
Lancome Clarifique Double Essence vs. SK-II Essence vs. Tatcha The Essence: Which is the Best?
- Originating from the Korean beauty industry, a facial essence – not to be confused with a toner – essentially works as a primer for your moisturiser whilst also including a lot of extra benefits for the skin. A face essence usually has a lightweight texture that isn't quite as watery as a toner but is also not as thick as a serum. It's this silent overachiever energy and barely-there finish that's seen the humble facial essence develop from a trend in Japanese and K-Beauty routines to an international sensation. The best essences out there combine various benefits in one, working to hydrate, balance, soothe or exfoliate, depending on the formulation. Here, three cult favorites of essences in the market are Lancome Clarifique Double Treatment Essence, SK-II Facial Treatment Essence, and Tatcha The Essence. Which is best for you? Below, we will make a comparison to help you choose.
The Difference & Reviews
| Lancome Clarifique Double Treatment Essence
Google Users Rating: 4.5/5
Lancome: $95.00/150ml (up to 2% cashback)
Sephora: $95.00 (up to 4% cashback)
Macy's: $95.00 (up to 3% cashback)
What Does It Do?
Clarifique Double Treatment Essence is the first step in your brightening skincare routine (after cleansing) to help improve radiance, skin tone evenness and hydration. This bi-phase formula combines water and oil in two key phases. The first phase exfoliates and brightens, while the second phase soothes skin. This improved formula combines a complex of four exfoliating acids, beech bud extract and hydrating oils to help improve skin surface and overall radiance.
Key Ingredients:
- Glycolic Acid: Known to visibly improve skin texture.
- Lactic Acid: Known to visibly improve skin texture.
- Salicylic Acid: Known to soothe skin and refine the look of pores.
- Phytic acid: Antioxidant known to help brighten skin.
- Beech Bud extract, and hydrating oils to help improve skin surface and overall radiance.
Best For: All skin types, especially for those who have dull, dehydrated, uneven skin tone and texture users.
Texture & Fragrance: This essence looks transparent in color. And There is actually 2 layer, a thin layer of oil on top and liquid layer at the bottom. Therefore, it is important to shake the dual essence well before pouring it on the cotton pad.
The essence has a light non greasy texture. And there is some kind of light fragrance smell to it.
Review: Clarifique Double Essence is not only helps with the skin texture but overall skin health. This essence is a top-up to any skincare routine. It prepares the skin for better absorption and benefits of the serum and moisturizer.
Customers love how this product makes the face feel fresh after putting it on. It's not sticky feeling, tacky feeling or gives off a greasy shine. It just makes your skin feel hydrated. But, some have compained how it dispenses. One customer said: "First I give it a good shake with the cap on. Then once the cap is removed, I lay my hand over the top of the dispenser and tilt the bottle upside down to try to pour just a little bit into my hand. I'd say half the time I get more than I need and it dribbles out all over. It's hard to control how much I need since the liquid sits in the dispenser portion. Sometimes it's a bit too much to use as well onto my hand."
Pros | Cons |
Combines a water-based phase with a lipid-rich phase for exfoliation and nourishment | A little expensive |
Contains a blend of exfoliating acids to gently remove dead skin cells and improve skin texture | Some have compained how it dispenses |
Acts as a primer, optimizing the skin's absorption of subsequent skincare products | |
Non comedogenic, suitable for sensitive skin |
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| SK-II Facial Treatment Essence
Google Users Rating: 4.4/5
SK-II: $190.00/160ml (up to 5% cashback)
Sephora: $190.00 (up to 4% cashback)
Dermstore: $190.00 (up to 5% cashback)
What Does It Do?
Raved by many and continues to be SK-II's bestseller, this facial treatment essence is instrumental for healthy-looking skin. It definitely lives up to its name of miracle water. Infused with 90% PITERA™, a natural bio-ingredient derived from yeast fermentation exclusively in Japan for SK-II, the formula contains over 50 micro-nutrients that do everything from nourish, condition, smooth, and hydrate your skin.
Key Ingredients:
- PITERA: SK-II's signature ingredient, which resembles the Natural Moisturizing Factors of the skin, hence conditioning the natural functions of the skin, thanks to its more than 50 micro-nutrient content.
