Last month, SK-II marked the Year of the Ox by releasing limited edition Facial Treatment Essence (Pitera Essence) in a bottle with XOXO motifs in vibrant gold brush strokes against a red background.
After the Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, SK-II celebrates the season of new beginnings by dressing up the bestseller in colourful kimonos that represent hope and encouragement.
The bottle has been redesigned in two versions that recall cute Tokyo girls wearing the traditional Japanese costume.
The Facial Treatment Essence contains more than 90% Pitera, SK-II's exclusive natural ingredient derived from a proprietary fermentation process of a unique yeast strain.
The research and development on the signature ingredient began in the 1970s, after SK-II scientists observed how elderly sake brewers surprisingly had youthful-looking hands compared to wrinkled faces.
Their hands were in constant contact with yeast used in the fermentation process. SK-II's research studied over 350 yeast strains, and one was eventually chosen for a strictly-controlled natural fermentation process to obtain the Pitera -- a clear liquid and bio ingredient rich in vitamins, amino acids, minerals and organic acids.
In December 1980, the launch of the Facial Treatment Essence, dubbed as Miracle Water, led to a new category of nutrient-infused liquids, integral to an anti-ageing skincare routine.
Festive and changing seasons call for limited editions of SK-II's iconic's product, whose bottles have previously featured floral and phoenix motifs and even street art and Mickey Mouse.
PITERATM Essence Limited Edition.
Pink Kimono and Red Kimono versions of Facial Treatment Essence Limited Edition.
