SK-II Facial Treatment Essence

I first discovered SK-II in 2005. I read “Memoirs of a Geisha” that year and fell completely in love with the story. While flipping through a magazine while in the midst of reading the book, I saw the picture of this Japanese actress who was cast in the film for an SK-II ad. I had never heard of Kaori Momoi before (I had not seen the movie at that time), but the fact that the ad mentioned “Memoirs of a Geisha”, it kept me reading. What really caught my eye was her age (which was published in the ad) and the fact that she looked 34…not 52 (at the time). I decided I need find this SK-II product. A quick search revealed that the product was only sold in the United States at the time. Then last year in the summer (2006), Holt Renfrew sent me an email letting me know they were introducing SK-II in Canada. I read the email, grabbed my purse and headed straight to the store.

I’ll admit that I was taken aback by the consistency of the product (which is not your usual gel or serum) and it did take me a bit of time to get over it and retrain myself to pat the product on my face as opposed to spreading it on my face. That said, once I got over this minor logistical matter, I was able to appreciate the product.

Here’s a funny twist to this product: It’s been marketed as “holy water” in their promotional material. While attending a little celebration party at a spa in downtown Toronto, I was talking about new products on the market and the spa owner told me things were getting out of hand in the industry because one of her clients was telling them how Holt Renfrew was now selling a bottle of Holy Water as a skincare treatment. I laughed (because I had read the promotional brochure with great attention) and told her that the client didn’t understand the nuance of the marketing promotion. This was not mineral water that had been blessed in Rome by the Pope or by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, but it was the way many Asian women had labelled the product and that’s what the SK-II beauty consultants at Holt Renfrew where telling prospective buyers.

Will SK-II Facial Treatment Essence become part of your beauty ritual?

Consistency: As liquid as water.

Sensation: You won’t feel any discomfort here.

Manufacturer’s claim: “The main ingredient in SK-II Facial Treatment Essence is Pitera (90 per cent pure). Pitera is a single blend of vitamins, amino acids, minerals and organic acids that work together to regenerate the appearance of your skin by promoting the renewal of the outer layer, enabling the skin’s natural rejuvenation process.”

Historical facts: The age defying properties of SK-II can be traced back to a sake brewery in Japan where a visiting monk discovered that hands of the elderly workers were incredibly smooth and youthful looking.

Results: I feel like my skin retains moisture more. You will need to use this for 21 to 28 days before really seeing results. This is not a get-pretty-quick formula. Many Japanese women who swear by SK-II Facial Treatment Essence have been using this potent liquid for a quarter of a century.

Odour check: Pitera is practically odourless.

Frequency of use: They recommend twice daily. Asian clients are renowned for patting soaked cotton pads on their faces 100 times in the morning and 100 times at night before bed. I simply decided to use it in the morning before applying my daytime lotion and before I use other products at night (too many products, too little time).

A few more things you might like to know: SK-II balances the skin’s PH, sebum secretion, moisture and oxygen levels which results in a less oily t-zone (for oily areas) while dry areas are more moisturized.

Cost: At $100 for the 75 ml bottle and $160 for the 150 ml bottle, SK-II Facial Treatment Essence is worth trying given the amazing results so many Asian women are getting.

Retailers: The entire line of SK-II products is sold exclusively at Holt Renfrew in Canada.