SK-II Facial Treatment Essence for sensitive skin
Pitera
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Butylene Glycol
Pentylene Glycol
Sodium Benzoate
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for sensitive skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 moderate moisturizing and treatment for your normal skin, as galactomyces ferment filtrate hydrates and improves skin texture while also providing soothing and anti-inflammatory effects for redness and irritation.
- The ingredient also offers antioxidant activity and supports skin barrier repair, making it suitable for your sensitive skin.
- The product is safe for your sensitive skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this soothing AM and PM routine every day to keep your normal skin calm. Always remember to apply SPF in the morning after your moisturizer.
- Apply your moisturizer after your toner in the morning, and after your serum in the evening. This step locks in hydration and protects your skin.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer evenly across your face. Avoid rubbing to keep your sensitive skin happy and calm.
- You can apply this gentle formula on dry or slightly damp skin for the best comfort. It works wonderfully on clean skin to soothe redness and irritation.
- Do a patch test before your very first use to check your skin's reaction. Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes .
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 sensitive skin?
SK-II Facial Treatment Essence is a great fit for sensitive skin because it helps calm redness and irritation while supporting skin barrier repair. It is safe for this skin type due to the absence of harsh or prohibited ingredients.
Which ingredients make this essence a good fit for sensitive skin?
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate and pentylene glycol make this essence a great fit for sensitive skin by supporting skin barrier repair and providing soothing effects that calm redness and irritation. These ingredients help protect sensitive skin because they lack harsh components and offer gentle antioxidant care.
What does Pitera do for sensitive skin?
Pitera helps calm red and irritated areas while strengthening sensitive skin so it feels smooth and comfortable. It supports your skin's natural barrier and fights daily damage that can trigger flare-ups.
What does Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate do for sensitive skin?
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate helps calm redness and supports dry or irritated skin by protecting against daily stressors and improving moisture. It is unlikely to cause issues and works well to keep skin smooth and comfortable.
Where does this essence go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after your cleansing and soothing toner steps, followed by a moisturizer. Applying treatments at night helps keep things simple and provides extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with retinol by applying the treatment first and following it with your retinol product. Using a hydrating essence helps keep your skin calm and supports your skin barrier, which is especially helpful when using strong ingredients like retinol.
How often should I use it?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine. Daily application helps keep your skin hydrated and smooth while calming redness.
Health Science Reports, 2021Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This product is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your sensitive skin because it is free of harsh ingredients, and the risk of breakouts or purging reported by reviewers is low. It helps keep skin calm and smooth while supporting your skin barrier.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment around the eyes and on the body because the skin there is thinner, and this formula is safe and free of harsh ingredients. The galactomyces ferment filtrate hydrates and calms redness, which helps soothe delicate areas without irritation.
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, 2021Exposure 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, 2018Saccharomycopsis 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, 2006A 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, 2021Galactomyces 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, 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.
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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