ESSENHERB

Essenherb is a Korean skincare brand that puts herbs first. On its Korean site, it describes itself, according to the brand, as “K-Wild Herb Skin Care”. The packaging carries a round “Botanic Essentials” stamp with a drawing of a plant and the words “Specialty of” followed by a name, for example Tea Tree, Rosemary or Lemon Dill. It is a simple way to recognise the brand and to see which plant each product leads with.

The product photos also show the brand's web address, essenherb.co.kr, printed on several labels. At Ma Petite Coree, the Essenherb selection includes cleansers, toners, ampoules, creams, cotton masks, sun care, body care and a shampoo, shipped from Seoul. If you are looking for Essenherb for the first time, pick a family first, then a type of care.

We group the products by name. These are Ma Petite Coree families, not a ranking from the brand. The ingredients below are read from the labels in the photos or from the titles; always check the full list on the packaging.

• Tea Tree: the Tea Tree 90 Calming Toner, the Tea Tree Balancing In Calming Toner (label: tea tree leaf and hyaluronic acid), the Tea Tree Mild Clear Pad, the Tea Tree Soothing In Calming Cream, the Tea Tree Repair Solution Cream, the Tea Tree Acne Daily Wash, the Tea Tree Deep Clean Scalp Shampoo (label: tea tree leaves, AHA and BHA), the Tea Tree Body Cream Mist and the Tea Tree Moisture Sun Milk SPF50+.
• Lemon Dill: the Lemon Dill Milk Ampoule (label: lemon, dill and soy milk), the Lemon Dill Melting Buttercream (label: lemon, dill, shea butter and eco ceramide) and the Lemon Dill Glazed Gel Cleanser (label: lemon, dill and sucrose).
• Jojoba: the Jojoba Essential Lip Balm, the Jojoba 100% Oil, the Jojoba Double Essence Mist and the Jojoba Cream To Toner.
• Deep Core Hydra: the Deep Core Hydra Ampoule and the Deep Core Hydra Cream.
• Rosemary: the Rosemary Daily Scrub Wash (label: rosemary leaf and mineral salts) and the Rosemary Vital Whipping Pack Cleanser.
• Cotton masks: Tea Tree Relief Cotton Mask, Lemon Dill Radiant Glow Cotton Mask, Kummerowia Poresetting Cotton Mask and Rose of Jericho Hydration Cotton Mask.

Other products have their own names, such as the Black Snail Signature Lift Cream, the Mucoritual Ampoule, the Quick & Deep Bubble Essence, the Earl Grey Milk Body Wash, the Anytime Quick Multi Cream and the Day To Night Routine Program.

Essenherb titles give you clues, but they don't replace the product page. If your skin is blemish-prone, the names Tea Tree, Calming, Soothing or Relief are a good starting point, for example with the Tea Tree Balancing In Calming Toner or the Tea Tree Relief Cotton Mask. If your skin lacks moisture, look at Deep Core Hydra or Hydration, such as the Rose of Jericho Hydration Cotton Mask.

For a glow, the name “Radiant Glow” on the Lemon Dill Radiant Glow Cotton Mask is a lead. For pores, the name “Poresetting” on the Kummerowia Poresetting Cotton Mask points that way, according to its title. In the daytime, think about sun care: the Multi Defense Cloud Fit Airy Sun Stick and the Tea Tree Moisture Sun Milk SPF50+ both exist at Essenherb. If your skin is sensitive, introduce one product at a time and keep the rest of your usual routine. For body and hair, look at the Rosemary Daily Scrub Wash, the Tea Tree Body Cream Mist or the Tea Tree Deep Clean Scalp Shampoo.

If you like plant-based care, you can also look at Innisfree, Anua or Beauty of Joseon.

A few things stand out. First, the plant gives its name to the families: Tea Tree, Lemon Dill, Jojoba and Rosemary keep coming back in the titles, which makes it quick to find your way around. Second, the brand covers many categories: face, body, hair, and even a lip balm, the Jojoba Essential Lip Balm. The cotton masks, like the Tea Tree Relief Cotton Mask, are sold as sets of 5 (“5EA” in the title).

Finally, the look changes from one family to the next. In the photos, the Deep Core Hydra Cream comes in a blue tube, most tea tree products use bottles and jars in greens, and the Lemon Dill family leans on yellows. That helps you build a routine without mixing up the families by accident.

To get started, here is a selection by need, without any sales ranking. According to the brand's Korean site, several of these products are highlighted on its homepage.

• For hydration: the Deep Core Hydra Ampoule and the Deep Core Hydra Cream, which you can pair since they share a name.
• For a day and night routine: the Day To Night Routine Program, presented as tubes.
• For a cream in a jar: the Black Snail Signature Lift Cream, or the Tea Tree Soothing In Calming Cream in the tea tree family.
• For an essence step: the Quick & Deep Bubble Essence.
• To cleanse: the Lemon Dill Glazed Gel Cleanser or the Rosemary Vital Whipping Pack Cleanser.