Erborian Dongbaek Camellia Essence

We’re not 100% sure what angels’ breath would smell like, but we’ve a hunch it’d be as divine as this! Camellia oil isn't as well-known in this country as argan, or rosehip, or even grapeseed, but in the Orient it is prized for its lightness and skin-friendliness. Remarkably, the tiny oil particles penetrate the skin as effectively as water; its action is anti-inflammatory, moisturising (a given, of course), collagen-boosting and antioxidant. It’s also rich in vitamin E, and omega-6 and -9 essential fatty acids, good for elasticity.

The Koreans are celebrated for their length beauty regimes –13 steps, anyone? – so this is a surprising multi-tasker.

Smooth Erborian Dongbaek Camellia Essence into hair to nourish and soften dry ends… Add one or two drops to your night cream to turbo-charge it for the winter months. Apply five or six drops as an intensive facial repairing treatment, or a couple of drops as a ‘serum’, before you moisturise in the morning. (Its super-light texture means this truly won’t sit on the skin, which will be make-up ready within minutes.)

Dongbaek’ is Korean for camellia, and the flower’s a symbol of purity and ‘flawless beauty’.

Shame. We rather hoped it was Korean for ‘angel’s breath’…

(FYI, Erborian has been snapped up by L’Occitane as another arm of their global natural skincare empire. But it helps to know its pedigree, we think.)

Erborian Dongbaek Camellia Essence/£65 for 30ml at uk.erborian.com