Review: Dr.Ceuracle Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence

A few years ago, I shared with you my appreciation for Korean essences that could replace a moisturizer with the LaNeige’s now cult Cream Skin Refiner essence, and the least I can say is that this category of products has grown quite a bit since then!

The essence I will discuss today, the Dr.Ceuracle Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence, is clearly related to this category, but its texture is lighter than Laneige’s, which allows it to address more different skin types. That’s not a bad thing, in my opinion 😉.

Essences have clearly revolutionized my routine since I discovered them a few years ago and I’m thrilled to have more and more choices in this range of products!

These are indeed true liquid skincare products, which can be used as “pre-care” (whether it’s your serum or moisturizer) to facilitate deep hydration of the skin. Since I’ve been using them, my skin looks much more plump, there’s no doubt about it!

But until a few years ago, most essences focused mostly on hydration and a little less on nourishing the skin. And when you have dry or damaged skin, you need to act on these two aspects, hydration and nutrition.

That’s what this fabulous Dr.Ceuracle Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence bi-phase essence is all about, and I’ll tell you more about it in my review of the day! 🙂

Dr.Ceuracle Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence, product presentation:

Dr. Ceuracle is a Korean brand that could be described as “cosmeceutical“.

Created by dermatologists, Dr. Ceuracle (formerly Leegeehaam or LGH Cosmetics), was established in 2000 with the concept of specialized treatment of specific skin issues. With their own Research and Development Center, Dr. Ceuracle’s laboratory designs skincare products for a clientele with very demanding, quasi-medical expectations.

For this essence, however, the brand has allowed itself a little more freedom and even ventured to the fun side of the force. But still staying firmly grounded into innovation 🙂.

Like the LaNeige essence I mentioned above, this Dr.Ceuracle Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence is a true multi-tasker! It boosts hydration like an essence, and it can also work as a moisturizer/essence hybrid (if you don’t have overly dry skin, that is).

The brand describes it as suitable for all skin types, but it’s especially good for dry, sensitive, dull or sensitized skin. Oily skin types might find it a little too moisturizing, in my opinion.

As for the formula, it combines the powerful anti-aging abilities of kombucha tea extract with various antioxidant plant extracts, and a nourishing sunflower seeds oil. It’s a dual-phase formula that needs to be mixed by shaking before use to create a creamy, super silky and pleasant liquid texture! A real sensorial pleasure to use, not to mention that it’s also beautiful to see in the bottle 😉.

The tea extract “kombucha” simply means that it has been fermented, which is interesting for several reasons. Black tea extract when fermented gets loaded with probiotic ingredients, minerals and vitamin B, and it’s also more easily absorbed into the skin.

This Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence also contains Camellia Sinensis (or green tea) leaf water and Schisandra Chinensis (also known as omija) fruit extract, both of which are powerful antioxidant ingredients, for a more resilient skin against the environmental stresses of everyday life.

As an added bonus, sunflower seed oil and ceramide help to nourish the skin for more comfort!

The Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence is a super versatile product, you can use it in many different ways!

– as a unique skincare product, for a super simple routine:
You can use it after cleansing and patting your skin dry. Just pour a few drops of the product into the palm of your hand (between 3 and 5 drops) and apply them to your face and neck by dabbing. After a few seconds, the product is absorbed and leaves the skin comfortable and protected.
In this case, it replaces the toner, essence, serum, and moisturizer. Perfect if you don’t have time to do a complete skincare routine or if you come back home super late!

– instead of your essence if you have dry skin or require more comfort than usual:
Especially in winter, if it’s freezing, or if the skin is damaged and needs a repairing product, the Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence is perfect to add an extra layer of comfort and protection to your routine without weighing down your skin. In this case, you can use it after your toner, and before your serum, oil and/or moisturizing cream (instead of your essence or on top of it for an extra layer of comfort).

– as an express moisturizing mask:
You soak several cotton pads with the Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence, you place them on the driest areas of your face, on clean skin and leave them on for a few minutes (up to 20 minutes). No need to rinse, you just remove them and keep on with the rest of your skincare routine.

– as a moisturizing mist during the day:
You can pour the product into a bottle with a spray and mist it during the day if the skin suffers from intense dryness (perfect in winter or if you are exposed to heating or air conditioning all day).

– instead of your moisturizer:
At the end of your routine, you just pour 4 to 5 drops of the product into the palm of your hand and apply it by pressing it on your face and neck.
Usually, a single layer of product is enough, but if you feel that your skin is feeling extra dry, don’t hesitate to layer it (up to 2 or 3 layers).

I’ve been able to use several versions of these somewhat milky essences, and since I know someone is going to ask me about them, here’s how I compare them:
– Laneige’s Cream Skin Refiner is for me the most accomplished in the “all-in-one product” concept that can replace a moisturizer, but for me, I find it a bit too rich to use all year-round.
– the I’m From’s Rice Toner essence is the least “rich” and for me, it’s closer to a classic essence than an all-in-one product.

Now, the Dr.Ceuracle Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence is in between in terms of texture: clearly not as rich as LaNeige’s but still more so than the I’m From 🙂

Dr.Ceuracle Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence, my experience:

I introduced the Dr.Ceuracle Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence into my routine this winter. And at first, I thought I would use it in the morning, because I liked the idea of using an antioxidant-rich formula early in the day…

Except… I have a combination skin. Dry prone, yes, but still. And I live in a country where it’s still 15 degrees on colder days! So, in my morning routine, it was a bit too much for my skin.

I really liked the feeling of the silky texture on my skin, for sure, but I also had a tendency to look shiny faster than usual with it. So I switched and use it in my evening skincare routine. And it was just perfect!

Anyway, when you think about it, antioxidant ingredients in your routine can’t really hurt, whether it’s morning or night! Indeed, with these, #moreismore as I always say, and you can’t really overdo with them. They will always help the skin for anti-ageing prevention. And my 43 old skin definitely need it 😉

My skin loves this product at night, it’s really a comforting essence and really, the playful aspect of mixing the two phases is clearly a plus! And it’s so pretty to look at in the bottle (yes, I know, it’s frivolous, I know, but here, we don’t mind frivolity, quite the opposite!).

And as far as hydration/nutrition is concerned, clearly, my skin is happy with it. The feeling of comfort is there, and it lasts, without being too much (in the evening for me anyway).

This essence reminds me of two products I really like, the Amorepacific Vintage Single Extract Essence and the LaNeige Cream Skin Refiner. The Dr.Ceuracle would be kind of like a mix of the two!

Regarding the value for money, I find it a bit pricey, although clearly, with its 150 ml and the amount I use, it’s going to last me a while, probably 6 to 8 months in total.

But I have to admit that the product itself is very aesthetically pleasing and qualitative, and I also really enjoy the experience of using it. And that counts for something 😉.

In conclusion:

My test of this Dr.Ceuracle Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence is quite a success overall!

I am very pleased with the formula, the experience of use, the result… The only thing I would have to complain about is its price, but on the other hand, big plus for a Korean product, you can find it very easily online. Yes, even if you live in Europe, and that’s definitely a real plus for many of my readers, I just know it! 😉

The Dr.Ceuracle Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence retails between $27 to $38 for 150ml depending on the retailers.