PB Says: I used SK-II quite a few years ago. I’d used the whole range available then, and like Geekchic, my favourite item then was the Facial Treatment Essence or Miracle Water as it is labeled. As it has been a while for me (I no longer use SK-II for various reasons – even the FTE stopped working for me), I decided to have new SK-II user Geekchic review the SK-II Facial Treatment Lotion. This is her story 🙂
UPDATE 2018: I’ve since put the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence through its paces again 8 years after this post, and my updated review is here.
Having shut down my blog, without an outlet to channel my thoughts and opinions, Paris has very kindly given me a slot to hash my thoughts out (shut me up). I promise you will not hear very much from me!
SK-II Facial Treatment Essence – A review
A common street name for this product, I’m told, is Miracle Water. As much as I like this product, I’m a little hesitant about bestowing upon it the title “miracle”. I have no idea why I made this plunge into SK-II, to be honest. I happened to be in Myer on Bourke St. They happened to have a 15% discount on all makeup and skincare products for Myer One cardholders. And as they like to say in the show business, the rest is history.
I’ve been using this steadily for a month now and it’s safe to say that it’s a product that works on my very temperamental skin. So temperamental that I’ve not found a single Clinique product which works on me. A little background on my skin texture, it’s dry to very dry in winter but now that we’re heading right smack into summer, my skin is slowly returning to its normal state. It’s not oily nor dry; yes, I’m thankful for it but I’m often bugged by dry patches and fine lines.
Texture of the SK-II FTE
Unlike regular serums, the Facial Treatment Essence (henceforth known as FTE) is a form of liquid. To be completely honest, I was a little skeptical. I mean, how is it possible that a few drops of liquid would completely transform my skin?
Scent
Weird. It’s completely unpleasant if you’re not used to it. It’s like fermented something. However, once it’s dry, there isn’t a hint of it whatsoever. I’m told it’s the patented Pitera. The secret to making this product one of SK-II’s bestseller.
Usage
To use this, I pour about 3-4 drops onto my palm, rub them together lightly and gently massage it onto the skin until it’s completely dry. This product is gentle enough to be used around the eye area as well.
The sales assistant at SK-II advised of just patting it onto the skin but I find gently massaging it works as well. The other reason to wanting to massage it is because the air in Melbourne is so dry, it just makes me feel that the air is drying up the FTE rather than getting massaged into my skin. Then, it’s just regular moisturiser (I use Olay Total Effects) and sunscreen on top. I skip the toner part because I feel weird using 2 liquids one after another.
Results after using SK-II Facial Treatment Essence
As with most skincare, I would advise everyone to be wary of any miraculous claims. I’m in a state of being cautiously-optimistic. Optimistic because:
- The product has not broken me out at all.
- It has shown significant improvement in my skin texture. I have terribly dry skin during winter and when the harsh sunlight shines upon these patches, you can see that the skin is terribly uneven (with bumps and some craters from my teenage acne days) and extremely dehydrated. Ever since the use of the FTE, these patches are slowly replaced by plumped skin. The litmus test for this is when we approach winter and the plumped skin remains.
- I’m being a little cautious with my optimism because it is right smack in the middle of summer and with the cooler going on at all times, my skin is actually getting hydrated from the air! (The evaporative cooler blows out air that’s cooled by water so there’s extra moisture in the air)
- My skin tone has always been even so I cannot tell if this has evened out the skin tone.
Pros: It works but I will not be calling it the Miracle Water.
Cons: Expensive. SKII is one of the more expensive skincare products in the market.
If you can get it from duty free stores, it is worth giving it a go. It’s retailing for AUD100 for a 75ml bottle in Myer/David Jones. [PB Adds: In Malaysia its currently RM187/75ml]
Have you used this “Miracle Water” and do you have a story (good or bad) to share?
