Last weekend at Isetan, I saw a little “tea party” going on at the SK-II counter. I also saw the new essence at the counter with its rainbow bottle. It reminded me of the rainbow colours on an oil slick – you know that sort of illuminescent rainbow colour?
I didn’t have time to stop by but I looked it up because its been getting a lot of TV time and what caught my ears from the TVC was something about it enhancing your “Aura-lucency”. It supposedly uses the technology of “balance of light on the skin” to deliver a new level of translucency and eveness of skintone with an “aura that glows from within”.
Now perhaps I’m mistaken but isn’t the “aura” intangible and invisible? Doesn’t your “aura” too extend AWAY from your body – some people say for miles even? (See definition of “Aura”) If you believe in the concept of people and living things having an “aura” then you will also know that no cream or lotion or essence can enhance your “aura” bar maybe ingesting it.
Actress Cate Blanchett and Model Qi Qi says it works (I don’t know how they saw their aura getting brighter) but they ARE brand ambassadors after all. It better work for them! 😛 So now apparently, we don’t only have to worry about having translucent skin with even skin tone, we have to worry about our aura being brightened too.
I think this is taking things a little too far off the course because what this new SK-II range is, is another skin brightening product range. Promising whiter, brighter skin is something many brands have been offering us with their whitening and brightening range of products. SK-II too has their own whitening range.
I was an SK-II user in their early years of market penetration here in Malaysia (used the whole line, Miracle Water and all). When they launched the “Whitening Source Essence” (now discontinued or renamed) I was one of the early users. It helped whiten or brighten the skin as do any other whitening or brightening essences or serums. Stop using it and the efficacy stops after a while. Its applicable to most skincare. (I no longer use SK-II)
But to promise me “aura that glows from within”? I think its just marketing speak for “We want to call it something different but its essentially the same thing”
I’d rather just do good, eat healthily and exude a sense of peace and goodwill to enhance my “aura that glows from within”.
If you’d like to enhance your aura with a pitera enhanced essence and De-Melano P3C then spring for it at all SK-II counters. The SK-II Cellumination Essence is priced at RM449 /30ml and RM649 /50ml.
Or you could just keep healthy and have peace and goodwill to all mankind like me – its way cheaper and might actually work better 😛 Your take?
Paris B
sesame says
March 25, 2010 at 1:36 pmThis has to be the most impossible skin care slogan that has caught my attention…I imagine using this and then developing a halo or something…
ParisB says
March 25, 2010 at 5:35 pmYES! Well I don’t imagine developing a halo but I imagine this Aura emanating from me – I’d be terrified 😛
SusieD says
October 11, 2012 at 9:50 amwe get different ads over here in AU. The aura bright thing is supposedly a physical thing, caused by the skin having (or reflecting??) the correct balance of red, green and blue so that it appears fair and bright and translucent and seems to glow from within. But its likely still BALONEY.
rynx says
March 25, 2010 at 2:02 pmI guess they must promote it a bit differently to be able to justify the hefty price tag…
ParisB says
March 25, 2010 at 5:36 pmPersonally I think it ridiculous. But then, who am I to say 🙂
Hanny says
March 25, 2010 at 2:47 pmWowz… SKII… I never fancied their stuff, although their rice-can-solve-wrinkle-problem theory might be true… That’s because a family friend has been working in the sushi business, and she has smooth hands even when she’s close to 70 due to handling the sushi rice for so long, heheheheh.
ParisB says
March 25, 2010 at 5:37 pmIf that’s true then what I learnt as a child that water used for washing rice will help your skin will hold true too. And yes, I used it. Did not give me baby smooth skin. Besides SK-II killed me skin after a while.
patty says
March 25, 2010 at 3:31 pmme too ..never fancy their stuff:) but their products is work wonder for dry or matured skin:)
ParisB says
March 25, 2010 at 5:37 pmPerhaps those with dry or matured skin would benefit. I didn’t but I was told it would suit me then -_-
CY says
March 25, 2010 at 3:53 pmI’ve heard that SK2 has a rather potent ingredient… and have been discouraged from using it in the past.
so, no, never got the chance to try it.
