COSRX

COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence.

Mists & Essences

About this product

A lightweight essence from COSRX built around galactomyces ferment filtrate, designed to be used after cleansing to hydrate, balance and brighten the look of skin tone.

Full ingredients

Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Ethyl Hexanediol, Adenosine

Guru Score

70%

Mixed

5 experts · Moderate agreement

What the gurus are saying

Niacinamide sitting second on the ingredient list, right behind the fermented galactomyces, is what wins fans over, who praise its brightening, soothing, plumping feel as a prep step before the rest of your routine and call it very affordable. The holdouts split two ways: the thicker-than-water texture can pill on some skin, which makes it a night-time essence, and for others it simply didn't work.

Synthesized from 5 expert reviews · most recent take July 2025

What they liked

Convinces essence sceptics
Affordable galactomyces alternative

What they flagged

Pills when layered over other products
Less potent than pricier ferment essences

Type

Mists & EssencesLiquid

Key actives

Niacinamide Hyaluronic acid

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Ulta → Amazon → Google → iHerb →

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Scan it in the shopFree iPhone app. Scores in the aisle.

What the experts use it for.

The concerns the experts tie this product to, in their own words. Paid and founder takes don't count.

Dull skin1 expert

“skin brightening”

James Welsh, watch at 11:49

Fine lines and wrinkles1 expert

“helps target fine lines and wrinkles”

James Welsh, watch at 11:49

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

Dr. Vanita Rattan

1.23M subs

~Yay

"I've actually never really been a fan of essence until I saw this product and the ingredients in it. The moisturizers they've got are panthenol, glycerin, butylene glycol, sodium hyaluronate, but it's also got galactomyces ferment filtrate as one of the top ingredients. And the second ingredient in this product is niacinamide, which [...] I love, love, love."

James Welsh

1.58M subs

~Yay

"Their best and severely underappreciated product is their galactomyces 95 essence, this has all the fermented power of SK-II's essence but for around £15, with niacinamide it's super effective, skin brightening, soothing, healing, plumping, helps target fine lines and wrinkles, [...] and it's perfect for prepping your skin for the rest of your routine. Out of the whole lineup this is probably my favorite skincare product that I repurchase over and over and over."

Dr Dray

2.69M subs

~Nay

"There's one product from them that I tried in the early days of trying COSRX that I did not like. The Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence did not work well for me. That's like the one product that stands out in my mind from them that was a miss."

No BS Beauty

89k subs

~Yay

"The COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence, this one's very nice, it's around 11 or 12 dollars so you can certainly check that one out"

All 2 takes from No BS Beauty

K-Beauty Dupes for Sephora's Most Expensive Products - Affordable Alternatives

"The COSRX 95 Galactomyces Tone Balancing Essence is another one very very affordable."

Discover The Ultimate Fermented Toners & Essences For Glowing Skin! Fermented Favorites!

"The COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence, this one's very nice, it's around 11 or 12 dollars so you can certainly check that one out"

AliceintheRabbitHole

59k subs

~Mixed

"My perception is also influenced by the texture, it's thicker than water, but for some reason I get a lot of pilling when I use it, which just means it's a PM product for me. There's nothing terrible about it, it's just that I'm struggling to finish it when there are galactomyces based products I like more."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide has evidence behind it for redness, uneven tone and supporting the skin barrier, and it is usually well tolerated even by skin that reacts to most things.

Source: DermNet

Humectants and emollients

Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the skin.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence?

A lightweight essence from COSRX built around galactomyces ferment filtrate, designed to be used after cleansing to hydrate, balance and brighten the look of skin tone.

Is COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence worth it?

The gurus mostly approve it, but with enough reservations to keep it in the middle at a Guru Score of 70%.

What is COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence's Guru Score?

COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence holds a Guru Score of 70%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 5 expert reviewers we have collected.