Product Review: SK-II Cellumination Mask In Lotion

Oh, luxury.  When I personally think of luxury, I think of pearls, a Rolls Royce, a closet full of Christian Louboutins, and having hair like Georgina Chapman.  But for millions of women worldwide, luxury equals having the SK-II cloth facial, a revered blend of vitamins, amino acids, minerals and organic acids that numerous celebrities swear by.  So imagine the excitement when SK-II recently released its trademark mask in a lotion form – aptly named the SK-II Mask-In Lotion ($76.69, Amazon.com), a formulation so popular Saks Fifth Avenue had to issue a six-bottle limit this month.

What I Love

SK-II Mask-In Lotion contains one of the highest concentrations of galactomyces ferment filtrate that I have seen in any skin care product.  At the 2010 conference of the American Academy of Dermatology, skin cells (keratinocytes) exposed to galactomyces ferment lysate in vitro significantly increased their expression of caspase-14, an enzyme important for the maintenance of the skin barrier.  It has been suggested that the increased strength of the skin barrier may in turn provide added protection against environmental stressors.  There is also limited in-house research attesting that the yeast extract increases in vitro production of hyaluronan (a component of the extracellular matrix of skin) in a synthetic skin model.  It is proposed that this increase in hyaluronan production would translate to increased hyaluronan synthesis in the skin, a process which normally slows with age.

Another thing I love, love, LOVE about SK-II Mask-In Lotion is its high concentration of niacinamide.   As longtime readers of FutureDerm.com know, niacinamide does it all, reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL), increasing skin’s replicative potential, increasing melanosome transfer from melanocytes to keratinocytes, and decreasing inflammation.  And this is one ingredient with results proven to translate from the benchtop to the your face:  According to a 2006 study in Dermatologic Surgery, niacinamide reduces fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness.  Further, according to a 2005 study, niacinamide may help alleviate some of the symptoms of rosacea by increasing hydration and barrier function of the stratum corneum (uppermost layer of the skin).

The last component I love is its inclusion of Centella asiatica extract.  Centella asiatica is a small herbaceous plant native to Asia.  It was suggested in a 1966 book entitled Nature’s Medicines that Centella asiatica contained a youth factor called Vitamin X, though this claim has since been refuted as no such factor could be found.  Still, Centella asiatica has recently gained popularity in vitamin supplements and skin care creams due to the fact that it has been found to inhibit breast cancer cell growth in mice, as well as due to its established antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.

Personal Opinions

This may be my favorite SK-II product.  If you love luxury skin care, SK-II Mask-In Lotion is a great way to indulge.  Some luxury skin care brands, particularly in the past, tend to sacrifice scientific advancements like established ingredients, advanced delivery systems, or protective packaging in the name of exotic ingredients, glamorous packaging, and fancy marketing.  Further, many drugstore brands typically have larger sectors of funding devoted to research and development than the smaller exotics.  But SK-II, backed by industry giant Procter & Gamble, has it all, with everything from effective ingredients to new formulations to exotic packaging to effective marketing (who wouldn’t want to be glam like Cate Blanchett?)

Bottom Line

If you are looking for a great way to treat yourself to a beauty product, I highly recommend SK-II Mask-In Lotion.  Product Rating:  9/10 (High concentration of proven effective ingredients:  3/3.  Unique formulation or new technology: 3/3.  Value for the money:  3/3.  Sunscreen: 0/1).

Get 3.0% Cash Back on this Product!

Sign up at eBates.com, then link through to Saks.com.  You will receive a check for 3.0% cash back February 15, May 15, August 15, or November 15 – the first month your total cash back is greater than $5.00!  I’ve been working with eBates as both a blogger and a customer since 2008, and I can honestly say that getting 2.0-10.0% cash back on all of my online purchases has really added up through the years!

Ingredients in SK-II Cellumination Mask In Essence

Aqua (Water), Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Centella Asiatica Extract, Nylon-12, Sodium Hyaluronate, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Parfum (Fragrance).