Monthly Skincare Snippets: SK-II for March 2015

Luxola sent me the holiday edition SK-II Pitera Essence Set last November 2014 and I was only able to line it up for use five months prior. People ask me if I don't run out of skincare lines to try, but with all the sets I buy / receive on top of all the breaks I take, I don't think I'll ever run out!

March 2015 Skincare Snippets: SK-II with "blank" cleansers and moisturizers

I supplemented this month's routine with previously-tried and more-or-less "blank" cleansers and moisturizers just so I'd be able to isolate the effects of SK-II more clearly. Well hello again, February's Physiogel routine.



Price:

Php 3430 for the then-holiday set, Php 3297 for the regular set, including the same contents.

Contains: 75ml Facial Treatment Essence (FTE), 40ml Facial Treatment Clear Lotion (FTCL) and 1pc Facial Treatment Mask (FTM) - photo lost :((((

Product Description:

SK-II's claim to fame is how they harnessed the Pitera Essence from sake after noticing extra youthful hands of sake workers. I believe rice wine and other similar products bank on the popularity of this technology.

How to Use:

March 2015's "blank" cleanser options: Bifesta Age Care, Bioderma Sensibio Crealine TS H2O and Physiogel Cleanser

• Cleanser
• FTCL - Use as toner, right after cleansing. Soak a cotton pad with 3cm diameter of product and spread lightly over T-zone, U-zone and finally the neck.
• FTM - Leave cotton mask on for 20 minutes. Pat excess essence over the mask and neck.
• FTE - Use the essence right after the mask or toner, if you're not using a mask for the night. Soak cotton pad with essence and apply all over face and neck. Use the back side of the cotton and gently pat the essence onto the skin.

Proceed with serum, ampoule, moisturizer and sleeping pack.

Performance:

Oh nooooo. How do I write about the FTE without sounding like an echoing sheep? It really is as amazing as they say it is :o The first three days I tried cheating and stretching it by using only half of what was recommended but I noticed the results were limited as well. There was so much potential but my skin was left looking average and I know it's because I'm not using enough.

So by day 4 I used as directed, and omg I cry T_T First of all, it's not perfectly like water. There is a bit of stickiness to it that fades away after I use moisturizer. I call this effect the hydration magnet.

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence

FTE sinks deeply into the skin while pulling in supplemental moisture (thus, "moisture magnet"). I wound up using way more Lotion on my face compared to last month just because it was sucking up so much product (as it should- I'm really dry!) As a result, my skin looks good throughout the day even if I employ a minimal AM routine!

March 2015 "blank" moisturizer options: Bio Oil and Physiogel Lotion

As for FTCL, I find it an effective toner in the sense that it preps my skin for further skincare. On the days I don't use it, I find that the FTE and Lotion don't sink as deep in my skin. It's as if there's a non-absorbent barrier keeping the products just on the surface of my skin. It's funny because you would think dry skin would suck everything up, but it's honestly much more complicated than that.

With all the magic happening from the FTCL and FTE, I was afraid I wouldn't see any difference by the FTM. I used it mid-month and the improvement was only marginal, which I wish I foresaw. I should have used FTM on a break period instead, so I would see what difference it truly makes.

Edge:

S.K.2.F.T.E.

Rebuy:

A taste of SK-II: Facial Cleansing Toner, Facial Treatment Essence and (unrelated) Rachel K Youth Eye Cream

It's not expensive as some Chanel, La Praire, La Mer, Sisley pieces (USD 500-1000) but this still feels like an arm and a leg to me. I'd probably buy a travel kit if it's on sale.

If the whole line is good, I'd probably re-rebuy full-size FTE. If only the FTE is good, I probably won't buy at all.

Beauty by Tellie score: 5 / 5

This is one for the books- a solid, unquestionable 5. I wish I was able to try a cleanser and moisturizer along with what I have but I rate the FTCL and FTE a 5 all on their own. The FTM wasn't disappointing, but like I said, I'm a firm believer of quantity over quality regarding face masks.

If you were thinking of trying SK-II, say no more, fam. Just do it.

And moral of the story: you're not saving money by scrimping on product. If you don't get the desired or advertised effect anyway, you're just throwing money away. I feel like I've said this before, but it warrants a repeat because the temptation to scrimp with SK-II is SO HIGH.