SK-II Facial Treatment Essence for acne-prone skin
Pitera
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Butylene Glycol
Pentylene Glycol
Sodium Benzoate
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers excellent moisturizing and treatment for your combination skin, as high concentrations of Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate hydrate and smooth texture while providing moderate support for acne and breakouts.
- This ingredient also offers antioxidant activity beneficial for balancing hydration and protecting your skin.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
How to apply
- Use your moisturizer twice a day in your AM and PM routines. Apply it daily to help keep breakouts under control.
- Apply after your cleanser and toner, and make sure to use your SPF right after in the morning.
- Gently spread a small amount of moisturizer over your face using soft motions. Let it absorb into the skin for a minute before getting dressed or applying makeup.
- Apply on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture. This keeps your combination skin balanced without feeling heavy.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Stop using if you feel any irritation.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 12.0k+ reviewsThis essence is widely praised for refining skin texture and creating a radiant glow, with many users considering it a holy grail for anti-aging and hydration. However, a notable number of users find the high price point difficult to justify and some report experiencing irritation or breakouts, possibly due to the fermentation process. This summary is based on a very large amount of data and should be definitely taken into account.
Highlights
Improves texture Mostly Mentioned
- “skin feels soft as butter”
- “bumps and roughness disappeared”
- “texture is refined and smooth”
- “makeup applies flawlessly now”
Radiance and glow Mostly Mentioned
- “gives a glass skin look”
- “lit from within glow”
- “skin looks translucent”
- “brightness restored to dull skin”
Exorbitant price Mostly Mentioned
- “way too expensive”
- “hard to justify the cost”
- “wallet hurts every time”
- “luxury price for just water”
Lightweight absorption Often Mentioned
- “drinks right into the skin”
- “feels like water”
- “no sticky residue”
- “absorbs instantly”
Unpleasant scent Often Mentioned
- “smells like dirty feet”
- “has a yeasty saliva scent”
- “weird sour smell”
- “stinks but fades quickly”
Balances and hydrates Sometimes Noted
- “balanced my oily T-zone”
- “hydration without heaviness”
- “skin feels plump and quenched”
- “restored moisture barrier”
Lack of results Sometimes Noted
- “did absolutely nothing”
- “just expensive water”
- “no change after finishing the bottle”
- “overhyped marketing”
Breakouts/Purging Rarely Noted
- “caused tiny red bumps”
- “triggered fungal acne”
- “broke me out immediately”
- “skin did not react well”
Sources: lovi.care, sk-ii.com, influenster.com, macys.com, bloomingdales.com, sephora.sg, and more
Questions and answers
What makes SK-II Facial Treatment Essence a great fit for acne-prone skin?
This essence is a great fit because high concentrations of Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate hydrate and smooth texture while providing moderate support for acne and breakouts. It also offers antioxidant activity that helps balance hydration, and its excellent safety profile is unlikely to cause irritation.
Which ingredients make this essence a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate is the key ingredient that makes this essence a great fit for acne-prone skin, as it hydrates and smooths texture while helping to manage breakouts and redness. It also provides antioxidant activity that balances hydration and protects the skin with a very low risk of irritation.
What does Pitera do for acne-prone skin?
Galactomyces ferment filtrate helps calm acne-prone skin by reducing irritation and fighting inflammation. It supports healthier skin cells and provides antioxidant benefits that keep skin clear and balanced.
What does Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate do for acne-prone skin?
Galactomyces ferment filtrate helps keep acne-prone skin calm and smooth by reducing redness and evening out dark spots left behind by breakouts. It also helps manage daily changes in pore size so your skin stays clearer and more balanced.
Where does this essence go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This essence goes in your evening routine as a treatment step after cleansing and toning, and before your moisturizer. It helps hydrate and smooth your skin while providing moderate support for breakouts.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with retinol by applying it before your retinol product to help calm and hydrate your skin. This routine is unlikely to cause irritation because the formula is gentle and soothing.
How often should I use this essence?
You can use this essence daily in your evening routine, applying it after cleansing and toning. This routine placement helps maximize benefits for acne-prone skin while maintaining a gentle safety profile.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This product is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on acne-prone skin because it contains soothing components and lacks harsh ingredients. It helps hydrate and smooth texture while providing moderate support for acne.
Can I use this essence around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this moisturizing treatment on your body, but you should check with a doctor before applying it to the very thin skin around your eyes. Its gentle formula hydrates and smooths texture while protecting your skin.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021
What the research says
Application of Galactomyces ferment filtrate skin care formula significantly reduced the net values and daily fluctuation of facial pore area, roughness, and redness in young Japanese women.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021Daily application of Galactomyces ferment filtrate-containing skin products for 12 months significantly and cumulatively reversed 11-year facial skin aging parameters of wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, and roughness, and increased skin hydration in 86 female volunteers.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2023Exposure of epidermal full-thickness skin equivalents to a blend of betaine, pentylene glycol, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Rhodiola rosea root extract significantly increased antioxidant, skin barrier, and oxidative stress biomarkers while reducing the negative impact of hydrogen peroxide on MMP3, MMP12, FBN2, ANXA1, and HGF, whereas a blend of Narcissus tazetta bulb extract and Schisandra chinensis fruit extract significantly increased 8 growth factors, 7 signaling, 7 structural/barrier function, 7 oxidative stress biomarkers, and specific microRNAs over control levels.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2018A combination serum containing galactomyces ferment filtrate, dexpanthenol, and Centella asiatica effectively treated post-acne hyperpigmentation in subjects with colored skin by significantly increasing lightness scores in Fitzpatrick skin type V and reducing the melanin index in Fitzpatrick skin type IV compared to placebo.
Skinmed, 2021Saccharomycopsis Ferment Filtrate inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production and iNOS protein expression in RAW264.7 macrophages and protects artificial epidermis against lipopolysaccharide- or ultraviolet radiation-induced damages.
Journal of Dermatological Science, 2006Galactomyces ferment filtrate promotes epidermal interconnectivity, barrier development, cell adhesion, keratinocyte differentiation and proliferation, and protects cellular bioenergetics against stress in keratinocytes and ex vivo skin explants compared to untreated controls.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Galactomyces ferment filtrate activates AHR and NRF2, upregulates filaggrin and terminal differentiation markers, exhibits antioxidative activity, promotes antiinflammatory IL-37, and downregulates CDKN2A, IL-33, CXCL14, and IL6R in epidermal keratinocytes.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2022Treatment of human keratinocytes with Galactomyces ferment filtrate consistently modulated 99 genes, upregulating barrier-related and wound healing genes such as CYP1A1, SPRR1A, SPRR1B, SERPINB2, CLDN1, and CLDN4, while downregulating inflammation-related genes such as CXCL14 and IL6R.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2022Topical application of caffeine sodium benzoate and caffeine provided a sunscreen effect, enhanced UVB-induced apoptosis, and inhibited skin carcinogenesis in SKH-1 mice compared to untreated controls.
Carcinogenesis, 2007
Ingredients
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Water, Sodium Benzoate, Methylparaben, Sorbic Acid
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.