A couple of months ago our editor experienced a virtual skincare consultation with local brand Esse, and embarked on a natural skincare journey. Here’s what she thought – and why she thinks you’ll benefit from it too.
My experience
In the height of hard lockdown, my skin was tired, stressed and playing up. I knew I needed a change, but I didn’t really know where to start. An opportunity for a virtual skin consultation with Esse came along, and I knew I had to jump in and take it.
This was my first virtual consult and I didn’t really know what to expect, but the process was so smooth and faultless that I can highly recommend it to anyone, covid-time or not!
I got a call from Esse consultant Nicci, who spent some time talking to me about my skin and my concerns. We spoke about my current routine, the products I’m using, my skin type and my areas of concern. She took the time to listen to everything I had to say, and offered helpful advice wherever possible.
She then talked to me about Esse, explaining the ethos of the brand and a little bit of their history. We spoke about the ingredients used in Esse products, and how these ingredients work together to protect the skin’s microbiome and pH balance.
We then got into talking about the Esse products she would recommend for my skin. In addition to selecting products based on my concerns, Nicci also asked me about my preferences, for example, whether I prefer a gel cleanser, or a clay cleanser, or a milky cleanser. She explained that even though she always selects products based on what is the most suitable, the experience of using Esse products must also be a pleasant one for the customer.
We agreed on a skincare regime, and a couple of days later it was delivered to my door. The entire consult took about half an hour.
My thoughts
The virtual consultation was a genius introduction in a time when no one could visit their salon. I had a fantastic experience, and would go through it again, even if I was able to visit a salon. While salons are now open and life is slowly returning to normal, it is going to be a long time before everything goes back to the way it was, and the reality is that many people (especially those with comorbidities) would still prefer a virtual consultation over a physical one.
Esse makes this process easy. Nicci was professional but personable and made the experience enjoyable.
My regime
I tried five products from Esse: Gel Cleanser, Toner Plus, Serum, Eye Contour Cream and Nourish Moisturiser. I thoroughly enjoyed using each and every one of the products, and after a couple of weeks, I could see a noticeable difference in my skin. Not only was my skin plumper and hydrated, but I had fewer breakouts. My eye area looked brighter and the rings under my eyes were less noticeable.
The products have a luxurious feel to them, and my morning and evening skincare routine felt indulgent, which I absolutely loved.
You can read my detailed product reviews over here.
About Esse
Optimal skin condition depends on the probiotic microbes living on and in it. Without microbes, your skin can’t perform its basic functions and the rate of skin ageing increases sharply.
Esse does not believe in damaging skin in pursuit of short-term results, it optimises skin health to slow ageing in the long term. The brand uses prebiotics to selectively feed good microbes and includes LIVE probiotic microbes in two of the serums to make functional changes to the skin’s microbiome.
Since Esse’s inception, they have remained true to their core principles: they are certified organic, vegan and cruelty-free. They support fair trade and are a carbon neutral company.
To learn more about Esse, visit their website here, or follow them on social media @esseprobioticskincare.
