Weekendin Singapore Nov '13 | Issue 08 | Page 96

inthePINK inthePINK Once the skin is immaculately spotless, a facial steaming machine is used. Hovering over the face, the hot vapour opens up the pores, making it easy for the light extraction that follows after. The beautician meticulously eradicates clogged pores, leaving the skin smooth and cleansed. Surprisingly, the beautician asked if I would like my eyebrows trimmed as well; the first I’ve experienced at a facial treatment. Convinced of her skill and precision, I conceded and found myself more than satisfied with the result. SK-II to the Rescue The research of SK-II Pitera™ began back in 1970 with the quest to find a new, natural ingredient that made skin more beautiful. The search for the secret key to crystal clear skin began. But a chance observation of the soft and youthful hands of sake brewers inspired the research into the yeast fermentation process. From there, a rigorous search of over 350 strains of yeast was conducted before the researchers discovered the unique yeast strain from which Pitera™ is naturally derived. SK-II Pitera™ contains components of Natural Moisturising Factors (NMF) that occur naturally in the skin. Pitera™ also has other ingredients such as polysaccharides and proteins that improve the skin functions. The combination of Pitera™’s delicate balance of vitamins, amino acids, minerals and organic acids, and the Natural Moisturising Factors it contains, gives it its unique ability to adapt to the skin, yielding multiple skin benefits to bring skin back to harmony. Instead of the standard analysis of skin type, the SK-II skin analysis looks at the 5 dimensions of skin instead – texture refinement, firmness power, wrinkle resilience, spot control and radiance enhancement. Using the magic ring skin analyser (which honestly looks like an Iron Man mask), a close up image of one side of the face is captured. The machine then processes how bad your skin condition is according to the 5 dimensions and reveals the percentage it falls in, which is benchmarked against skin averages and skin scores of women of the same age. This very savvy technology also tells you the exact areas where you have dark spots, fine lines, roughness, sagginess and Weekendin 94 Then came the best part of the treatment – a long relaxing facial, neck and shoulder massage. The massage is done with added serums to enhance results and so that the products will be absorbed into the skin better. After what seemed like the most calming facial massage I recall having, I roused invigorated. dullness. Best of all, the magic ring determines the actual age of your skin, which I’m embarrassed to say I did not fair very well in. A simulation feature maps the skin’s appearance when skin issues are improved or worsened. The feature allows customers to see how their skin will look if it is not maintained and also the appearance of the skin if it is treated well. It definitely serves as a motivation to use SK-II’s products to treat the skin. From the results, the beautician advises which facial treatment to go for – brightening, ageing, hydration or the LXP Miracle which is the most luxurious facial consisting of all the benefits above. For me, the beautician recommended the SK-II Ageless Beauty Facial for 90 minutes, which brings back skin’s youthfulness by reversing all ten signs of skin ageing. The Ageless Beauty line of products was use B