SK-II Facial Treatment Essence vs Tatcha The Essence

Side by side: what the brands publish

SK-II facts come from the Amazon Luxury Beauty listing. Tatcha is not covered by an Amazon listing on this site, so its details come from what Tatcha publishes. Check Tatcha's own site for its current size and price.

Fermented ingredients compared

SK-II's hero is PITERA, a filtrate made from fermenting a strain of yeast. On ingredient lists it appears as galactomyces ferment filtrate. The listing says the essence contains over 90% PITERA, which is why it feels almost like water. Our explainer on what PITERA is covers the brand's story.

Tatcha's hero is Hadasei-3, which the brand describes as a combination of fermented rice, green tea and algae. Tatcha uses Hadasei-3 across much of its range, not just in The Essence. Both brands use fermentation as their core idea, but the source ingredients differ: a yeast filtrate for SK-II, and rice, tea and algae for Tatcha.

Texture and feel

Both are thin liquids meant to be poured into the palm and pressed in, not spread like a serum. The SK-II listing does not describe fragrance, so if you avoid added fragrance, read the full ingredient list on the box or on each brand's site before you buy. Our guide to reading an ingredient list shows where fragrance usually appears and how ingredient order works.

Because both are watery, they sit in the same slot in a routine: after cleansing and toner, before serum. Our page on essence vs toner explains how this step differs from a toner or softener, and serum vs essence explains the step that follows.

Feel matters more than it seems with an essence, because you use it twice a day for months. A thin essence that absorbs fast is easy to layer, while anything that feels tacky can make the serum and cream on top pill. If that happens, give each layer a minute to settle, or see our moisturizer pilling fix.

Size and price per ml

SK-II sells the essence in several bottle sizes, and the 228 ml (7.7 oz) bottle is the one on its Luxury Beauty listing at $245. That works out to about $1.07 per ml. Large bottles almost always cost less per ml than travel sizes, so the 228 ml bottle is usually the value buy.

For Tatcha, take the price and size from Tatcha's site and divide. Our price per ml calculator does this for up to three products at once. An SK-II gift set with the full-size essence plus two small creams lists at the same $245, which is worth checking before you buy the bottle alone; see our gift set guide.

How to apply an essence

SK-II's listing says to use it twice daily after cleansing and toning, shaking a small amount into the palms and pressing it over the face and neck. Tatcha also tells users to pat its essence into the skin. Neither needs a cotton pad, though some people use one. Our how to use SK-II Facial Treatment Essence page goes step by step.

1. 1

   Cleanse and pat skin dry.

2. 2

   Pour a coin-size amount into your palm.

3. 3

   Press palms over the face and neck until absorbed.

4. 4

   Follow with serum, then moisturizer.

5. 5

   In the morning, finish with sunscreen.

Who picks which

Pick SK-II Facial Treatment Essence if you want the PITERA formula, the large 228 ml bottle and a clear price per ml on Amazon Luxury Beauty. It also fits neatly if you already use other SK-II products; see our SK-II products guide.

Pick Tatcha The Essence if you prefer the rice, green tea and algae ferment story, or already use Tatcha cleansers and creams. Patch test either one first, especially if your skin reacts to new products; see how to patch test. For more options, browse our luxury essence guide.

Frequently asked questions

Are SK-II and Tatcha essences both fermented? Yes. SK-II lists PITERA, a yeast ferment filtrate. Tatcha lists Hadasei-3, a blend of fermented rice, green tea and algae.

Which is cheaper per ml? SK-II's 228 ml bottle at $245 is about $1.07 per ml. Check Tatcha's current price and size, then divide.

Can I use both? You can, but two essences in a row is usually unnecessary. Most routines use one essence before serum.

Do I need a toner before an essence? It is optional. SK-II's listing places the essence after cleansing and toning, but many people go straight from cleanser to essence.