MISSHA The First Essence 5X for dry skin
Niacinamide
Yeast Extract Ferment
Bifida Lysate Ferment
Ceramide Np
Extreme Α Ferment
Ct
Superior
- SuperiorDry Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best serums for dry skin.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Excellent suitability for your dry skin is provided by yeast extract ferment and bifida lysate ferment, which enhance barrier resilience and smooth texture, complemented by glycerin and sodium PCA for superior hydration.
- Ceramide NP and niacinamide further support your skin's barrier function and offer soothing benefits, ensuring comfort and reducing flakiness.
- The formula is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of beneficial components.
How to apply
- Apply this serum PM, starting 3×/week and working up to daily use as your skin adjusts.
- Place the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the serum on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 1.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users consistently praise this essence for its lightweight, fast-absorbing hydration that visibly improves skin texture and radiance, often describing a healthy glow after consistent use. Some users report breakouts, likely due to fermented ingredients or niacinamide, and a segment of long-time fans express disappointment with the 5th generation reformulation, finding it less potent than previous versions.
Highlights
Lightweight & fast Mostly Mentioned
- “drinks it up seconds”
- “non-sticky finish”
- “layers beautifully”
- “feels like water”
Brightening & glow Often Mentioned
- “healthy glow”
- “brightens dullness”
- “evened skin tone”
- “glass skin effect”
Texture improvement Often Mentioned
- “baby soft skin”
- “smoothed rough patches”
- “refined pores”
- “improved texture”
Gentle & fragrance-free Sometimes Noted
- “no irritation”
- “calms redness”
- “great for sensitive skin”
- “fragrance-free”
Reformulation disappointment Sometimes Noted
- “watered down”
- “not as effective”
- “miss the old formula”
- “downgrade”
Breakouts & irritation Rarely Noted
- “caused tiny bumps”
- “broke me out”
- “red rash”
- “stung my face”
Lack of visible results Rarely Noted
- “did nothing”
- “just expensive water”
- “no difference seen”
- “waste of money”
Packaging quality Rarely Noted
- “plastic feels cheap”
- “flaking silver paint”
- “preferred glass bottle”
- “looks less luxurious”
Sources: lovi.care, sokoglam.com, iherb.com, walmart.com, yesstyle.com, misshaus.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Missha The First Essence 5X one of the best fits for dry skin?
Missha The First Essence 5X is one of the best fits for dry skin because it combines yeast extract ferment and bifida lysate ferment to strengthen your skin barrier and smooth texture, along with glycerin and sodium PCA for deep hydration. Ceramide NP and niacinamide also support the barrier to reduce flakiness and keep your skin comfortable, with a very safe profile that avoids harsh irritants.
Which ingredients make this essence a good fit for dry skin?
Yeast extract ferment and bifida lysate ferment make this essence a great fit because they strengthen your skin barrier and smooth texture, while glycerin and sodium PCA provide deep hydration. Ceramide NP and niacinamide also support your skin and help reduce flakiness.
What does Niacinamide do for dry skin?
Niacinamide helps dry skin by strengthening the skin barrier, increasing hydration, and reducing water loss. It supports ceramide production and helps keep the surface smooth and calm. This ingredient tends to be very well tolerated and is unlikely to irritate dry skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
What does Yeast Extract do for dry skin?
Yeast extract helps keep dry skin soft by supporting moisture levels and balancing the skin barrier. It may also calm irritation and protect against everyday environmental stress.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2023Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2008
Where does this essence go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This treatment goes in your evening routine after cleansing and before your moisturizer. It is safe for dry skin and helps soothe flakiness while improving hydration.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use Missha The First Essence 5X with retinol by applying this treatment first to damp skin and following with your retinol once it absorbs. This formula helps calm and hydrate your skin, which may reduce the dryness often caused by retinoids.
How often should I use this essence?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine, applying it after cleansing and before your moisturizer. It is unlikely to cause irritation and helps keep dry skin comfortable and smooth.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
Missha The First Essence 5X is unlikely to cause breakouts for dry skin, as it has a low complaint rate for such issues and lacks harsh ingredients. Its gentle formula helps keep skin calm and smooth without clogging pores.
Is this essence fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017A lipid mixture enriched by ceramide NP with fatty acids of diverse chain lengths significantly improved skin barrier recovery rate, stratum corneum integrity, and hydration compared to a vehicle cream in healthy adult male volunteers with corticosteroid-impaired skin.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2022Emulsions containing ceramides 1 and 3 improved skin hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss in sodium lauryl sulfate-irritated skin of fifteen healthy Asian women compared to a control emulsion.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2008Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Topical moisturizers improved skin barrier function and surface moisture, while a postbiotic moisturizer with yeast extract uniquely supported microbiome balance and modulated biomarkers of skin barrier, structure, and inflammation in participants and ex vivo explants exposed to environmental aggressors.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2023A maintenance therapy with a cosmeceutical formulation containing hydroxyphenoxy propionic acid, ellagic acid, yeast extract, and salicylic acid over 20 weeks significantly improved even skin tone, spot intensity, spot size, and overall hyperpigmentation in 33 healthy subjects with moderate facial dyspigmentation.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2015A methanol yeast extract increases proliferation and migration while decreasing entrance into senescence and apoptosis phases in 3T3 fibroblast cells.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2014Topical application of Bifida Ferment Lysate strengthens the skin barrier function by upregulating barrier and antimicrobial peptide genes, exhibiting strong antioxidant properties, and decreasing inflammatory cytokine secretion in vitro.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Topically formulated tea polyphenols show some benefit in reducing sebum secretion and treating acne vulgaris compared to baseline or control.
Antioxidants, 2016Topical application of tannase-converted green tea extract (TGE) significantly improved skin wrinkle indices and self-assessed wrinkle reduction compared to normal green tea extract (NGE) in human subjects over 8 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2013An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Yeast Extract Ferment, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Bifida Lysate Ferment, Sodium Pca, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Ceramide Np, Hydrogenated Lecithin
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.