8 Best Tatcha The Essence Dupes: Comparison & Reviews 2025
- An essence is similar to a toner or serum, but has its own unique benefits. In short, it is like a primer for your skincare routine, helping to bring out the best in each of the products you apply afterward. Tatcha’s The Essence is praised for its ability to give skin a bouncy, dewy glow that customers have obsessed over since it first hit shelves. What makes Tatcha's stand out is that its formulation doesn’t only help with moisture; it gently exfoliates and brightens too, thanks to its Hadasei-3 complex—the beauty brand’s proprietary mix of double-fermented green tea, rice, and algae. The natural fermentation of these Japanese superfoods produces lactic acid, a gentle skin-care AHA that sloughs off dead cells. While effective, it comes at a premium price. The $110 price point for just 150ml might not be the best option for anyone. But don't worry if your wallet isn't letting you hit that checkout button. There are plenty of options that give similar results to these holy-grail faves at a fraction of the cost! Check out the Tatcha's The Essence alternatives below!
About Tatcha The Essence Skincare Boosting Treatment
Key Ingredients:
-Akita Rice: serves as the base of this ferment to deliver nutrients directly into the skin, allowing them to permeate.
-Okinawa Algae: replenishes the skin barrier and retains moisture for a plumped appearance.
-Uji Green Tea: is rich in antioxidants and protects the skin from premature aging.
This simple yet transformative formula is 100% Hadasei-3™, a proprietary fermented complex of the very superfoods core to the Japanese diet: rice, algae, and green tea. This potent formula boosts the effects of skincare, resurfaces, and hydrates for primed, plump, petal-soft skin at any age.
The complex is rooted in Akita rice fermented with a specially selected yeast strain to yield much less alcohol. As the base, this ferment helps deliver nutrients directly into the skin, allowing them to permeate. Moisture-retaining Okinawa algae replenishes the skin barrier for a plumped appearance, and antioxidant-rich Uji green tea protects the skin from premature aging. With each component represented at its optimal level, this harmonious trio of superfoods is fermented once more, boosting the benefits of the transformative superfoods therein. This fermentation process produces amino acids and AHAs like lactic acid, which support natural surface cell turnover for smooth skin.
However, if you don't want to dish out that much for the original, the dupes for Tatcha's The Essence outlined below are incredible and affordable alternatives!
The Best Tatcha The Essence Dupes
| PURITO Fermented Complex 94 Boosting Essence
($20.70, up to 4% cashback at Yesstyle)
Key Ingredients:
Fermented Complex 94
Lactobacillus and Rice Ferment
Morus Alba Root Extract
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid
Comparison & Review:
Purito Fermented Complex 94 Boosting Essence could be an excellent dupe for Tatcha The Essence, except at more than half the price. It's a powerful, anti-aging essence that helps to reduce the signs of aging, while also providing hydration and nourishment to the skin. The essence is formulated with fermented complex 94, which helps to reduce inflammation and redness. It also contains hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to help reduce the visibility of pores and wrinkles, while also providing antioxidant protection.
Lactobacillus and Rice Ferment are rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, which helps nourish the stressed skin, improves skin texture, and provides smooth, even skin tone. Morus Alba Root Extract enhances moisture content, revitalizes skin's outer surface layers, softens, and improves dry skin. Niacinamide, the active form of vitamin B3, strengthens the natural barrier.
The essence is free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates, and is perfect for all skin types. The lightweight, clear texture of the essence revives dull skin.
| TONYMOLY The Chok Chok Green Tea Watery Essence
($28.00, up to 5% cashback at Macy's)
Key Ingredients:
Pure Fermented Green Tea Extract
Lemon seed Oil
Rosewood Oil
Comparison & Review:
While Tatcha's The Essence concentrates on three actives, the focus of Tonymoly The Chok Chok Green Tea Watery Essence is only one: green tea extract.
Chok chok means dewy in Korean, and The Chok Chok Green Tea Watery Essence from Tony Moly will get you one step closer to achieving perfectly glowy and moisturized skin. Instead of using distilled water, this essence is made with over 80% fermented green tea extract, an antioxidant which works to immediately plump skin with hydration and calm down any irritation.
This light essence instantly absorbs into skin and harnesses the power of a green tea extract that's been cultivated for a year withstanding both winter and summer environmental stressors, as well as lemonseed oil which works as an antifungal agent. Also included in the formula is rosewood oil, which helps to soothe skin.
It comes with a pump and has a light lotion texture which feels like a lightweight serum when applied to the skin. Once absorbed, it feels lightweight and refreshing on the skin.
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| numbuzin No.3 Super Glowing Essence Toner
($16.10, up to 4% cashback at Yesstyle)
Key Ingredients:
50 Types of Termented Ingredients
Rice Extract
Niacinamide
Comparison & Review:
The Tatcha The Essence is as famed for its high price as it is for its skin plumping and smoothing properties. You can grab this K-beauty DUPE: the numbuzinl No.3 Super Glowing Essence Toner! Not only does it save you OVER 85% of the price, but the dupe's ingredients list features similar Rice extract to boost skin brightness, elasticity + glow!
