Key difference: Essence or serums are generally considered as moisturizing agents. The main problem while differentiating between the two products arises as there appears to be no differentiations between them. Essence or serums are essentially clear, thick, liquid moisturizing products. Some companies tend to label their products as serums, while others label them as essences.

Beauty is a religion. People would do anything for beautiful skin, including selling their souls to the devil. However, selling their souls to the devil may seem as the easier option rather than figuring out the various skin-regiment products available on the market. There are toners, moisturizers, serums, essences, emulsions, day-creams, night-creams, face masks, and so many more. What is a girl to do? How is she to make sense of all these products, let alone used them daily on her skin.

Essence and serums are two such products that are available on the market. They are recommended for use in a daily skin regiment. An average daily step-by-step skin care regiment is recommended to include: cleanser, toner, emulsion, essence or serum, and lastly moisturizer or cream.

Essence or serums are generally considered as moisturizing agents.  The main problem while differentiating between the two products arises as there appears to be no differentiations between them. Essence or serums are essentially clear, thick, liquid moisturizing products. Some companies tend to label their products as serums, while others label them as essences.

 Depending on the company, the product may or may not contain a concentrated amount of a specific ingredient, as essences of substances do; hence the name ‘essence’. The essence or serums may or may not target a specific problem, such as help fight the signs of aging such as lines, wrinkles, and dark spots. They may or may not help brighten the skin, help firm and tighten loose skin, define face contours, prevent skin sag, fight pigmentation, excessive dryness, and enlarged pores, or any other numerous amount of things that companies claim their beauty products can do.

Essentially, at its base, serums or essences are moisturizers; however they tend to have smaller compact particles and are lighter than traditional moisturizers. This allows them to get absorbed faster and more effectively into the skin. They also get absorbed deeper into the skin allowing more effective cell regeneration and reproduction. The most common ingredients in any serum brands are Retinol, Peptides, Collagen, Plant extracts, synthetic extracts, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and Whitening compounds.

In case, a same company sells both essence and serums, there may be certain differences between the two products. Serums would probably be lighter than essences. Essence would contain ‘essential’ ingredients, which would supposedly help fulfill the skin’s pure nutritional content, as well as help firm and tighten loose skin and fight aging. Serums, on the other hand, would contain concentrated ingredients that would target a specific problem on the skin, such as blemishes, wrinkles or dark spots. Furthermore, essences usually come in the form of thin, watery, milky lotion like consistency, while, serums can be available in gel, liquid, oil, cream, or lotion like consistency. 

Image Courtesy: drjart.co.kr, realbeauty.com