Essence is a very important first step in Korean skin care that few Westerners have heard of or use. Here is a review of Missha's Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence.

Description: Missha emphasizes that Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence should be the first step of skin care. This concentrated essential essence touts a dual function: wrinkle repairing and whitening. It is supposed to balance moisture and oil levels while smoothing the skin, firming the skin's foundation, keeping it clean and clear, and boosting radiance level. The special ingredient in Missha's Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence is the 80% ZYOSYS, which is fermented yeast extract. Rich in vitamin B, the fermented yeast is supposed to provide eight benefits: soothing, smoothing, balancing sebum level, moisturizing, improving skin tone, firming, wrinkle repairing, and boosting. This essence also contains extracts of licorice, beet root, rosemary, and cassia alata leaf.

Packaging: Missha's Time Revolution essence comes in an expensive-looking glass bottle, with a polished plastic top. The bottle makes the product very sturdy but I'm also in constant fear that I will drop it and it'll break everywhere, especially since the consistency of the essence means you have to shake the bottle to get the product out. The screw-top is easy to open and access the product. The pale-green color of the essence looks soothing and pleasing to the eye.

Product: The Missha essence has a water-like consistency. It's very light and if you don't use it quickly enough it'll drip between your fingers. It has no significant scent, with only the slightest hint of that 80% yeast.

Application: After cleansing and toning, essence is the first product you should apply in your skincare regime. The instructions say to apply the Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence to a cotton pad and then pat on your face, but I don't like wasting product on the pad. Instead, I shake about a dime-sized amount in my palm, rub my hands briskly together once or twice to evenly distribute the product, then pat all over my face and neck. It's gentle enough to use around the eye area too. I do this twice a day. Missha's essence absorbs almost instantly into the skin and feels cooling and soothing immediately. It leaves your face feeling slightly sticky but in a few moments this goes away and your skin is left feeling very soft.

Results: For someone with very sensitive skin, Missha's Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence doesn't irritate my face in the slightest. Instead, I find it very soothing and non-irritating. This can be used for all skin types. While I can't say it was this product for sure (I've been using a few Missha products at the same time), I received many compliments after a few weeks of use. Friends noticed my face looked "bright" and "glowing." My face also feels smoother and firmer, with less breakouts, irritation, red spots, and excess oil production.

Pros & Cons: I would highly recommend this product to all skin types. My favorite thing about Missha's essence is that soothing, cooling feeling after it instantly absorbs into the skin. It almost feels like putting nothing on except a sheer layer of magical water. My least favorite thing about this essence is the application. I wish it had a dropper or a pump. It's hard to control how much comes out of the bottle and because it's quite heavy, I'm scared of shaking it to make the product come out. However, I may be causing myself unnecessary anxiety by not using a cotton pad to press against the top and flip the bottle over.

Price & Availability: Compared to similar products, the Missha essence is very affordable at $49.00 for 150ml. If you click here, the product is on sale for 50% off, putting it at only $29.40. Compared to SK-II Facial Treatment Essence ($165.00) and Estee Lauder Micro Essence Skin Activating Treatment Lotion ($95.00 for 6.7 oz), this price is hard to beat for something so effective with almost immediate results.

You can also buy the Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence by clicking here and here.