Formulated with 50 types of fermented ingredients and niacinamide to brighten and firm up dull, tired skin, this powerful toner preps and hydrates skin, while coming with all the nourishing benefits of an essence. Revitalizing formula further reduces appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Comes as part of a numbered series of toners providing targeted care for specific skin concerns, such as roughness and dryness.
| NEOGEN Dermalogy Real Ferment Micro Essence
($24.69, up to 3% cashback at Stylevana)
Key Ingredients:
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Betula Alba Juice
Aspergillus/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Comparison & Review:
Neogen's Real Ferment Micro Essence is known for delivering on a trend called "honey skin" — "the next level glow after healthy skin" which is typically achieved through a routine with a lot of humectant and toning ingredients for maximum glow. It contains more than 93% naturally fermented ingredients, including bifida ferment lysate and 28% saccharomyces ferment filtrate, to deliver instant moisture and skin-plumping benefits.
Like Tatcha, Real Ferment Micro Essence 93% also contains Camellia sinensis leaf extract (green tea) and betaula alba juice, which are powerful antioxidants.
The essence looks like water and feels silky but not sticky on your skin. It is fragrance-free.
Last thing to highlight - the price! Neogen Real Ferment Micro comes in at a fraction of the Tatcha The Essence's price!
| Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence
($23.84, up to 4% cashback at Yesstyle)
Key Ingredients:
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Centella
Aloe vera extracts
Chamomile
Arbutin
Adenosine
Comparison & Review:
For an ingredient packed, wallet-friendly alternative, Secret Key's Starting Treatment Essence contains a whopping 94% galactomyces ferment filtrate to brighten skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines. Plus, this essence also includes centella and aloe vera extracts to soothe redness and boost the overall complexion, chamomile to help calm skin down, arbutin to promotes skin brightness, and adenosine to soothe the skin.
While it doesn't contain Tatcha's trio of fermented green tea, rice, and algae extracts, this essence provides a very similar benefit to Tatcha's The Essence, thanks to fermented active galactomyces ferment filtrate.
It also comes in two different editions: the original (featured above) and the rose edition, which is infused with Rosa Centifolia flower water that has anti-inflammatory properties.
| COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence
($19.84, up to 5% cashback at iHerb)
Key Ingredients:
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid
Adenosine
Comparison & Review:
COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence is one of the best dupes for Tatcha The Essence. Both of these products contain powerful ingredients that help to visibly soften texture, reduce the appearance of dark spots and fine lines. Although the CORSX version has Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate instead of Fermented Green Tea, Rice, and Algae Extracts.
The main ingredient in COSRX's Galactomyses 95% Tone Balancing Essence is galactomyces ferment filtrate, which has been proven to enhance the production of hyaluronic acid in the skin, provide superior moisture to the skin and protect it from free radicals. It also works wonderfully for acne-prone skin.
In addition to this, the Essence also contains niacinamide for sebum control and hyperpigmentation, as well as hyaluronic acid to provide surface hydration to the skin and reinforces the moisture barrier. If you want to get about 6 bottles for the price of one Tatcha The Essence, then the COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence may be the one for you.
| SeoulCeuticals Marine Mineral Pump & Glow Essence
($20.00, up to 5% cashback at iHerb)
Key Ingredients:
Tamarind Seed Extract
Aloe Vera & Chamomile
Japanese Green Tea
Cucumber Extract
Comparison & Review:
Refreshing — like you've stepped out of a hot shower! This rejuvenating Korean facial mist contains marine mineral glow essence that guarantees to make a stunning difference to your skin within a few uses.
This superior essence has Tamarind Seed Extract; a natural film forming polysaccharide, that has moisturizing effectiveness equal to Hyaluronic Acid. Includes Aloe Vera, Chamomile and Japanese Green Tea, which assist in rejuvenating the skin, while Cucumber Extract will help tighten pores. Wheat protein and marine minerals containing Selenium, Magnesium, Copper, Zinc, Calcium and Germanium round out the essential needs for a glowing complexion.
A must-try if you are dealing with dull, acne scars and best face mist for dry skin too, spray on to witness the difference!
| Fresh Kombucha Antioxidant Facial Treatment Essence
($61.50, up to 5% cashback at Fresh)
Key Ingredients:
Kombucha
Artemisia Flower Extract
Kigelia Africana Fruit Extract
Hyaluronic Acid
Comparison & Review:
Powered by fermented sweet black tea, this formula aims to boost luminosity, smooth the skin's texture and deliver long-lasting hydration to the skin. Mandarin peel extract helps promote a beautifully uniform complexion while kigelia africana fruit extract helps smooth the appearance of skin texture. It also contains hyaluronic acid, which works to attract and seal in moisture for supple skin.
This highly concentrated age-delay treatment protects daily antioxidant and anti-pollution protection, which helps prevent premature signs of skin aging. The versatile, weightless essence also smoothes, softens the look of fine lines and refines the appearance of skin, boosting its resilience and vitality.
The Fresh Kombucha facial essence straight up smells like sweet, black tea. You don't feel its physical sense there once it seeps into the skin; if that's what bothers you. The essence feels silky to touch, but once applied, feels next to nothing. It works for all skin types because of its moisturizing properties which hydrate the driest areas of the skin but it's so lightweight that it doesn't feel heavy or greasy on oily or combination skin types.
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