether it is morning or night. After cleaning your skin, apply toner (to deep clean and prep your skin for the essence).
Layering EssencesIf your skin is in need of some brightening hydration, you can even try mixing and matching different essences to get the right balance. Two great layering essences for moisture and hydration are the Neogen Real Ferment Micro Essence and the Hanskin Hyaluron Skin Essence.
12 Korean Beauty Hacks for Perfect Skin
- Give your face a steam massage in the shower.
- Exfoliate with a washcloth soaked in hot water.
- Use a charcoal sheet face mask.
- Try blurring to create HD perfect skin.
- Apply a facial essence between two layers of moisturizer.
- Bring out the natural flush of your lips.
What exactly is the 7 Skin Method, you ask? Well, to put it simply, it's the act of applying a toner or a lightweight, watery essence to your face up to seven times—hence, the name "seven"—right after you cleanse and before you moisturize, explains Young-Ji Park, the founder of Korean beauty skin-care brand Purpletale.
Everything you need to know about Korean skincare routines
- Step 1: Wash with water. First thing in the morning, cleanse your skin with only water, not cleanser.
- Step 2: Toner. Courtesy of brand.
- Step 3: Essence. Courtesy of brand.
- Step 4: Ampoule.
- Step 5: Serum.
- Step 6: Eye cream.
- Step 7: Moisturiser.
- Step 8: Sunscreen.
