Your guide to toners, essences, and bi-phase formulas

Posted by Liz Earle Beauty Co.

January 11, 2025

3 min read

When it comes to unlocking glowing, healthy-looking skin, toners and essences can make for a powerful addition to your routine. However, with such a wide range of formulas available, knowing where to start (and how to use them) can be difficult.

So, we’re taking a closer look at toners and essences – and shining a spotlight on the benefits of bi-phase formulas. Ready to reveal your skin’s natural radiance? Read on…

Toners vs essences: what's the difference?

Toners and essences may seem similar, but on closer inspection, they play different roles and deliver their own specific benefits.

Toners are typically used after cleansing to remove remaining impurities, reduce/minimise the appearance of pores, and prepare skin for the next step in your routine. For an extra boost of moisture look out for gentle, non-drying formulas, such as our Instant Boost™ Skin Tonic Toner: a revitalising blend including hydrating aloe vera and soothing cucumber, designed to replenish skin with moisture from the outside in.

Essences can help improve the look of skin texture, acting as a bridge between toners and serums.

>p>While toners cleanse and prime the skin, essences often go a step further by nourishing, moisturising, and addressing specific skincare concerns such as brightening dullness or reducing the appearance of dark spots.

Key benefits of essences

Essences are packed with active ingredients that provide targeted skincare benefits.

Other essence benefits include:

Moisture boost: Delivers a hit of hydration, preparing skin for the next steps in your routine
Brightening power: Tackles dullness, dryness and the appearance of an uneven skin tone to reveal radiance
Improves texture: Helps refine the appearance of skin’s texture

What is a bi-phase essence?

A bi-phase essence has two distinct layers: a water-based layer for hydration and an oil-based layer for nourishment and protection. As such, skin feels replenished, while natural oils work to seal in moisture.

Do you need a bi-phase essence?

It really depends on your unique skincare needs. If you’re looking for a product that brightens, hydrates, and smooths all at once, a bi-phase essence is a good choice.

The role of collagen

Collagen is the primary protein and plays a central role in supporting skin, nails and hair. It’s also key in maintaining a youthful complexion. As we grow older, collagen production diminishes, accentuating the visible signs of ageing such as:

Fine lines
Wrinkles
Loss of elasticity & volume
Dark spots

To find out more about this vital protein’s function – and the benefits of incorporating a plant-based alternative like acacia tree extract in your skincare routine – take a look at our complete guide to collagen.

How to build a routine for glowing, radiant skin

Creating a balanced skincare routine doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s a step-by-step guide to incorporating a bi-phase essence into your daily regime.

Step 1: Cleanse

The foundation of healthy-looking skin? It all starts with the cleanser! Our award-winning Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser blends creamy cocoa butter with rosemary leaf extract and eucalyptus, and is scientifically proven to boost hydration from first use. Used in tandem with our Pure Cotton Cloth, this iconic formula lifts away make up and impurities with ease, leaving skin feeling clean, soft, and refreshed.

Alternatively, indulge in a little skincare luxury with the Superskin™ Advanced Nourishing Cleansing Balm. Boasting a buttery texture and ultra-nourishing botanical ingredients, this cleansing balm gently removes impurities to reveal plumper, smoother-looking skin.

Step 2: Tone

For a radiant glow, reach for Smooth & Glow™ Exfoliating Tonic. Gentle enough to use both day and night after cleansing, our multi-benefit toner evens the appearance of skin tone, supports surface cell turnover and helps reduces the appearance of pores.

Step 3: Apply your bi-phase essence

Shake well to activate the two phases, then lightly sweep over your face, neck and décolletage.

Step 4: Moisturise

Once the bi-phase essence has fully absorbed into your skin, it’s time for hydration. Our Superskin™ Advanced Firming Serum-in-Moisturiser is another two in one marvel. Combining a serum with a moisturiser and including acacia tree extract and rosehip oil, it helps firm and sculpt the appearance of collagen-depleted skin.

Step 5: SPF & treatments

In the morning, finish your daily routine with an SPF cream (rain or shine!). When evening rolls around, consider an overnight treatment. Featuring a rich blend of shea butter, avocado and borage seed oils, Superskin™ Nourishing Night Cream works while you sleep to deeply hydrate and leave skin feeling rejuvenated.

FAQs: The Role of Collagen and the Benefits of Essences

What is collagen depletion?

Collagen is the building block of healthy, youthful-looking skin. As we age, the body naturally produces less collagen, leading to visible signs of ageing such as fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of elasticity.

Using skincare products like essences, particularly those with moisture-boosting ingredients (e.g., acacia tree extract), can help replenish the look of skin and leave it feeling firmer. This is where the difference between toner and essence becomes crucial—essences are formulated to deeply nourish and tackle concerns like visible signs of collagen depletion, making them a vital step in your routine.

How can I address the appearance of uneven skin tone & pigmentation?

Uneven skin tone and pigmentation can occur due to sun exposure, hormonal changes, or ageing. Essences can deliver brightening ingredients directly to the skin.

Unlike toners, which primarily cleanse and prepare the skin, our essence go further to help fade the appearance of uneven pigmentation, improve overall radiance, and create a more even looking complexion.

What helps the look of dark spots?

Dark spots, a common sign of ageing and sun damage, can be difficult to address. The benefits of our essence include targeted hydration and brightening properties that work to diminish the appearance of dark spots over time.

Bi-phase essences combine a water phase for hydration with an oil phase for nourishment, creating a potent solution to tackle the appearance of dark spots while improving overall skin texture.

How can I achieve plump and radiant skin?

Radiant, plumper feeling skin starts with hydration and nourishment. Essences, packed with active ingredients, are specifically designed to target other benefits such as lock in moisture and leaving skin feeling more elastic.

Unlike toners, which focus on cleansing, essences can target deep. For instance, a bi-phase essence combines the hydrating benefits of water-based ingredients with nourishing oils, leaving your skin glowing and feeling plumped.

How do essences tackle the visible signs of ageing?

Fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness are key visible signs of ageing. By understanding the toner vs essence debate, you’ll see why essences can be ideal for helping to address these concerns. They deliver concentrated active ingredients to the skin, which may help target visible signs of ageing.

Why Choose an Essence Over a Toner?

While toners cleanse and balance, essences are packed with benefits that go beyond preparation. The difference between toner and essence lies in their roles—toners are foundational, but essences address specific skincare concerns, addressing specific skincare concerns like visible signs of collagen depletion and ageing, including the appearance of uneven skin tone.

Elevate your routine with an essence for skin that looks smoother and more lifted, with a youthful radiance.

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