Geekchic and Paris B are all ears 🙂
Hi.. I am a SKII user for almost 7 years now. And I am proud to say that this product really works wonders for me. The secret is “preserverence” and always have faith in this product. I have received so many compliments from friends even strangers. They all thought I was a young lady. Actual fact, I m in my late 30’s 🙂 I was thought 5 years younger 🙂 My journey with SK II as follows: Initial stage probably in first year, you will experience redness or maybe occasional break outs.. recommend to hang on coz that is normal cos this product would cleanse out all the impurities on your skin…this is one way to make your skin tempo is synchronize with miracle water.. Once in same beat, miracle water will become your only skin food. One thing I notice about the miracle water is that the more you put on your face the the more it glows and radiant.. so one more secret, don’t be stingy on amount you put if you want to see the result. All in all, I know SKII is expensive.. hey just spend on must haves only then. For me what work for me combo of Clear Lotion, Miracle Water, Repair C and Signature Cream.. that’s it.. try them, you won’t regret 🙂
Hi, Are you using your combo all together every morning and evening time? I’m now a new SK-II user have been using it steadily for 1 month, and it caused my skin smoother but couple times it breaks me out and some redness n itchy. But i still continue to see better result for longer time. My combo is Clear Lotion, FTE, Repair C but i have additional Cellumination Essence & Deep Surge too.
i’ve been using the clear lotion of SK II followed by the FTE/ SK II MIRACLE water and ends with the moisturizer (thirst relief by Clinique) since january 2011. almost 4 months already…but this two weeks,i found that, its bit itchy n red pimples came out..whoaa…what’s next ha? i’m wondering..is this sympthom of good effect by heal the dead cells or…what’s going on ha..help me….guyzzz… tq ya
hey there..i am using FTE for about 2 months.. at first i used the clear lotion and FTE..and i should say it was not working very well for me..i gave it a go for about 2 weeks before stopping..after that i change the whole range into hada labo arbutin series..this one works pretty well but i cannot simply left my 200 RM FTE wasted..so i mixed it with hada labo arbutin lotion and essence..and i start to get the miracle..my skin looks so much more radiant..even the dark circle around my eyes are dissipating and my eyes look less baggy..really makes me look younger..i also add The Bodyshop vitamin c microdermabration cream for weekly treatment (or whenever i see my facial skin starts to go dull), it really helps to remove dead skin cells..(coz i think the FTE makes your skin cell dead faster to replace it with newer ones)..so hada labo + SK II FTE+ TBS vit c microdermabration = wonderful skin for me!! any question? (email me at [email protected])
I just want to know if i need to use toner before applying the clear lotion?
As far as I know, this one IS toner. You might find this post on toner and lotion useful.
i used this treatment essence for nearly 4 months. for me i don’t notice anything but it doesn’t do any bad thing. so i think i just want to finished the bottle n i wont repurchased it. but 1 weeks ago i came back home everyone asking what i used for my face as they see my skin is so much radiance. i was like really? not only my family my friends ask me do i wear foundation when i’m in a bare face. but seriously i don’t see any diff in my face. maybe bcoz i look at it everyday. so i think it really does something.
I started using SKII a month ago. Truly “miracle”..my skin smooth, wrinkles disappeared… so happy. Then after about 5 days, skin at the base of my nose start to itch. Then 2 days later, right cheek start to itch. The itch at base of nose start to be red and dry, flaky skin. The cheek become more itchy. I stopped using SKII. Even so, then itch spread to over eye brows. Sooo itchy but I try my best not to scratch. For now, I stop and waiting for itch and redness to subside. I’ve never ever been allergic to anything before. This is the very 1st time in my whole entire 45 years of life. I really don’t know if I’ll try using SKII again after my skin heals. Anyone out there want to try. I can let you have my set for half price. Or if you’re using it already and get good results, maybe you want?
Can i just ask a silly question.. how do we apply the essence on the skin? Every time I tried using my palms and quickly pat it to my face, 50% of the liquid just drips down to my wrist… pretty expensive wastage 🙁 and cotton pad soaks alot of the good stuff away…….help lol
Hi Sweetspring, when I was using the SK2 essence, I was told to saturate a piece of cotton pad and then wipe it on my skin. I thought it was a waste so what I used to do is drop about 2-3 drops in my palm, spread it between my palms (if you don’t use so much it won’t drip) and then quickly spread it over my face. There was no wastage that way but you might need a bit of practice to get it just right 🙂
I hate reading this blog. Really tempting to buy them after reading.. I have a few list to buy now *EL Hydration Serum, *SKII FTE SHall check out on their Trial set RM199 (SKII) see lah still available bo
Tried the miracle water. No different to skin. The sales person advised to use tip it on cotton pads, then apply on face. I ThoT it was a bit wasteful so normally I would pour a few dots on my fingers then re- apply onto face. But every time I drop by the counter, the sales person gives me that kind of look as if I didn’t apply it properly to get the results. What to do, I can’t change my skin.
