Everything you need to know about its key ingredient

Everything you need to know about its key ingredient, Pitera… what it is, why it’s SK-II’s “miracle ingredient” and does it actually work?

As far as epic love affairs go, my relationship with SK-II started during a brand-sponsored press trip to Seoul in 2013, which sparked a whirlwind quest for crystal clear skin at the ripe old age of 25. Five years on, SK-II’s Facial Treatment Essence has become an essential part of my beauty arsenal and – spoiler alert – its world-famous Pitera formula has proven to be worth every penny. Wrinkles? Bah. Fine lines? What’s that? I’ve hit the big 3-0, but my skin sure hasn’t…

What is Pitera made from?

That aside, I was definitely skeptical about SK-II’s much hyped-about ingredient, Pitera. We’ve probably all heard about its origin story, which begins in a sake brewery in Japan, where the master brewer’s hands were found to be youthful-looking in contrast to his wrinkled face. This led to the creation of Pitera, or what we know as SK-II’s signature ingredient today.

Pitera is derived from a special yeast strain exclusive to SK-II, and contains a power-packed cocktail of vitamins, amino acids, minerals and organic acids, a by-product its natural (and closely monitored) fermentation process that helps kick start the rejuvenation of one’s skin. Sounds too lofty to be true? There was only one way to find out: I decided to introduce the Facial Treatment Essence into my beauty regimen five years ago, price tag be damned.

Putting the Facial Treatment Essence to the test

While my skin woes ranged from minor pigmentation caused by old acne scars and a sometimes dull complexion due to insufficient hydration, stress or a lack of sleep, my biggest concern was actually anti-ageing as a preventative measure. The Facial Treatment Essence was an ideal choice, as it boasts benefits such as boosting the skin’s resilience to wrinkles and improving an uneven skin tone, all in a lightweight and refreshing solution. It took about a week before I saw some visible results: my skin appeared more radiant and hydrated, although the pigmentation remained.

Does SK-II Really Work?

Here’s where we’ve got to address a common misconception about Pitera. It’s got a rep for being the “secret sauce” to anti-ageing, but in order to experience the full effects of its efficacy, you’ll need to apply it religiously over a period of time. After using the Facial Treatment Essence for about four to five years, my skin age was recently revealed to be in its early twenties during an SK-II Magic Ring analysis. The texture of my complexion is near ideal (which means no visible signs of wrinkles) with a smooth and even skin tone; no more acne scars! Truth be told, I’ve tried switching up my skincare routine with various beauty products in the market, but have found myself going back to SK-II time and again as the brand has never failed to deliver on its promises.

Yes, it’s worth the splurge

SK-II’s Facial Treatment Essence is available from $99 (75ml) to $365 (330ml) – we have to admit, some might feel the pinch as it’s a bit of an investment. However, it’s proven results have made me a firm believer in Pitera and its ability to stop the clock… you really can’t put a price tag on that! My advice? Try it for yourselves and get your skin concerns sorted with the SK-II Pitera Welcome Set and SK-II Facial Treatment Essence which can be found at any SK-II counters in town or Duty-Free stores if you are travelling.

Learn more about the benefits of Pitera at www.sk-ii.com.sg.

The writer has been using SK-II’s Facial Treatment Essence for the last five years and all opinions in this review are her own.

This article is sponsored by SK-II.