Best For: All skin types; ideal for those with signs of aging, dull complexion, dark spots, or rough texture.
Texture & Fragrance: This comes in a very watery consistency, which is why it's frequently dubbed as "miracle water" by so many celebrities and influencers. This essence is so gentle and so safe for sensitive skin. Its lightweight texture also absorbs very fast into the skin, and leaves no residue.
The active ingredient in SK-II's Pitera Facial Treatment Essence is a yeast, so there is a subtle yeasty scent, though it's nothing too off-putting. The formula has no artificial fragrance, so anyone whose skin is sensitive to that can feel good about using it.
Review:If you're looking for a product that really helps to repair your skin's natural functions, the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence is a great product that's worth investing in. As a luxury brand with a highly secretive formulation and cult-following, it makes sense that the price point for this "miracle" product is high.
The essence is based off of its patented Pitera, a "strictly controlled natural fermentation process." The benefits of this ingredient are nothing short of amazing, not only does it provide anti-aging benefits, its also great for moisturising the skin, enhancing cell turnover (which helps you get rid of any pigmentation issues like sun spots faster) and evening out the complexion. "It gave my skin a youthful, supple texture and it's evened out my previously combination skin. It has also helped my adult acne. This is why I love this product — it addresses all my issues from aging to acne to texture — which is why it's so worth the purchase," writes one fan.
Pros | Cons |
Moisturize, soften and smoothen texture | Expensive price point |
Reduce appearance of dark spots and fine lines due to dryness | |
Enhance radiance, even the look of skin tone, and make skin less oily looking | |
Each bottle contains 90% PITERA™ | |
The lightweight liquid is quickly absorbed into skin |
| Tatcha The Essence
Google Users Rating: 4.6/5
Tatcha: $110.00/150ml (up to 4% cashback)
Sephora: $110.00 (up to 4% cashback)
Kohl's: $110.00 (up to 3% cashback)
What Does It Do?
This simple yet transformative formula is 100% Hadasei-3™, a proprietary fermented complex of the very superfoods core to the Japanese diet: rice, algae, and green tea. This potent formula boosts the effects of skincare, resurfaces, and hydrates for primed, plump, petal-soft skin at any age.
The complex is rooted in Akita rice fermented with a specially selected yeast strain to yield much less alcohol. As the base, this ferment helps deliver nutrients directly into the skin, allowing them to permeate. Moisture-retaining Okinawa algae replenishes the skin barrier for a plumped appearance, and antioxidant-rich Uji green tea protects the skin from premature aging. With each component represented at its optimal level, this harmonious trio of superfoods is fermented once more, boosting the benefits of the transformative superfoods therein. This fermentation process produces amino acids and AHAs like lactic acid, which support natural surface cell turnover for smooth skin.
Key Ingredients:
-Akita Rice: serves as the base of this ferment to deliver nutrients directly into the skin, allowing them to permeate.
-Okinawa Algae: replenishes the skin barrier and retains moisture for a plumped appearance.
-Uji Green Tea: is rich in antioxidants and protects the skin from premature aging.
Best for: All skin types, even sensitive skin.
Texture & Fragrance: The consistency of The Essence is very thin, almost water-like. Because of that, it absorbs into skin very quickly. Also, because of its watery texture, a little goes a long way—a few drops are all it takes to cover the entire face and neck. There is no distinguishable fragrance, which is great for people with sensitive skin or anyone who is sensitive to scents.
Review: This essence hydrates skin without the waxes and emollients that make creams and lotions thick, so they don't clog pores or feel greasy or heavy. As soon as you pour The Essence into your hands, you immediately notice how lightweight and barely-there it feels. But don't be fooled: It's loaded up with hydrating ingredients, like a special concentrate of green tea, rice, and algae, as well as glycerin.
Most reviewers said that they noticed that their skin appeared more hydrated and plump following application and those with dry skin noticed an especially dramatic difference in the look and feel of their skin with consistent usage.
Pros | Cons |
Works to support natural cell turnover | Very high price point |
Helps to replenish the skin barrier | |
Contributes to radiant, healthier-looking skin | |
Sits beautifully under makeup | |
Free from parabens, sulphates, phthalates, mineral oil and synthetic fragrances |
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