COSRX

Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence.

Mists & Essences

About this product

A toning essence from COSRX formulated with galactomyces ferment filtrate to help balance 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

73%

Mixed

Early verdict · Few reviews so far

2Gurus

1Approved

1Mixed

0Skip

What they liked

Convinces essence sceptics
Affordable galactomyces alternative

What they flagged

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

What the gurus are saying

This essence pilles when layered, limiting most people to evening-only use. In direct comparisons with SK-II, it hasn't delivered matching results despite containing similar levels of galactomyces ferment filtrate, and reviewers report finding more effective galactomyces formulas elsewhere. Despite these limitations, the formula has managed to genuinely convert skeptics who'd previously written off the essence category entirely, which is noteworthy.

Synthesized from 2 expert reviews · most recent take July 2025

Type

Mists & EssencesLiquid

Key actives

Niacinamide Hyaluronic acid

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Amazon → Google → iHerb →

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How it works Independent by design. Every take comes from a creator we have no relationship with. We do not ask anyone to review, and affiliate links never move a score.

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 Approved takes Critical takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

Dr. Vanita Rattan

1.22M subs

~Approved

"I've actually never really been a fan of essence until I saw this product"

AliceintheRabbitHole

59k subs

~Mixed

"This is the Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence, and I feel like it looks like I really loved this, but in all truth I'm looking forward to finishing it. I did a comparison of this with SK-II a while ago, since they both claim similar levels of galactomyces ferment filtrate, and my results from the SK-II were on a completely different level, though so is the price point. 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 toning essence from COSRX formulated with galactomyces ferment filtrate to help balance 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 73%.

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

COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence holds a Guru Score of 73%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 2 expert reviewers we have collected.