Pen Pretty

SK-II Facial Treatment Mask Review - Ahh, Skin Saver!

I just finished my SK-II Facial Treatment Mask session for the week and I don't know what it is, I can't stop touching my face afterwards. It's so silky smooth and soft! I basically do one mask a week, or on special occasions when I really want my face to look clear and glowing. It's a bit sticky afterwards, and sometimes leaves a bit of white residue, but I usually smooth it all out with a layer of the Signs Treatment Totality cream (more on that product later). 

Being the first product I tried in the SK-II line, the Facial Treatment Masks have one of the highest concentrations of Pitera in it - the reason I say "one of" is I think the Essence and the C Serum are the next highest or close to it. I was told by the saleslady that it was a good way to try the Pitera first before committing to spending the money on the Essence, which starts at $95 a bottle. A 6-pack of masks is $85 - not much difference - but whatev. I still use it regularly so it wasn't a total loss.

I have friends who do the "1 mask per day for 10 days" thing and they rave about how much it changes their skin, apparently that's what SK-II users in Asia do before a wedding or big event (I read that somewhere). For me, I love how long the results last. For the whole week my face is smoother, softer and brighter. And my makeup goes on like buttah after I use this mask. The next one I'd like to try is the Whitening one, only because I would LOVE to see if it lightens the dark acne scars and discolorations on my cheeks.

Basically, you take the mask out of the packet and lay it on your face, pressing down to secure it around your hairline, jaw, nose, forehead, etc. There are cutouts for your eyes, nose and mouth, but my only gripe is I don't like that it lays on my eyebrows. For a cool visual, check out the videos at Saks.com, they show all the different kinds and how to use it.

My favorite thing to do is put it in the fridge so it's nice and chilled when I put it on. Perfect on mornings when I am a little on the "puffy" side (it happens), or on hot days or while I am on vacation in a tropical place. There is usually alot of the pitera left over so I either slather it on my arms and legs, or I re-use the mask again the next day by putting it back in the foil pouch and in a sealed sandwich bag and store it in the fridge. When I asked the sales lady about this method, she said that once you open the pouch, you lose some of the potency of the Pitera, but who knows. Could be a sales pitch to buy more than you need. I still get the same awesome results, so whatever works!

All in all, this stuff is bomb. I will be doing these masks for life. Notice I don't say, "till i'm a wrinkled old bag," because with these masks, that won't happen for me for a while!

-j

Pen Pretty Loves: Twilight Beauty (OME)

Anyone who knows me knows I am a diehard Twilight fan. I am literally on my 3rd round re-reading the series, and right now, I am on Eclipse, devouring every word like it was a piece of chocolate cake. Anyway, I just found out through the beauty blogosphere that there is a new Twilight beauty line called Twilight Beauty which piqued my attention, at least the "beauty" aspect of it did. I guess I kinda knew eventually there would be a market for a Twilight-themed beauty line, especially since the majority of the fans are the ladies, and who wouldn't want Alice's pretty-as-a-pixie, or Bella's plain-because-she-can-pull-it-off look? For $28, you can buy a gorgeous color palette inspired by four famous heroines from the Twilight saga: Bella, Alice, Rosalie and Victoria. My fave? Probably Alice, not just because I *heart* her, but because those colors look like they would work with my tan skin and brown eyes. Here is a pic of the Bella palette - check it out at www.twilightbeauty.com. 

-j

SK-II With An SPF? Sign me up!

As I write this blog post on a Saturday morning, the temperature is at 80+ degrees and climbing. Ugh. While I can't wait to splash on my beloved holy water, I am bummed that none of the SK-II moisturizers I own have an SPF in it. In the September issue of Lucky, beauty editor Christina Mueller raved about an SK-II UV serum that she loved called Facial Treatment UV Protection with SPF 25. I love that it's a serum - totally not something you normally would find with an SPF. Plus, I am loving the way the SK-II C serum feels when you put it on: silky and sinks right in! 

Anyway, I called the Saks number listed and they said they don't have it yet, probably in late September. Drats. So, my sneaky journalist curiousity kicked in and I was able to find the Japanese version at www.bonboncosmetics.com. It ships from overseas, but hell, that's probably exactly what Saks is doing too. Although, I heard a rumor they are changing the formulation for the U.S. market (what?). 

So my Japanese import version is on it's way (yay!) even though I really could use it NOW. But till then, I will just resort to a pore-clogging SPF and a baseball cap. I'll let you all know when it gets here with pics!

-j

SK-II Basic Trial Set FOUND!

