If I'm being frank, here is where the K-beauty routine starts to get loosely redundant (not to say I didn't enjoy it). Enter: Essences, another K-beauty must-have. In general, they aim to provide a lot of the same benefits as a serum, but are typically lighter in weight. I'm 100 percent hooked on Grandidier's Darjeeling Black Tea Brightening Essence ($64) though, another product I tested out prior to this experiment. Upon my first time using it, I can honestly say my skin had never felt softer.