SKII is a brewing byproduct, and as I have some knowledge here let me lend to you without the company spin and hype.
The hydration affect is not from Pitera but the two chemical hydrants they add to it. Butylene and pentylene glycol. No miracle there just standard synthetic moisturizers. They have to add those because the fermented product is actually very drying on the skin. I’ve never had a sample of the FTE to test it’s pH, but if it’s anything like the home brew I made it’s probably pretty acidic. This is what exfoliates the skin and makes it look fresh.
I don’t doubt that the ferment also contains amino acids, vitamins and all the rest. SKII is rice that’s been digested by both yeast and mold so the actives in rice are now in a more bio-available state. Possibly more useful to your skin than otherwise. I don’t buy the whole ‘we’ve got a special yeast and that’s why our product works’ line from SKII. Of course they want you to believe that they’ve got the only formula that works so you will buy it from them. Rice is rice, no matter what yeast is digesting it the only byproducts can be provided is what’s in the rice to begin with. There are now many skin care companies using sake lees in their products and many of them are much cheaper than SKII.
I do doubt these myths about it ruining your skin, your skin getting addicted etc. That has no logical or scientific basis. Skin does not and cannot get addicted to anything. But like all skin care products you only receive the effects of it, while you are using it. The only possible harm would be by irritation or allergic reaction, and if it is highly acidic you may thin your skin through over exfoliation of the epidermis, which actually makes you look older not younger. If you stop using it your skin will return to it’s previous state. Developing a sensitivity to it is highly likely with a fermented product. That’s not something the human body was designed to encounter everyday splashed onto your face.
I will start to use fte this evening, hopefully it can make my skin better..
I’ve always been blessed with good skin (only slightly oily in certain areas), but when I started work as a copywriter in an agency, I started getting REALLY bad pimple breakouts. And this really irritated me. So my guy friend recommended that I start trying the SKII fte, because he swears by it – this guy friend of mine used to have majorly bad acne before using SKII. After about a week of usage, I found that the pimples started to fade and my skin had a nice glow to it.
I have been using it on and off in the evenings for about 1 1/2 years now, and I can safely say that on the morning-afters that i’ve used the SKII, it glows. And on days that I don’t use it, it doesn’t have the same dewy glow. Now, I hardly ever have pimples or breakouts as well.
So I would recommend SKII, but only the FTE though. The creams and moisturizers are simply too rich for my skin.
I bought the largest bottle and still have about 1/2 a bottle left – so it really isn’t that expensive at all, if you would take into consideration the sheer volume and longevity of the product.
I used the facial treatment essence for about 2months.. nothing changed..
my large pores still looks the same.. i actually purchased rm 360 SKII skin refiner too..which is totally a bad idea. my skin had terrible break out after 2x using the skin refiner..in the end i just gave it away to someone else 🙁
so far, the only SKII product that i would consider buying again is the facial treatment gentle cleanser..
everyone talks about a smell in the FET i just received my bottle that i ordered from sephora and there really is no smell to the product…..should i be worried?
Hi, Dary. I’ve been using FTE for almost a year now (about 10 months) and i’m seriously in love with it. Bought cleanser, toner and ex cellumination essence as well..extremely love them all. I especially love FTE and ex cellumination essence but its too expensive so i didn’t repurchase. I decided to just stick with FTE. But yeah, the smell is bad..it smells like ‘rice water’ and stinks but that’s because of the pitera. So if you said there is no smell at all..then i guess it’s a bit weird..but perhaps for some people, the smell doesn’t really bother them so they may think it’s ok.
I’ve been using it for a 3 to 4 months now together with the full range of SK ii products: facial wash, toner and moisturizer.i even had whitening spots and masks..it did make my pores smaller and my skin glowing but the only really issue I have is: I don’t stop getting breakouts!!! It’s like everyday there’s a new damn pimple coming out. There were a few weeks that my skin “tamed” but now, my pimples are coming out again..I swear I’d like to love skii but it’s getting me depressed already…months of using and it still won’t make the pimples go away!!!!! :'(
Just started using this so let’s see after two weeks be back here to share with you the effect.
I’ve been using the FTE for abt 2yrs, my new bottle was bought recently at parkson counter, I found the smell has become very light that I almost cannot smell it. Do u think that there is a problem with it?