ParisB says
March 25, 2010 at 5:38 pmThey call it Pitera – I’m not sure what the rest of the world calls it LOL… Lots of “myths” and “truths” surrounding this brand. But this “aura” thing takes the cake
Liesl says
March 25, 2010 at 7:09 pmSk II gives my skin breakouts. Not everyone can use it. My friend’s skin broke out too with tiny white bumps. Another collegue has been using it for years but don’t see any improvement to her skin in terms of suppleness and clarity as seen on the actresses in the ads.
ParisB says
March 26, 2010 at 10:21 amYeah SK-II is a hit or miss product for many – I guess each person’s skin reacts differently to it 😉
Shay says
March 25, 2010 at 9:34 pmI saw Qi Qi in real life last year in Hong Kong. She and her family was in the same restaurant as I was. Her skin is very nice….but seems a little loose. 😛
ParisB says
March 26, 2010 at 10:22 amYou know, I’m sure she already had great skin before being the SK2 ambassador. I haven’t seen her in real life, but she looks tall !
Nette says
March 25, 2010 at 10:36 pmI’m a marketeer and I know the gimmick..
if you girls wanna cheaper version of pitera is bedak sejuk where all our grandmother used to use..
No matter what they advertised, the best is
” EAT HEALTHILY, SLEEP EARLY REST WELL & EXERCISE MORE” and you will have your aura =)
ParisB says
March 26, 2010 at 10:23 amLOL Then you should know its just pure gimmick! I agree with your way of getting good aura – easy and way cheaper than an essence! 😉
Jessica says
March 25, 2010 at 10:45 pmAura? Wow…too far-fetched, even for SK-II. LOL. I bet the guy/gal behind the whole aura idea is a chakra enthusiast. 🙂
ParisB says
March 26, 2010 at 10:24 amOr maybe the boss said “Come up with something new! We need to brighten something else other than the skin!”
Connie says
March 26, 2010 at 1:36 amUnrealistic claims by products are plain tacky. Do companies think that we’re gullible suckers? As if I’m not annoyed enough by mascara ads with models wearing falsies
ParisB says
March 26, 2010 at 10:25 amVerily! Oh how about mascara reviews that use fake lashes? Just as tacky no? I can understand mascara ads doing it – they have a product to sell after all. But product reviews with falsies? That’s just sick 😛
Connie says
March 26, 2010 at 7:55 pmlike that might as well just leave the “reviews” to magazines right? wider audience and better circulation
ParisB says
March 27, 2010 at 11:42 amYep! Still its sick 😛
Kay says
April 24, 2010 at 10:00 amHey, found your review on google. Just wanted to clear it up, when they say “aura” they don’t actually mean the metaphysical “aura”, they were just referring to more of a glow. 😛 American’s consider auras as light that you can’t see that glows around you, and sk ii were using it as a metaphor to describe a glow. I seriously doubt a high-end brand would be silly as to try to convince people they can change people auras 🙂 Hope that clears it up for you guys!
ParisB says
April 26, 2010 at 9:39 amInterestingly, the ads aren’t quite clear on this but perhaps this is what they mean. Still, I won’t put it past anyone trying to claim they can change auras for the better 😉
Ida says
May 7, 2010 at 2:37 amHi…currently am using this cellumination essence and it works wonder.my skin feels really soft after using it. and it get brighter.its not like brighter as in whitening, but its glowing. people keep complementing since i use it so it must be this RM449 thing. (30ml je coz its too pricey..huh)..just my r eview.thanks
Jo says
June 29, 2010 at 5:44 pmRecently i purchased the cellumination deep surge, but i dont feel any difference maybe because i am fair however my friends noticed that my skin is glowing and its brighter too. Apparently if i stopped using, i think my skin wont be as good? Cos the same goes to the miracle water, if u discontinued, u will notice white bumps starting to grow on ur skin, its not pimples, its like small dots.. but now its back to normal. Suggesting: Eat more fruits will do the ‘miracle’ too 🙂
Clara says
October 25, 2011 at 4:24 amThe ingredients for this product is a standard oil in water moisturizer. The much lauded ‘new technology’ de-melamo PC3 is…..wait it……drumroll pls…….niacinamide, otherwise known as vitamin B. Wow! I mean how did they invent that? Maybe they stole the recipe from Olay (which they also own). Your aura will be brightened with a thin layer of boron nitride, a mineral makeup ingredient which gives the liquid it’s pearly look and also acts like mica on the skin. Enjoy your overpriced bottle of moisturizer and makeup primer girls…..