Multi-Active Delivery Essence
A hydrating essence that softens skin, boosts barrier support, and helps improve the delivery of skincare layered after it.
A great add-on step for people who want softer, more hydrated skin and a routine that layers more smoothly.
People who already love The Ordinary's serums and want to add a pre-serum activation step without jumping into a separate brand. It also appeals to people who have noticed their serums absorb unevenly or pill — a good essence step can significantly improve how subsequent products feel and perform.
Second or third step — after cleansing, after toner if you use one, before any serums. Apply while skin is still slightly damp from cleansing for best humectant absorption.
Essence enthusiasts who have been using Korean beauty steps for years and want The Ordinary's ingredient-transparency approach in the same format. Also great for anyone who notices their serums pilling or sitting on top of the skin rather than absorbing smoothly.
If you have a minimal two-step routine (cleanser + moisturizer) and add this expecting dramatic results. The payoff is most visible in multi-step routines where product layering and delivery genuinely matter.
Safe to continue — essences at this level of lightweight hydration are unlikely to stress a compromised barrier. If anything, the extra hydration can support recovery.
- Any of The Ordinary's core serums (niacinamide, HA 2% + B5, alpha arbutin) layered after it
- A barrier repair moisturizer to seal everything in at the end
- The Ordinary Balancing & Clarifying Serum as the next step for oily-skin users
Best For
- Dehydration
- Softness
- Hydration layering
- Barrier support
- Dull skin
- Essence lovers
How to Use
Apply after cleansing and toning, before serums. Pat gently into skin using hands or a cotton pad and continue with the rest of the routine.
Key Ingredients
Draws water to the skin and helps lock it in, making skin appear plumper, smoother, and more hydrated.
Draws moisture to the skin, helps maintain hydration, and reinforces the skin barrier.
Niacinamide strengthens the skin barrier, regulates sebum production, fades hyperpigmentation, and minimizes the appearance of enlarged pores.
Full Ingredient List
About This Product
The Ordinary Multi-Active Delivery Essence is designed to function as an activation and hydration step between cleansing and your main serum routine. Essences — popularized by Korean skincare — create a pre-serum layer that replenishes moisture, softens the skin surface for better absorption of subsequent products, and delivers their own blend of actives. This formula from The Ordinary approaches the category with their characteristic ingredient transparency: a lightweight, water-based delivery vehicle with barrier-supportive hydrators that softens the skin and improves how following serums spread and penetrate. It is a genuine value-add for layered routines even if it is not an essential first step for minimal skincare approaches.