Product Review: SK-II Facial Treatment Essence

Hello everyone! Today I'm going to post my first review (how exciting!). I'm basically going to just spill out any thoughts I have about this product. I'm unsure what kind of review system I'll have, but for now I'll just discuss what comes to mind :)

Now I know the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence is a very popular product that's received excellent reviews all over the world, but I wanted to try this out and see if it's worth the hype. Hopefully my opinion will be useful to you all!

What is it?
SK-II Facial Treatment Essence is a product that claims to "gently exfoliate the face and helps moderate the skin surface renewal cycle". This product can be purchased in various sizes, but the one I bought was the 150 mL bottle that retails for $165 (ouch that price tag!) at Saks Fifth Avenue. The main ingredient here is Pitera (90% of the product), which helps in the cell renewal process. If used everyday, this essence will "moisturize, improves texture and clarity" and will give a "glowing complexion".

                                                      This is the box that it comes in. 

This size came packaged in a frosted, glass bottle, which is a nice aesthetic to have on your vanity/dresser. In order to use this product, you unscrew the top and you pour the product.

The product itself is very watery, much like a toner or booster as shown above. It also has a distinct scent much like something is fermented. This is caused by the Pitera, which apparently is a form of yeast.

Although this product supposedly exfoliates the skin, it is not a toner. It's an essence you use after your toner but before your serum or other essences. This product is meant to be used daily every morning and night. You can use either a cotton pad or your hands to apply the product to your face. Using your hands is the recommended method and should be gently patted to the face.

Personal Thoughts and Experiences 
I have used this product for approximately 2-3 weeks and I can say that it definitely has made a significant difference in my skin. Overall, I really like this essence!

I applied this product after my cleanser and toner with my hands and patted it on my face. You definitely do not need to use a lot to cover your face. Only a dime-size is needed. The photo above is suppose to illustrate how much is needed, but it was kind of hard to take a picture, so I apologize for the not-so-good quality.

This essence alone is not moisturizing enough, so you will still need a separate moisturizer and serum. I only used this essence only at night because of the price. It was definitely a splurge for me!

The biggest difference I noticed in my skin was it's texture. I normally have oily-combination skin that tends to break out every now and then (usually it's because of diet and stress) so it tends to get a it bumpy. However, I noticed that my skin was definitely smoother and I could see a slight glow. I think it even helped with a bit of my hyper-pigmentation left over from past acne. I used this essence with their toner (SK-II Facial Treatment Lotion), which is a recommended combination by the sales associates at the SK-II counter. I didn't particularly like the scent, but it was something I got used to once I used it more. It also helps that this product gets absorbed very quickly and the scent doesn't linger.

Although I've heard many positive reviews, I've also heard many negative reviews as well. Some people said that it caused them to break out, so definitely get a sample size of this if you can.

Now the question I know people are asking is: Is this worth the price? Frankly, the answer to the question is relative: it depends on how much you are willing to invest on your skin. It also depends on your skin type because everyone's skin reacts differently to different products. In my case, I don't have sensitive skin, so I'm not prone to breaking out from cosmetic products.

Overall, I did like the effects of this essence gave me. However, I don't think I'll repurchase this product anytime soon - it's just too expensive for me to continually repurchase. It wasn't an earth-shattering product where I feel I must use it all of the time. I view it as a nice additional product. With that being said, I'll definitely repurchase it whenever I feel like treating myself. I do recommend you all to try this product - especially if you're prone to hyperpigmentation, breakouts as well as if you have dull-looking skin. I can't speak for those with dry skin (because I don't know anyone in particular with dry skin who's tried this), but I imagine people with dry skin might enjoy the extra light-weight moisture.

Where can I purchase this product?
As I mentioned before, you can purchase this product at Saks Fifth Avenue, but you can also purchase this at many other stores, such as Sephora and Nordstrom. However, not all stores will have an SK-II counter. I know in my area there's only one or two stores where I can try these products in person.

I hope you guys enjoyed this review! I know it was a long post, but I wanted to make sure this was informative and thorough. To find more information on the product description, definitely visit SK-II website. Please let me know your thoughts and definitely ask me any questions! I'll be definitely happy to answer them!

Have a good week!
- Alyssa