Make Me Heal.com is a site I go to regularly as an anti-aging, cosmetic procedure info site...they have a HUGE database of products and articles! Anyway, I didn't know this, but they carry SK-II! They have a TON of products and even have the cool travel sized kits. Again, I have not seen these items at SK-II's U.S. counters, but I am definitely lusting over this kit:

• Basic Trial Set:
• 1x Facial Treatment Cleanser 20g
• 1x Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil 34ml
• 1x Facial Treatment Essence 75ml
• 1x Facial Treatment Clear Lotion 75ml

...I can always use another FTE, and have been wanting to try the other 3 items too. Hmm, I think I just found my next SK-II purchase :)

-j

Pen Pretty Loves: Anthropologie's Fall Newsletter

via www.cprpt.com

I am LOVING Anthropologie's newest Anthro card and newsletters. The artwork in the emails are so beautiful and simple - I can almost feel the organic cotton and recycled paper! It just makes me want to put on a vintage dress and cowboy boots reading this latest newsletter for August. Here's a great quote from the newsletter, which you can also read the full article by clicking the link above:

"With the air still warm and the days still long, it's hard to imagine the glow of fireflies, hum of cicadas and crunch of sweet corn giving way to sharp air, turning leaves and shiny apples in just a few short weeks." 

Thanks to Anthro for sending me some Pen Pretty Love :)

-j

SK-II On Facebook

For kicks, I entered in "SK-II" in Facebook's Search and lo and behold, there is a Facebook page for SK-II! It looks like the originator is in Singapore, so a lot of the discussions are probably around SK-II for the Asian market. Of course, I am more interested in SK-II from the perspective of the American user, but still, this site is a good resource if you are looking for some great, un-biased feedback. Check it out:

SK-II on Facebook

-j

My Lucky SK-II Find on Ebay

If you search for SK-II on Ebay, it's overwhelming how much you'll find. Having been an avid Ebay shopper and seller since 1999, I shudder when I see items sold from faraway places. Lots of the SK-II items are sold from Asia, and I've been careful about reading the seller's feedback, just to get an idea of what I am dealing with. 

One day, I found a seller from my hometown who specialized in selling computer parts from Asia but had just a few SK-II items for sale - I thought that was unusual. It turned out his wife was a fan but had suddenly started using a new line so he had these brand new items to sell.  He had some of the face makeup, some samples and the Facial Treatment Milk, which all aren't sold here in the U.S. He also had the Signs Treatment Totality cream that I had been coveting, but didn't want to part with $175 to get it at Bloomingdales just yet :) 

Armed with PayPal and a prayer, I did Buy It Now for the FT Milk ($44) and the Signs Totality ($99) for a total of $143 and crossed my fingers that they weren't fake. We agreed to a "pick up" of my new SK-II goods and he showed up with both items, still in the box and sealed, in a shopping bag. I was thrilled. Both items were still plastic wrapped and as soon as I cracked them open at home, I could smell the Pitera. Score! The only downside: everything was written in Japanese - which he mentioned he had bought both at an SK-II counter at a department store. Of course, since SK-II is a Japanese skincare line, I was excited to actually own a few pieces actually from Japan! 

Anyway, i've been using both items this summer and so far so good, both products are amazing. The Milk is awesome, nice and light, perfect for summer (more about that product later). But basically, if you are buying SK-II on Ebay, try to find a seller that has very few items (not ALL SK-II), and if they do look like a reseller with tons of SK-II stuff - read their feeback. All of it. And ask questions, too! 

There is one seller I have been eyeing that has 99% positive feeback that gets rave reviews from their clients. The seller name is yhuan338 and they are from Wisconsin, which is a good sign. But even still, I'm a little hesitant so if anyone out there goes for it, let me know if it works out. At this sellers prices, it sure would be HUGE relief on my bank account!

  -j

FOUND! A great blog post about SK-II

Totally worth the read, observationmode details her SK II regimen below. -j

Sunday, May 25, 2008

My Love Affair with SK-II

Last week, I posted about my makeup and skincare routine, and I had a lot of fun doing it. The lovely and talented up and down town (have you seen her blog? Go. Now.) asked about SK-II: "Tell me more about SK-II. Do they have different formulas, or would you only recommend it for oily skin? I have very very dry skin."

SK-II doesn't have different formulas. It's based on one key ingredient, Pitera. I'd recommend* SK-II for all skin types, because it's just plain great. I know this because while my skin is mostly oily, it can also be dry, and it can be combination, depending on the weather. I just use different moisturizers depending on how my skin feels on any given day.

