SK-II Facial Treatment Essence (Pitera Essence)

Essencestoners

Safety score

Pregnancy-focused assessment

Medium Risk55/100

Higher concernLower concern

This formula contains an ingredient that needs extra caution in MamaSkin's pregnancy-focused assessment.

Formula and assessment check

Ingredient safety review updated 24 November 2025. Product formulas can change, so compare the ingredients shown here with the packaging you have.

Report a formula mismatch

MamaSkin assessment · 24 November 2025

Is SK-II Facial Treatment Essence (Pitera Essence) suitable during pregnancy?

MamaSkin currently classifies SK-II Facial Treatment Essence (Pitera Essence) as Medium risk, with a stored score of 55/100. This assessment flags concerns that need closer consideration. Review the explanation with a qualified healthcare professional before deciding whether to use this formula during pregnancy.

What does the ingredient evidence show?

The recorded formula includes 1 ingredient entry with a risk flag: Methylparaben (Medium risk). These are ingredient-level flags; they do not replace the stored product assessment or account for every formulation detail.

7 of 7 ingredient entries on this page have a recorded score, evidence summary and source text. That describes documentation coverage, not proof that the finished formula has been clinically tested during pregnancy.

Read ingredient evidence and sources How MamaSkin assesses products

Ingredient breakdown

See how the listed formula falls across MamaSkin's pregnancy-focused risk bands.

No known risks

Low risk

Medium risk

High risk

Ingredients

Ingredients with a higher risk flag appear first, followed by the rest of the formula.

Methylparaben

Medium Risk

Methylparaben is a preservative with weak endocrine activity in some experimental systems. After reviewing the available endocrine and toxicology evidence, SCCS/1652/23 concluded that methylparaben is safe in cosmetics up to 0.4% as acid, including up to 0.4% within permitted ester mixtures whose total does not exceed 0.8%. Pregnancy-specific human outcome data for repeated topical exposure remain limited. MamaSkin retains Medium Risk as a deliberately conservative pregnancy policy, not because SCCS found compliant cosmetic use unsafe.

Sources: SCCS/1652/23: Opinion on Methylparaben, final 14 December 2023 with 2024 corrigendum https://health.ec.europa.eu/publications/methylparaben-cas-no-99-76-3-ec-no-202-785-7_en; CIR: Amended Safety Assessment of Parabens as Used in Cosmetics https://www.cir-safety.org/supplementaldoc/amended-safety-assessment-parabens-used-cosmetics-0

Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate

No Known Risks

A yeast-derived ferment, filtrate or extract used for skin conditioning. Cosmetic safety reviewers concluded that cosmetic ingredients derived from the reviewed yeast species are safe in current practices; this record applies to the standardized cosmetic INCI material, not an unspecified live culture.

Sources: CIR: Yeast-derived ingredients final assessment, June 2024; Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate conclusion; December 2025 Quick Reference Table https://cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/QRT-Update-Dec2025.pdf

Butylene Glycol

No Known Risks

Solvent and humectant commonly used in leave-on products. Not associated with pregnancy-specific concerns at cosmetic exposure levels.

Sources: Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US); Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (EU)

Show all (7)

Pentylene Glycol

No Known Risks

Humectant and preservative booster. Considered safe for cosmetic use with low systemic exposure.

Sources: Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US); Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (EU)

Water

No Known Risks

Water (Aqua) is the standard purified water used as a cosmetic solvent. It has no pregnancy-specific risk in normal topical use.

Sources: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Water, https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredient-database/cosing-glossary-ingredients_en

Sodium Benzoate

No Known Risks

Preservative widely used in foods and cosmetics. Considered safe at regulated concentrations with low systemic exposure from topical use.

Sources: Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (EU); European cosmetics regulatory framework

Sorbic Acid

No Known Risks

Preservative acid used to help protect products from yeast, mould, and some bacteria. Reviewed cosmetic safety sources support current cosmetic use, with no pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific topical concern identified in the material reviewed; some users may still notice local irritation or stinging, especially on reactive skin.

Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Sorbic Acid and Potassium Sorbate as Used in Cosmetics; EU CosIng / cosmetics regulatory inventory

Formulations can change without notice. For the most accurate result, compare this list with your packaging and scan the exact ingredient label in MamaSkin when you repurchase.

Questions about this assessment

Has every ingredient in SK-II Facial Treatment Essence (Pitera Essence) been assessed?

Does this assessment apply to the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence (Pitera Essence) I have?

Only if the ingredient list on your packaging matches the recorded formula shown here. Formulas can differ by market and change over time. Compare the full list, not just the product name; report a mismatch if it differs.

Does this pregnancy assessment also establish breastfeeding suitability?

No. This page presents a pregnancy-focused product assessment. Do not infer a breastfeeding conclusion from its score or label; breastfeeding requires a separate assessment of the formula and how it is used.

How to use this assessment

The risk band is the primary conclusion. The score adds detail within that band and should not be used to compare products as if a one-point difference were clinically meaningful.

MamaSkin provides pregnancy-focused information, not medical advice. Your midwife, GP, pharmacist or dermatologist should take priority when your circumstances differ from typical cosmetic use.

Read the full methodology