MISSHA The First Essence 5X for dry sensitive skin
Niacinamide
Yeast Extract Ferment
Bifida Lysate Ferment
Ceramide Np
Extreme Α Ferment
Ct
High
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for dry sensitive skin; a few serums fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, 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
- Highly suitable for your dry and sensitive skin as yeast extract ferment and bifida lysate ferment enhance barrier resilience and smooth texture, while glycerin and sodium PCA provide essential hydration.
- Ceramide NP further supports your dry skin by repairing the skin barrier, ensuring a smoother and more comfortable complexion.
- The formulation is safe for your skin, containing soothing ingredients and avoiding harsh components.
How to apply
- Use this PM routine for your evening skincare. Start using the serum 3 times a week and increase to daily use if your skin feels comfortable.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer. This step locks in deep hydration for dry skin.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin using your palms. Let it absorb completely for a minute ⏱ before applying your next product.
- Since your skin is sensitive, apply the serum on completely dry skin for better tolerance and less irritation.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Always do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin reacts well.
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 a great fit for dry sensitive skin?
Missha The First Essence 5X is a great fit because yeast extract ferment and bifida lysate ferment help strengthen your skin barrier and smooth texture while glycerin and sodium PCA deliver essential hydration. Ceramide NP further supports dry skin by repairing the barrier to make your complexion more comfortable, and the formula avoids harsh components to keep sensitive skin safe.
Which ingredients make this essence a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Yeast extract ferment, bifida lysate ferment, ceramide NP, glycerin, and sodium PCA make this essence a great fit for your dry sensitive skin by providing essential hydration, repairing the skin barrier, and smoothing texture. These ingredients help improve moisture levels and support a more comfortable complexion without harsh components.
What does Niacinamide do for dry sensitive skin?
Niacinamide helps dry sensitive skin by calming irritation and keeping moisture locked in so your face feels soft and smooth. It works to build up your skin barrier and calm redness while being very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2013
What does Yeast Extract do for dry sensitive skin?
Yeast extract helps improve skin moisture and smooth out dry patches while protecting skin cells from everyday stress. It is unlikely to cause irritation, making it a gentle option to help keep sensitive skin soft and calm.
Where does this essence go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and a soothing toner, and before your moisturizer. Putting treatments in the evening keeps things simple and provides extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this essence with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this essence with retinol by applying the essence first to hydrate your skin and then following with your retinol. This helps keep your dry and sensitive skin calm and comfortable while you use active ingredients.
How often should I use this essence?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine, applying it after cleansing and toning. It helps soothe dry skin and keeps it comfortable, while repairing the skin barrier.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2022
Can this essence clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
Missha The First Essence 5X is unlikely to cause breakouts for dry sensitive skin, as reviewers report very few complaints about irritation or blemishes. Its hydrating ingredients and gentle formulation support a smooth and calm complexion 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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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