SK-II

Workers at a Japanese sake brewery were observed to have unusually smooth hands despite doing heavy manual labour. A scientist investigated in the 1970s and isolated the yeast by-product responsible. That fermentation liquid now sells for more than $1,200 per litre equivalent. Proctor and Gamble acquired the SK2 brand in 1991 as part of its Max Factor acquisition. The hero product is facial treatment essence, a thin liquid that contains a single distinctive ingredient called pitterer, derived from the fermentation of galactomyces yeast. The formula has not meaningfully changed in over five decades. Most prestige skincare ingredients can be manufactured by multiple contract chemical suppliers globally, which means a premium brand can be rapidly imitated by a competing brand sourcing from the same facility.