Let’s face it. Everyone wants a crystal clear skin. Who doesn’t right? I never imagine myself having crystal clear skin. I’m not born with a good skin to begin with and the problems I have just make everything seems impossible. I’m sure you remember watching SK-II’s luring TVC of the iconic Facial Treatment Essence. SK-II advertisement never fail to make me go gaga. It is the one product that I’ve been dying to try. Let me repeat that. DYING TO TRY. What stop me from doing so? To be honest with you, all the reviews online freaks me out big time. Some people suffer allergy attack, some suffer withdrawal effect and some said their skin is worse than before. Why do these people sounded as if Facial Treatment Essence is like an acid anyway? Thanks to SK-II Malaysia last year, I was given the opportunity to undergo Magic Ring Skin Analysis. Not only I learnt about my skin real age and problems, I also braved myself and ask for a Facial Treatment Essence sample to try. I just needed to find out if I will develop any allergy from it. Well, the rest is history. I have purchase two bottles of Facial Treatment Essence since Magic Ring Skin Analysis.
Facial Treatment Essence or “Miracle Water” as they’re widely known as is SK-II’s signature product. It is actually an essence but misunderstood by most people as a lotion/toner, I would say probably from the patting application on the TVC previously. The essence itself contain over 90% Pitera™, the miracle ingredient discovered over 30 years ago that remains essentially unchanged till today. Pitera is a naturally-derived liquid from the yeast fermentation process. The history goes all the way back to 1970s, when a scientist in Japan visited a Japanese saké brewery and noticed the elderly workers had wrinkled faces, but extraordinarily soft and youthful-looking hands. Then they realised these workers are constantly in contact with sake fermentation process thus the soft youthful hands.
I’m sure you’ve also heard about SK-II Facial Treatment Essence’s “fermented saké” scent. I too have heard lots of story on the scent. So I was really looking forward to smelling it actually. Let me just tell you that it is true of what others are saying on Facial Treatment Essence scent. It is not pleasant, sour and it gave me nauseas at the beginning. Somehow I grow along the scent and now I’m used to it. I’m already down to the last bit of my second bottle so the scent to me now is just like any other essence 🙂
How to use
This bit is important. Facial Treatment Essence is advised to be used WITH cotton pad. It is important for the cotton pad to lift off any cleanser, sebum, dirt and dead skin cells from the skin in order for the essence to be absorbed in better. The method I’m using is exactly as what I was briefed by SK-II BA. I’ll soak a cotton pad with Facial Treatment Essence at about the size of the old 50 cent coin, smooth all over face, turn the cotton pad around and gently pat all over face including the neck and then the kiasu me will place the cotton pad onto the inner cheek for a while. I add the last step myself afterall it’s not cheap. I feel that it’s a bit waste to just throw the cotton away lol. I’m using MUJI Peelable Cotton especially for this essence.
I mentioned before that many people thought this acts as a lotion/toner as well. Wrong! While I was at SK-II counter, I clarified this with the BA. I was told that Facial Treatment Essence is to be applied AFTER Facial Treatment Clear Lotion for best result. I also busy body and ask the BA why some user said they don’t see any result on them. BA said that maybe they did not use Facial Treatment Essence with Facial Treatment Clear Lotion, therefore they can’t see the result. So now you know 🙂
This highly raved Facial Treatment Essence is as watery as a toner, a total different from conventional essence which is more solid in texture. I’m glad to report that I did not suffer from any allergy attack nor do I have any breakout. I know some people do but I have none of that. I was highly recommended to this product to reduce the large pore appearance on my inner cheeks as well as to reduce sebum on my face. I’m not looking forward for crystal clear skin because I know that’s quite impossible for me. Although I have come to accept the fact that I have large pores since teenage years but I wouldn’t stop trying new products just to improvise how they look. My first bottle of Facial Treatment Essence was used on daily basis but sadly I see no obvious changes with my skin until the last drop with the exception of smoother skin texture. I can’t comment much on whether this essence hydrate my skin or not because as you know I have oily skin and my skin is never dry on the surface for me to find out.
I wish I could tell you how great my skin is after using but I can’t. I do have high hopes on this to reduce the sebum production and maybe just close a teeny bit of that ugly pores up but nope. I see nothing of that. I wasn’t that disappointed actually. I know my pores is im-pore-ssible to be reduce even just a bit. Then I remember that SK-II BA did told me that Facial Treatment Essence will work (if not better) when pair with Facial Treatment Clear Lotion. For some reason applying Clear Lotion before the essence will somehow enhance the product efficacy. So now I have another product in my wish list. I’m going to give Facial Treatment Essence another go but this time with the help of Facial Treatment Clear Lotion.
Before transiting from first bottle to second bottle, I did stop for a month and nope there wasn’t any withdrawal effect. My skin doesn’t worsen for not using Facial Treatment Essence. I strongly advise anyone who wanted to try SK-II products or Facial Treatment Essence to take all the bad reviews online with a pinch of salt. I don’t think so one skin would worsen for stopping SK-II. I also don’t believe that what your skin have achieved earlier will be taken away from stopping SK-II. Don’t let those scared you away from using SK-II. And you take my review with a pinch of salt too as I didn’t pair the essence with recommended Facial Treatment Clear Lotion for better result.
