I Tested The SK-II Pitera Essence Street Art Limited Edition For 2 Weeks: Worth It Or Not It?

Ever since I was a child, I would always watch SK-II adverts about their famous facial treatment essence on the television. The way they made the essence look had me imagining it as some kind of magical water from the fountain of youth. Little me then thought, “Wow, when I’m older, I want to use it too!” Flash forward a decade later, I’m now reviewing the SK-II Pitera Essence Street Art Limited Edition and trust me, it feels like a childhood dream come true.

SK-II has always been known for putting out limited editions of their famous facial treatment essence. Over the years, they’ve come out with multiple exclusive designs every festive season and each design is always so eye-catching. They’ve never failed to impress us with the unique designs they offer and definitely one to look pretty on display.

With that, as Christmas is making its jolly way to us, SK-II has come out with new limited-edition designs and we are truly in love with them! Introducing their trendy new design, the SK-II Pitera Essence Street Art Limited Edition. All things that are good always comes as a trio and these three designs are no exception.

• Red: This bottle is themed with spray can lines in colours of bold yellow, blue, peach and purple. The word Pitera stands out in white with a spray-painted effect.
• White: This version has a simple colour palette of black, white and a splash of red. The theme for this bottle is black paint strokes against a white background and SK-II logo in their iconic red.
• Yellow: The version is adorned with vibrant yellow and red along with a black and white backsplash. This version looks a lot like graffiti with an urban influence.

What Makes The SK-II Facial Treatment Essence Iconic?

Many people when they think of SK-II, like instinct, think of their facial treatment essence. However, when people actually get to see how the product is like they think, “Wait, it looks just like water?” And they’re not wrong because it does appear like that.

Therefore, it makes you think- right, what’s all the fuss about? Little do they know, there is one particular ingredient within this tall glass bottle that has pedestalled the essence to be truly one of a kind. We are talking about Pitera.

What is Pitera and what makes it so great? Pitera is a type of yeast that when strained, creates a crystal-clear liquid that is enriched with vitamins, amino and organic acids and minerals. All these properties work beautifully together to treat the skin by improving rejuvenation like an elixir of youth.

Scientists at SK-II made this revolutionary discovery after noticing aged sake brewers that despite having wrinkles and signs of ageing across their faces, their hands, however, were soft, supple and most importantly- youthful. With that, through years of research, they perfected Pitera to become what it is today.

Honest Review About The SK-II Pitera Essence Street Art Limited Edition

2 weeks ago, SK-II gifted Beauty Insider the Pitera Essence Street Art Limited Edition in the yellow version. With that, I (Nina, Beauty Journalist), jumped at the opportunity to test out the essence myself and have first-hand experience.

Thus, here is my honest review of the SK-II Pitera Essence Street Art Limited Edition.

First Impression

I had known prior that the SK-II Pitera Essence Street Art Limited Edition would be presented with a limited edition Furoshiki, a traditional Japanese wrapping cloth. However, I did not expect to be so blown away by the presentation of it. The cloth is beautiful and designed with quirky arts spelling out the alphabet and has a soft, silky texture. Unwrapping it was such a joy, it felt like unboxing the first present on Christmas morning!

The essence itself was heavy and the glass bottle was beautifully designed. I was hoping to get the yellow version because to me, it was the prettiest. The texture itself was odd at first since most essences I’ve used prior were a little thicker.

It had a natural fermented scent which I assumed was the Pitera since the essence is formulated with 90% of it. With that, if you’re used to products that have strong typical fragrances like floral, you might be a little thrown off by this scent.

I applied it after toning and the essence instantly seeped deep into my skin. I also made sure to pat excess product to my neck too. This is because our necks will be the first to show signs of ageing so I’m taking the Pitera’s anti-ageing powers to good use (hehe). There weren’t any dramatic changes right after so I continued to use it during my morning and night skincare routine and hoped for the best.

2 Weeks Journey

Within the 2 weeks of testing out the SK-II Pitera Essence Street Art Limited Edition, to be honest and unbiased, my skin went through a lot.

First Week

For starters, I value practising my skincare routine which over the years has strengthened my skin barrier. It’s to the point where someone can ask me about spots and I would go “Who? I don’t know her.” Besides hormonal spots, I never really got them even while testing out different types of products.

Despite that, on my third day, a little friend appeared on my left cheek. Then followed another on my chin and another on my right jawline. By then it was the fifth day and I had three spots on my skin. However, I wasn’t mad about it but in fact, glad and here’s why.

Pitera is a strong active ingredient and it is incredibly potent within this essence even though it doesn’t seem like it. This is because the Pitera itself is clear so we assume its water instead. When dealing with strong active ingredients, it would be weird to NOT see any reaction from the skin. Simply put, the skin is basically going “Woah, what is this? Let me adapt to it real quick.”

By the end of the first week, my spots had gone from angry red bumps to healing dark spots. My skin has always been a little bouncy but I noticed my skin had turned firm yet maintaining the bounciness. One thing to expect when using a strong anti-ageing product is that their effectiveness can be seen from the reduced appearance of sagging skin. In conclusion, I was very happy by the end of the week with my skin and knew only greater results were to come.

Second Week

By the first day of the second week, my skin had fully adapted to the potency of the essence. My spots were slowly fading and blending well to the normal tone of my skin. There were no more spots arising which was a good sign.

I usually apply a thick moisturiser at night because I have dry skin. However, I noticed that ever since I started using the SK-II Pitera Facial Treatment Essence, I wake up with ultra-dewy skin. My skin felt softer and more supple than before. Hence, this shows that the essence burrows deep into the skin that enhances the rest of my skincare too!

By the end of the second week, my skin felt firmer and plumper. I was very happy with the results and knew that if I continued using the essence for a longer period, my skin would soon be at its prime. The texture of my skin seems to be slowly smoothening out but it might require more time to achieve my dream skin.

Overall Thoughts About The SK-II Pitera Essence Street Art Limited Edition

I LOVED the SK-II Pitera Facial Treatment Essence. I’m definitely going to use it for a long time. It’s like getting one taste and then you’re officially hooked! It did wonders to my skin and only know that it’ll get better with time and consistent use.

Despite that, I would not recommend this essence to someone who has active skin concerns like acne as it will likely trigger your skin. Additionally, this is also not for someone who isn’t consistent with their skincare routine. When dealing with potent active ingredients, you need to establish a strong skin barrier to start and maintain the cycle. If not, you’ll be doing more harm to your skin such as inflammation, heightened sensitivity and breakouts.

Moreover, although it’s on the pricier side, it’s definitely worth it because you’re getting 90% of its key ingredient which is mind-boggling. The premium-quality you’re getting is truly worth the price point.

Click here to find out more about the SK-II Pitera Essence Street Art Limited Edition. You can purchase the essence at an SK-II outlet near you or on Zalora for RM759.00 (for a limited time only). In addition, you can check out the video below too!