I've been using SK-II for about five years, and as I always say, I feel it's stopped time for me. My skin doesn't seem to have aged since I started using it. Now, I'll concede that I may be deluded here, because it has been five years, but I don't see any new wrinkles. And I've looked—there are times I scrutinize my skin, looking for signs of aging. I feel silly admitting this, but there it is.

I found SK-II paging through a fashion magazine. There was a two-page spread ad showing hands, and the copy sold me. It said something about a scientist who visited a saké brewery in Japan, and that he noticed right away that the brewery workers' hands looked perfectly young, while their faces showed the lines of experience and age. Their hands had been immersed in the saké ingredients while making drink, and the immersion had preserved the integrity of their skin. The scientist decided to investigate, and the end result is SK-II.

Here's what the SK-II Web site says about it:

"Pitera was discovered purely by chance. About thirty years ago, a scientist noticed that the hands of workers at a Japanese saké brewery looked beautiful and young. This was the inspiration behind five years of research by a team of scientists who screened through over 300 types of yeasts and refined the precise conditions for fermentation, leading to the discovery of SK-II's signature ingredient, Pitera.

Derived from a unique yeast's fermentation, Pitera is a blend of vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and organic acids that work together to allow the skin's natural surface rejuvenation process to function at its prime, enhancing the renewal of the skin's outer layer. Continued usage of Pitera leads to clearer, softer and smoother skin."

The idea of the preserved hands sounded good to me; what I'd been using on my face was okay, but it wasn't having a dramatic effect, and I wanted the dramatic effect I read about in the ad copy. I wanted to be preserved. So I tried the Essence—the first product SK-II introduced—and I've never looked back. My skin looks young, it has evened out, is less sensitive, and doesn't break out like it used to.

Here are the products I use:


I added the Facial Treatment Cleanser next. It's used like a standard face wash. A tiny amount goes a long way. A tube of this will last me six months. Use a very small pea-sized dab, lather your face, and rinse.











Facial Treatment Essence, the first SK-II product. It's not a toner, it's more like a moisturizer prep. (SK-II offers a toner, but I don't use it.)

The SK-II literature says Essence preps your skin for moisturizer—any moisturizer—by making it 60% more able to absorb whatever you put on it.

To use Essence, shake some of the liquid into your palm, about a quarter's-size puddle. Then gently rub your hands together to distribute it evenly onto both palms, and press your palms into your face and neck, pressing the Essence into your skin. Gently. I sometimes shake more Essence into my hands than I can use on my face, so I press the rest into my chest, the backs of my hands, whatever. This bottle will last about four or five months.







Advanced Eye Treatment Film. I use very small amounts of this, too, as a tiny bit goes a long way. I use it around the corners and underneath. Whatever's left is smeared onto my eyelid. It's meant to work on bags, puffiness, dark circles, and lines. It's a gel, so it stays wet awhile. If you're rushed in the morning, this may be tricky to deal with, as it retains it's viscosity for as much as an hour after you put it on. This tube will last for about four months.








Facial Clear Solution. I just call it Moisturizer. It's light and viscous, clear and sort of watery. It soaks in quickly. I like it because it doesn't feel heavy. Perfect for oily skin. It can be too light for days when my skin feels dry, and I need something heavier, so I'm planning on trying an SK-II cream (there are many options for dry skin) when I run out of the one I'm using now. This bottle will last for four–six months, depending on how my skin feels. If I'm in a dry zone, I'll use less of this, and more of the cream I have. If I'm feeling oily, this will go faster.




That's the roundup of things I have—four products. This stuff costs a lot more than Oil of Olay. When I buy a fresh stock of all four products, it can run to more than $300. Shocking. Or is it? The items can last half a year, and that's important. Keep in mind I spend about $10 per year on makeup, so all my vanity money goes to skin care.

I buy my SK-II at Saks. Until recently, that was the only place you could get it. Now, Bloomingdale's carries it, too. Both stores offer it online. Saks runs specials a couple of times each year, and if you spend a certain amount, you'll get a free bag-o-samples, or an SK-II gift—one time I got a free box of Eye Masks with a $200 purchase. The Eye Masks alone are $95.

