Ask anybody and they’ll tell you that I have product A.D.D. (and O.C.D.). I love trying new things, new ingredients, new formulations, much to the dismay of my complexion. K-beauty’s breakout product, the essence, has been around for ages. I remember the hype surrounding SKII’s Essence, although, for some reason, I thought it would be too oily and make me breakout so I abstained. It was only after meeting Alicia Yoon, founder of Peach & Lily, that I decided to give the essence a try.
I had it all wrong: essences aren’t oily, pore-clogging formulas reserved solely for dehydrated skin. In fact, essences can benefit all skin types — and they’re a fantastic way to add hydration without a bunch of filler ingredients that’ll irritate the skin. Once I started with Peach & Lily’s Wild Dew Treatment Essence, I’ve become obsessed with this skincare step. It plumps my complexion, giving it a subtle, youthful glow, while also maintaining the good moisture. I was so intrigued by the power of essences, that I went to the woman who made my favorite one – Alicia Yoon – for a deeper dive into the product that you didn’t even realize your skincare routine was missing.
Sarah Howard: What exactly is an essence"

Alicia Yoon: While a toner’s main job is to balance the skin’s pH and a serum’s main job is to treat the skin with concentrated active ingredients, an essence’s main job is t...