Everything you need to know about Essence: Featuring I’m From Mugwort Essence review

Let’s talk about essence today. If you follow Korean skincare trends or have recently gotten interested in them, you will definitely come across the word Essence a lot. When I first started even I was confused about what essences were? were they necessary in skincare? what was the difference between essence and serum? and lastly, how do I incorporate them into my routine? I’ll be answering all these questions shortly and then talk about my current favorite essence, so let’s get started.

What are Essences?

Essences to put it simply are a cross between serums and toners. They are as light as toners usually, have mostly the same consistency as toners but have a high concentration of ingredients like serums. I think they are also called the love child between serum and toner and it’s apt an apt description of them. Essences are concentrated formulas made to target some specific skin conditions like dull skin, uneven skin tone, wrinkles, dryness, etc, to name a few. They come in a variety of consistencies, watery like toners, gel-like and some can be as thick as a moisturizer too.

I'm From Mugwort Essence 1

 

Are Essences necessary in skincare?

Essences prep your skin to absorb the subsequent products like serum and moisturizer. You will see more results from essences as they are made to treat the skin on a cellular level. Korean essences usually contain ingredients to help skin regeneration and improve skin cell turnover rate. Hence a result you will notice with regular use your skin becoming softer, smoother, and brighter. With consistent use, you will definitely notice a difference in your skin.

What is the difference between essence and serum?

The main difference I have found is the concentration of ingredients. The essence is at times also referred to as ampoules, boosters, and even serums, which are lightweight and less concentrated than serums. They also provide an extra layer of hydration and help in absorbing serums and other subsequent products more efficiently.

How to incorporate them into your routine?

According to me, they aren’t a necessary step however I’m sure many Korean women will beg to differ. Essences play a vital part in Korean Skincare and is an integral part of their routine.  They help prep your skin for more efficient absorption of other skincare products. Essences also provide an extra layer of hydration and their formulation helps in combating various skin issues. You can decide if it’s something you need in your skincare routine. If you have decided to incorporate into your routine this is where you’ll need to add it for maximum efficiency. Follow the steps: Cleanser-Toner-Essence-Serum-moisturizer-Eye Cream-Sunscreen-Lip Balm.

I’m From Mugwort Essence

I'm From Mugwort Essence 2

Price & Quantity: $40 for 160 ml which will last you for quite some time.

Ingredients: Artemisia Princeps Extract 100%

Claims: This is a soothing essence made with the single ingredient of Mugwort Extract. The refreshing fluid formula adheres and absorbs into the skin to soothe sensitive skin and recharge moisture from within.

Availability: You can get it from Wishtrend 

Packaging: It comes in a simple yet elegant glass bottle. The minimal packaging of I’m From products has always drawn me. It’s basic yet looks so beautiful. In my opinion, the glass bottle isn’t travel-friendly but it can easily be shifted into another container as and when required. So I usually transfer it into a spray bottle as I find that easier to use and carry. It also helps in wasting less product according to me. I prefer spraying it on my face but it works just as well if applied directly using hands or a cotton pad.

Smell: It has a herbal fragrance which is unique to the I’m From Mugwort range. It’s a light and pleasant fragrance that

How to Use:

1) After cleansing, prep the skin with the toner.

2) Dispense an appropriate amount of the essence and gently pat over the face to promote absorption, starting with the most sensitive areas.

I'm From Mugwort Essence 3

 

My Experience:

I’m From Mugwort essence is one product that I have tested the longest because it’s almost been a year since I started using it. Now, when the bottle is almost empty have I finally sat down to review it.  I’m really thankful that Wishtrend allowed me to try this essence without a time limit for posting. Although I’m pretty sure that they didn’t think I’ll take this long, sorry Wishtrend.

I have been a fan of using essences in my routine. They help in combating various skin issues and my oily/combination skin loves them. I’m From is a brand that focuses on simple ingredient lists and clean and transparent brand philosophy, these are somethings that I really admire about this brand.

Mugwort is famous for it’s antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps heal, soothe, and nourish the skin. Mugwort also helps in treating treat redness, psoriasis, and other skin sensitivities.  Before I started using it, I had already seen and heard a lot about it so my hopes regarding this were pretty high. However, when I first started using it, I noticed practically no difference in my skin for the first three weeks. My main reason for incorporating this in my routine was to help soothe my skin which at that time was having small red bumps and breakouts. When I didn’t see a difference I stopped using it, thinking maybe it wasn’t for me. 

I'm From Mugwort Essence 4

I stumbled upon in again when I was checking my stash to look for a hydrating product to add to my winter routine, so I picked it up again in my routine. I applied it in the beginning with my hands but it has a watery consistency and I didn’t find that an effective method of application. This time, however, I transferred it to a spray bottle to make it easier to apply as a mist on my face after toner. The essence has a very light but distinct smell, which I’m assuming is what Mugwort smells like.  The essence has an almost water consistency. It absorbs in the skin within seconds. It’s light on the skin, doesn’t pile up no matter how many steps are there in the routine. It doesn’t feel heavy or sticky on the skin. The fragrance fades after a few seconds as well.

I’m From Mugwort Essence became a part of my routine for months. Honestly, it took me a while to notice that the tiny red bumps that I had been plagued with for a long while were finally reducing and were completely gone in a few weeks. My skin was calmer, healthier, and smoother than it had been in the last year.

I knew Klairs Daily Skin Softening Water which I was using as a toner was responsible for it being smoother. However, I wanted to make sure that Mugwort essence was the one responsible for my skin being calmer so I took a risk and stopped using it for a few weeks. It didn’t take a lot of time for the red bumps to appear so added it back to my routine as haven’t changed it yet. After continuous usage of the I’m From Mugwort essence for months, I can safely say that it lives up to all its claims. It took me a while to figure it benefits out but then again every skin reacts differently and mine was just a little slow on the uptake.

Since it’s almost over I started using it less frequently in my routine. This means that from using it daily, I went to use it alternate days, then from thrice a week to just twice, Which is where I’m right now, though I’ll be switching it to just once every week now until I run out of it or acquire a new bottle of it, whichever happens, first. So far my skin has adapted decently to it. I’m From Mugwort Essence has helped in strengthening my skin barrier, in calming down the tiny red bumps. It not only soothed my skin but also helped in keeping it calm and hydrated.

Pros:
  • Light-weight
  • Fast absorbing
  • Has a pleasant fragrance
  • Clean minimalistic packaging
  • Helps calm and soothe irritated skin
  • Provides an extra layer of hydration
  • Lasts for a really long time
Cons:
  • Apart from the problem of wishtrend nit shipping to India which makes availability an issue, there’s isn’t any other con that I could find.

Will I Repurchase: In a heartbeat, this essence has been a staple in my routine for a year now. Mugwort essence has greatly helped in healing and strengthening my skin barrier and I’ll really miss using this essence in my routine once I finish this bottle.

Do I Recommend: Yes! If you are planning on incorporating an essence in your skincare this one is definitely the way to go. However, if you already use essence and haven’t tried I’m From Mugwort essence yet then you are missing out.

Overall summary: 4.5/5. While essences are not a necessity in the skincare routine, they can be very helpful in some cases. It’s fast-absorbing, light-weight, non-sticky on application. I’m From Mugwort Essence helps in calm, heal, and soothe the skin. It took a while to show the results but it soon became a great and necessary addition to my skincare routine.

You can also check out my review of Wishtrend Polyphenols in Propolis 15% Ampoule and Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream

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