SK-II Unveils First Airport Shop

SK-II, an anti-aging face-care brand owned by Procter & Gamble (Cincinnati), has opened its first global travel retail flagship store. Located at the Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex in Haitang Bay, Hainan, China, the new space is “a multi-sensory prestige skincare experience, taking inspiration from the heritage, innovation and craftsmanship of its exclusive Pitera ingredient,” the company said in a news release. (The latter is a naturally derived skincare ingredient crafted from a proprietary yeast fermentation process.)

“The worlds of skincare, art and craftsmanship collide in SK-II’s global travel retail flagship store, as the luxury brand reimagines Pitera and rituals in the fermentation process that inspired its discovery,” the release states.

The store’s entrance is home to “More Youthful as You Age,” an art exhibit that’s a nod to SK-II’s longitudinal study from 1999 to 2011 which uncovered the skincare discoveries behind Pitera.

At the center of the store is a “golden sanctuary” — the LXP Experience, an interactive art installation developed in partnership with international artist Studio Swine. Featuring eight falling drops onto a basin shaped like the LXP cream, the drops burst upon skin contact, releasing a mist and continuously regenerating.

The store also has product discovery area with gradient colored spheres of natural material forming the foundation of the tester bar, a symbolic reflection of the passing of time in fermentation. Such spaces also feature Pitera-inspired glass crystal art pieces by international artist Flavie Audi. In addition, the store walls were created with an artisanal plaster technique inspired by SK-II’s heritage.

“The unveiling of our first global travel retail flagship store in Hainan marks a significant milestone in SK-II. More than a retail store, we have crafted it to be a must-visit destination,” said Sue Kyung Lee, President, P&G Skin Care.

The opening of SK-II’s global travel retail flagship store is being accompanied by the launch of “the Act of Craftsmanship” — a LXP an experiential installation that will run through Oct. 29 in Block C of the Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex.

The opening of the airport location follows SK-II unveiling a new, mall-based store concept earlier this year in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, reports Cosmetic Design Asia.