Below is the ingredient list of SK-II Facial Treatment Essence.
Now that you have a bit of idea on what is SK-II Facial Treatment Essence and how to achieve the optimum product efficacy, would you give this a try? The good news is Facial Treatment Essence comes in various bottle size to choose from. For beginner I would recommend the smallest bottle of all which is the 75ml. You can also pick up the Pitera™ Essence Set for RM229, which the set contain a Facial Treatment Essence 75ml, a Facial Treatment Clear Lotion 40ml and a Facial Treatment Mask 1-pc 🙂
SK-II Facial Treatment Essence is available at all SK-II counters nationwide.
Price:
+ RM229 / 75ml
+ RM429 / 150ml
+ RM565 / 215ml
For more info, visit SK-II’s Official Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/
SK-II Malaysia Website: http://www.sk-ii.com.my/
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored review. I bought the product on my own.
Comments (24)
How does this compare to the Estee Lauder Micro Essence one? I got a bottle but honestly don’t see a difference.
Which one doesn’t give you any difference? Estee Lauder Micro Essence?
Micro Essence is more of a toner with essence in it. It is best if pair with ANR as it help ANR to absorb in better and somehow enhance it’s efficacy. Since I ran out of ANR lately, I used the Micro Essence alone and the result is not as good as before. FTE is Essence. Some said it works by itself but I don’t see any difference when used alone. According to BA, FTE will work at it’s best if pair with FTE Clear Lotion as the lotion boost the essence.
I see a difference with Micro Essence and not with FTE.
I’m not sure if FTE works on it’s own. I bought the Pitera Set that contain a small Clear Lotion. I’ve been enjoying it. So far it is good.
Pitera Set is the most worth one for first timer to try 🙂 . The set contain a 75ml essence which equals to the selling price of the essence alone 😉
Glad that you like it so far.
The withdrawal effect that I always read from other reviews totally turned me off but your post made me change my mind a little, just a little because there are too many comments on the withdrawal effects, I’m scared lah….
Nah, no withdrawal effect at all. My skin is more sensitive than before after suffering from one severe skin allergy with two medium skin allergy attack. This FTE didn’t give me any side effect at all. It feels like a toner.
Hmm your words made me to have new perspective on SK II products, I know that your reviews are always honest. Maybe I shall give it a try (After I save enough money haha~~)
Haha. Finish your stash first!
this is a very good review. i got a very dry skin and a bunch of eye bags and dark circle. can it work on it?Would love to try this product 😉
Hi Zeera,
Thanks. It will help with dry skin but not eye bag and dark circle. This product is a face product, not for eyes. It would be good for you to try Facial Treatment Essence dear. SK-II is doing a promotion for Street Love readers. Read this for more info ya https://street-love.net/2015/01/visit-sk-ii-changedestiny-museum-take-home-3pcs-sk-ii-facial-treatment-mask-worth-rm150/
hye sis..thanks for the suggestion. i happen to buy the Pittera essence set at zalora for RM200++.start using it on last saturday. it does make my skin smoother but it feel a little bit dry and mengelupas a bit. is it a normal transform or how? my age is 25 anyway.. 😉
It doesn’t have anything to do with age. I never heard of skin peeling from using though. Did you apply any serum AND moisturizer thereafter?
i dont apply any..just using the bio essence miracle spring water to maintain my makeup after applying sk2 facial treatment essence. does it effect if i use the bio essence? should i stop?
You should apply moisturizer. By not applying any moisturizer to lock what’s already applied earlier means everything will just slip away. SK-II Facial Treatment Essence is not something magical so it won’t help with the rest. You need to apply reinforcement. Hope this helps.
I have a dry skin type. Can you suggest any sk2 moisturizer that suitable for dry skin to be applied after the FTE. Thanks
For very dry skin you can try Stempower Cream 🙂
Kindly request you regarding how should I know that which cream suitable for me,
Im 27 years old but I does not use a proper cream for my face, I just worried about my face, I love to be pretty but I do not know the way,
Help me to say how should I know which cream will suitable and last long for me
U r most appreciated
You have to figure out what brand to try and go to the counter and ask for the Beauty Advisor’s advise, which she will then do an assessment on your skin type and skin concern before advising you which product to try.
I bought a facial treatment essence for men which is black in colour. I used it for 2days long, and then the result came.. it popup many pimples on my cheeck.. i want to know what’s the solution?
Hi Zayden, it’s best to go back to the counter and let the beauty consultant do an assessment on your skin for the next step.
Which product of sk2 that u have used to have a clear baby skin like yours? Any idea? I don’t want just use sk2 for men. Need try other tho to get clear-bright skin. Pls help.
You can try the new GenOptics range. Here’s the review https://street-love.net/2016/04/sk-ii-genoptics-spot-essence-aura-essence/
Hi, I have oily skin same as you 🙂 and wondering which moisturizer is best for oily skin? should I go for the mid day miracle essence since it is lightweight or is there any better option?
Hi Chin, my skin changes to dry now that I’m older lol.
Mid Day Miracle Essence is more of a mid day perk me up type of face mist. Max is as toner/essence but definitely can’t be treated as a moisturizer.
Any gel based moisturizer is good or emulsion 🙂