We use cookies to make your experience better. To comply with the new e-Privacy directive, we need to ask for your consent to set the cookies. Learn more.
-
R520.00
-
R800.00
Esse
Esse is a South African skincare brand founded and developed by Trevor Steyn, an organic chemist, in Richmond KZN. Trevor’s research began with African plants and their use in cosmetics which led to the formulation of Esse. Over the last 100 years, industrial beauty has disrupted our skin's ecosystem; we pay the price with huge increases in sensitive skin and acne.
Esse researches rewilding techniques to restore the skin’s microbiome with probiotics and green chemistry. Esse does not believe in damaging skin in pursuit of short-term results, it optimises skin health to slow ageing in the long-term. It uses prebiotics to feed good microbes and includes LIVE probiotic microbes in two serums to make functional changes to the microbiome.
Our products feature probiotics and prebiotics in organic formulations that help restore balance.
Esse remains true to its principles since inception: its a certified organic, vegan and cruelty free brand that is carbon and plastic neutral, supporting fair trade practices.
Our Ranges
The Esse product range is scientifically formulated for all skin types - with prebiotics, probiotics and active ingredients to get your skin back to its best.
Top Selling Esse
The categories we offer products in:
This is the world’s first live probiotic serum and it represents the pinnacle of our BIOME+ technology.
As the Esse Probiotic Serum touches your face, 50 million live probiotics per drop are activated by the moisture on your skin. These living cell complement your natural microbial diversity and help to slow the ageing process. Independent testing has proven that this product increases skin firmness by 16% in 28 days with positive results being shown in 100% of test subjects.
This is the world’s first live probiotic serum and it represents the pinnacle of our BIOME+ technology.
As the Esse Probiotic Serum touches your face, 50 million live probiotics per drop are activated by the moisture on your skin. These living cell complement your natural microbial diversity and help to slow the ageing process. Independent testing has proven that this product increases skin firmness by 16% in 28 days with positive results being shown in 100% of test subjects.
New Products from Esse
Ethics before profit
Esse does not believe in damaging skin in pursuit of short term results. We optimise skin health to slow ageing in the long term, with biochemistry that makes beneficial changes to the skin’s microbiome. We keep the pH of all our products at 5, using mild preservatives and rapidly biodegradable foaming agents. We have always remained true to our core principles: We support fair trade and are a certified organic, vegan, cruelty free and carbon- and plastic neutral company.
Since inception, Esse has subscribed to Ecocert’s organic standards and percentages. We’ve omitted ingredients deemed unsafe or unsustainable, which is verified through production facility audits to ensure full traceability of all raw materials. Ecocert regulates our packaging, ensuring that materials used are safe, recyclable and don’t leach into the product over time.
Esse is on a mission to reduce carbon emissions year-on-year. We audit our energy consumption annually to maximise efficiency and continually improve. But because we believe we can still do better; carbon credits are purchased to offset the company’s carbon emissions.
Esse has stepped up to help protect the ocean by being plastic neutral. We’ve partnered with Cleanhub to ensure that the plastic equivalent of our usage is collected and recycled. Cleanhub currently treats 15 million tonnes of plastic waste from more than 70 countries, empowering local communities to set up collection businesses.
Esse does not test products on animals. We will not source ingredients from suppliers who do. There are many alternatives to the use of animals in research, and our products are tested on human volunteers. We are accredited members of PeTA’s cruelty-free company programme and Beauty Without Cruelty, who educate the public about the exploitation and abuse of animals.
Esse supports vegan product development practices and is accredited by The Vegan Society. We will always endeavour to use animal free ingredients in our formulations and under no circumstances will we support the unethical practice of animal testing on our products or their ingredients.
Since inception, Esse has subscribed to Ecocert’s organic standards and percentages. We’ve omitted ingredients deemed unsafe or unsustainable, which is verified through production facility audits to ensure full traceability of all raw materials. Ecocert regulates our packaging, ensuring that materials used are safe, recyclable and don’t leach into the product over time.
Esse is on a mission to reduce carbon emissions year-on-year. We audit our energy consumption annually to maximise efficiency and continually improve. But because we believe we can still do better; carbon credits are purchased to offset the company’s carbon emissions.
Esse has stepped up to help protect the ocean by being plastic neutral. We’ve partnered with Cleanhub to ensure that the plastic equivalent of our usage is collected and recycled. Cleanhub currently treats 15 million tonnes of plastic waste from more than 70 countries, empowering local communities to set up collection businesses.
Esse does not test products on animals. We will not source ingredients from suppliers who do. There are many alternatives to the use of animals in research, and our products are tested on human volunteers. We are accredited members of PeTA’s cruelty-free company programme and Beauty Without Cruelty, who educate the public about the exploitation and abuse of animals.
Esse supports vegan product development practices and is accredited by The Vegan Society. We will always endeavour to use animal free ingredients in our formulations and under no circumstances will we support the unethical practice of animal testing on our products or their ingredients.
Esse on Sale
Articles from Esse
Good Microbes for Your Skin
There are trillions of bacteria from hundreds of species living on and in your skin.
Interview with Trevor Steyn on Microbiome & Skincare
How did you become interested in the microbiome?
What will probiotics do for my skin?
Probiotics are immensely beneficial, they out-compete...
