Serum v Essence v Ampoule

BY GI FROM INNISFREE  ANTI-AGEING | BRIGHTENING | HYDRATING

January 27th, 2022 3 minute read

Lost in The Sauce: What's The Difference Between Essences, Serums and Ampoules?

I love my skincare regimen. 

I don’t mean to be dramatic, but I sometimes think it’s the only constant in my life. I love retreating to my room at the end of a long day and taking solace in the familiar routine of caring for my skin. 

It took me a long time to get here, though. When I was taking my first steps into creating a skincare routine for myself, I was overwhelmed by all of my options. That doesn’t even begin to cover all the new terms I was learning! 

Today, I want to tackle one of the most common questions in skincare: what’s the difference between essences, serums, and ampoules?

Essences

Essences, at their heart, are essentially skin preparers - getting your skin ready to absorb all the active ingredients and benefits of the rest of your routine. They also provide hydration to your skin, moisturising it from within. Essences tend to be light in texture and more watery which helps your skin absorb them quickly.

Explore essences: JEJU LAVA SEAWATER ESSENCE, SOYBEAN ENERGY ESSENCE

Serums

Serums are concentrated with active ingredients meant to target specific concerns. You may want to choose one that is brightening to help with dark spots and acne scars or perhaps one packed with antioxidants for its anti-ageing benefits. It can take a little time, but it’s definitely worth exploring your options to find the best serum for your skin. They generally have a lightweight, gel-like texture and transport active ingredients to your skin. Most folks enjoy using serums on a daily basis.

I’ll give the fan favourite GREEN TEA SEED SERUM an honourable mention in this section because unlike the targeted serums we’ve just talked about, it’s actually a pre-serum (meaning it comes right after cleansing, before toning) which allows you to strengthen skin’s moisture barrier and better prepare your skin for the rest of your routine.

Seek serums: BRIGHTENING PORE SERUM, PERFECT 9 REPAIR SERUM EX

Ampoules

Ampoules, like serums, usually have specific functions. They are even more concentrated and akin to ‘booster shots’ meant for quick fixes or special occasions - like when you want to show up to a party exuding extra radiance. Texturally, you can expect most ampoules to have a serum-like consistency, but some can be thicker too.

Many ampoules are meant to be used for a short duration of time, but there are some that are suitable for daily use. The BLACK TEA YOUTH ENHANCING AMPOULE that we talked about recently is a notable example. It has a lightweight texture and provides instant skin repairing and resetting effects which makes it great for overnight use (especially for those of us who need a boost after a long, tiring day!).

As you continue to learn more about the different aspects of skincare, I hope your main takeaway from this little breakdown is to stay open to exploring what works best for your skin. There will be seasons of your life during which different essences and serums and ampoules will appeal to you - and all for different reasons. You, more than anyone, know what feels right for your skin.

Stay hydrated!
Gi