It’s not new news that we’ve had an obsession with just about anything coming out of Korea lately. Seoul fashion week, Soo Joo Park, LovLov, heck we’ve even been playing KPOP on repeat and eating kimchi with basically everything. Simply put, Korea is vibing right now and we can’t get enough.

But our biggest obsession has got to be the porcelain-like skin of most of the Korean girls we look to for style and beauty inspiration. You’ve got to admit that when it comes to skincare, those babes know what’s up.

So today, we’re turning our attention to the heart of Korean skincare, the one step all K-girls swear by, Essence.

Now Korean girls are famous for their 10 step skin care routines, but look, let’s keep it real because we all know none of us have the time for that level of dedication. So we’re going keep it really simple. In a nutshell, you’ll see more results from Essence than any other product. Treating skin on a cellular level, an Essence is a concentrated water-based formula that delivers intense hydration and nutrients to the skin. Zoolander was on the money when he said “water is the essence of wetness”. Sort of.

Used after cleansing and toning, but before your serum, Essence specifically targets wrinkles, fine lines, dull and uneven skin tones. And who isn’t into that?

Our favourite? PREVAGE Anti-Aging Antioxidant Infusion Essence. Why? Because we’ve done our research (as in we’ve used loads of the stuff). This guy acts like a force field for the skin. Being a water-based treatment means it not only drives moisture and antioxidants deep into the skin’s surface, but it gives you a radiance that would rival Léa Seydoux’s. So go on, try it because Korea’s got Seoul…

Get it here. For an Elizabeth Arden Counter near you, see here.

Photography, Savina Chai.