This ANTI-AGING product has been a household name listed under “one of the most luxurious products ever” because of its price (it’s freaking $179 for the standard size in Sephora). The New York Times even described it as “a coveted anti-aging elixir.”Its claim to fame is that it contains the “magical” ingredient called Pitera, which is described to be “a derivative of yeast produced during the sake fermentation process.”
It just so happened that my parents were touring Japan and a skincare consultant in one of the stores recommended it, so they got it for me as a gift!Obviously, I was so grateful and excited when they told me because…
- WHO WOULDN’T BE?!?!?! especially since I’m a working student on a budget
- I’ve heard nothing but great things about this “miracle” product
- I wanted to see if it was really worth the investment
I tried this product for a month and here’s what I experienced:
Overall
I used this as a replacement to my usual toner. The consistency is very much like water when applied to the skin which was very nice and light.
I hate to break it to ya’ll, but I didn’t actually feel and/or see a HUGE difference on my skin the first few weeks I tried it. However, I tried to keep on going because I wanted to love it. It is, after all, hailed as a “miracle product,” so I was just waiting for the miracle to happen. (Lol!)
Until…
I had an allergic reaction to it one day causing me to have contact dermatitis on my eye. It was so bad that I had to cancel an important meeting because my eyelid looked so dry and droopy. I was really surprised because getting allergies is highly unusual for me (unless I eat shrimp). I couldn’t believe it.
I was left wondering if I was allergic to Pitera or if the ingredient concentration was just too strong for my skin. Either way, I was extremely disappointed because I really wanted it to work.
Another significant thing to note is its smell. The smell reminds me of faint rice vinegar (not so pleasant, to be honest), but it’s most probably because of the Pitera. After all, it’s a by-product of the sake fermentation process. So, if you get bothered by fragrance a lot, you should take note of this.
Price
This is one of the “high-end” products in skincare, with its mini priced at $99.00, standard at $179.00 and the value sizes priced at $229.00 and $290.00.
Ingredients
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate (Pitera), Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Water, Sodium Benzoate, Methylparaben, Sorbic Acid
This product is also fragrance-free and colorant-free.
SK-II consists of 90% Pitera. Exclusive to SK-II, this is what makes this product. Basically, Pitera is SK-II. Pitera is a blend of vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and organic acids that work together to allow the skin’s natural surface rejuvenation process to function at its prime, enhancing the renewal of the skin’s outer layer.
Effectiveness
Sad to say it did not really work for me as much as I wanted it to. A part of me thinks that maybe it’s because my skin does not need it yet, so it’s rejecting the product (i.e. allergic reaction). After all, this is an anti-aging product targeted for people with aged skin lacking firmness and elasticity.
Verdict
After all the things I’ve said, obviously, getting this product is a splurge.
Is it worth it? For me, not just yet. I suggest you resist the urge (maybe till you hit your 30s).
What do you think? Have you tried SK-II What are your thoughts? Share it down below!