Saks also gives away a healthy amount of free SK-II samples—either with purchase, or if you just ask. I try to time my stock-up trips to coincide with the gift-with-purchase promotions. So far this has worked well to assuage the trepidations I have about spending so much, when I know full well I could go to CVS and buy an entire skincare regimen for $15. I like SK-II enough to spend the money.

via observationmode.blogspot.com

Pen Pretty Reviews: SK-II Facial Treatment Essence

Hey beauty addicts, so now that you know my regimen, let's get into the individual products I've been using. I thought a good one to start with was the Facial Treatment Essence which is their star ingredient and pretty much the one thing I can't live without. I have been using this stuff religiously since June 2nd,2009 and have not been able to stop. When I first started using it, my skin was SUPER bumpy, irritated and broken out. Unfortunately, and I am sure you can understand why, I didn't take a photo of the state of my skin then. But this weekend, I am having the hubby take some shots of my skin for this blog so we can at least see my progress from today moving forward...

Notes on my skin type:

Medium/Olive skin tone

Combination with oily T-zone and dry around the cheeks and mouth

Dark acne scarring

Small to medium pores

So basically this stuff is just like a splash of water, kind of like a guy's after shave, you know the kind your dad used to splash on? Well, it's pretty much like that. It's got a yellowish hue to it and it has an interesting smell, kind of like yeast, I guess. It isn't offensive to me or anything, but I remember it was the first thing that hit me when I first started using it. The smell wears off thank goodness, but now I am actually addicted to the smell.

After washing your face, dump about a quarter-size amount in your hands, cup it so you can dampen your hands with it, then pat it all over your face - no rubbing!  Just keep patting till your face is drenched with it, then let it dry. 

I noticed when I first started using it that my skin got kinda dry and raw. Like it felt tight and shiny at times, then within the first 2 weeks I actually saw some peeling. What I was told was the Essence is supposed to "turn over" your skin's outer layer, and keep it hydrated - so I was a bit surprised at the peeling. But then, after the first month, my skin really started changing. The bumps on my cheeks were going down and even my occasional breakout would barely surface, then die back down before coming to a head.

On September 2nd, I will have been using this 2x a day for nearly 3 months, and so far, so good. My skin still has the acne scarring and it's not perfect, but you can see that the texture is finer and it feels really soft. That's the biggest thing, the softness. It's so bizarre. My makeup goes on better, and sometimes if it's a hot and muggy day i'll just put on a face powder and I am good to go.

This morning I had to do an emergency at-home peel with Peter Thomas Roth's Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads because I totally slept with my makeup on last nite. I applied it, then started working on my computer, washed it off and forgot to put on the Essence afterwards. Boy do I feel it. It's dry and tight right now - so much so that I am typing fast so I can get to the bathroom and splash some on! Once you layer the C-serum over it (more on that product later), your face says, "aaahhh," and it's good to go. 

So basically, this stuff is a "YES" on my list and now holds a permanent spot in my skincare regimen. I love it. It is truly my little skincare secret weapon. It's so versatile, it can fit into any skincare routine no matter what other products you are using after the cleansing/toning step and before moisturizing. Would I buy again? YES! Again, and again, and again...-j

SK-II Cate's Essentials Collection - The Best Value & A Great Way To Kick Start Your SK-II Regimen

My first SK II purchase was a 6-pack box of the Facial Treatment Masks for $85+ tax. I really wanted to dive right into the Facial Treatment Essence, but the saleslady at the counter said I had to try the mask first to see if it would affect my sensitive skin before committing to a big bottle of the Essence. Ok. So I got them, it turned out fine, and six weeks later I bought my big bottle for $185 + tax (CA tax, mind you, so it came out to $202.58). When all was said and done, out the gate, I had spent $295.

Anyway, you can imagine my irritation when I received an email from my beloved Daily Candy that did an article on a 3-pc set for $250 available at www.sk-ii.com. You get a 6-pack of masks, a 75ml bottle of the Essence, and a 30 ml bottle of the Repair C which was next on my list to purchase. I guess when if first came out, Saks had it for $330 but it was on sale for much less on SK II's site. Plus you get free shipping. Nice!

So instead of spending $150 on the Repair C I bought this instead and it's the best buy ever. Since I use the masks weekly, and the Essence 2x daily, it's a big value for me. I will definitely re-order again every 3-4 months, or at least till they run out. Saks.com has also lowered the price on theirs so you can get it there, too. The small size Essence I love to take when I go on road trip vacations, but for the plane I siphon the stuff into sample bottles I had saved of the Essence.

Anyway, I just wanted to share this because I felt it was really a great value. I am praying they don't run out b/c I plan to re-order every 3-4 months. And even if they do, at least I got to enjoy the savings while I could :)  It definitely won't stop me from buying more! Get yours while you can!  -j