TATCHA - Superb Skin Care from Japan

I want to introduce you to TATCHA, a beauty company that is inspired by ancient geisha skin-care traditions. I think you're going to love it as much as I do.

For over 300 years, Japan’s geishas have been held in awe for their breathtakingly beautiful, porcelain skin. Perfected through centuries of timeless rituals, the beauty secrets of the geishas had been passed down from one generation to the next by word of mouth - that is, until TATCHA rediscovered their coveted daily regimens in a 200-year-old manuscript, written in the twilight of Japan’s Edo Period.

Traveling back to the City of 2000 Temples (Kyoto), TATCHA worked with teams of scientists, scholars, and geisha themselves to decipher the rituals and ingredients from this text. What they uncovered is the very foundation of Eastern skin care and beauty.

TATCHA’s formulas pay homage to the icon of Eastern beauty and their own storied heritage. Now the secrets of the geisha live on through a proprietary process involving the most precious green teas, Okinawa red algae, rice bran, and other time-tested ingredients.

Until TATCHA contacted me and sent me a few product samples, I had no knowledge of the company. TATCHA skin care is available exclusively at Barneys, online at TATCHA.com, and in a variety of boutiques around the world. The products are made in Japan. They launched over two years ago with their signature beauty blotting papers, which were originally created and used by gold craftsmen, and they recently announced the availability of a full skin-care line.

TATCHA has received great coverage recently by respected media, including Vogue (US, Brazil, Great Britian, and Australia), Marie Claire, Allure, and the Today Show, but remain largely, I believe, an undiscovered gem. Maybe we can change that!

What did I get to try? Let's start with TATCHA Radiant Deep Brightening Serum ($150). This serum is the ultimate luxury serum. Considered a brightening serum (huge in Asia, becoming more and more popular in the United States), Deep Brightening Serum is composed with time-tested Asian botanicals and TATCHA's proprietary HADASEI-3 Bioactive Complex for radiant looking skin. The serum hydrates my skin nicely, while adding a brightened, even-toned appearance. It is very lightweight in feel, so a little goes a long way on application. While I was using it over a period of about four weeks, I often had to remind myself to top it with TATCHA's moisturizer. It made my skin feel nice and moist, with absolutely no residue or stickiness that some serums leave behind. If you want to see all the ingredients, just click on the link above, which will take you to the serum's page at the TATCHA site.

I had a deluxe sample of TATCHA Supple Moisture Rick Silk Cream ($150), and I nearly cried when I swept the last cream out of the jar after three weeks.  This weightless-feeling gel-cream of liquid silk, squalane, royal jelly, and HADASEI-3 Bioactive Complex is absolutely perfect for summer. It leaves my skin beautifully moisturized with no feel of a heavy cream (heavy moisturizers are a staple in my routine). It's perfect under makeup. It's formulated with natural ingredients. Even better, it has no mineral oil, synthetic fragrances, sulfate detergents, parabens, PEGs, PPGs, urea, DEA, TEA, or phthalates. They weren't in the skin-care secrets of the geishas, and you won't find them in TATCHA. Again, just click on the link above to see the ingredients. I plan to order this moisturizer. If I can have only one of the products - given the obscene amount of money I've spent on makeup and perfume this month - it's this one. I haven't had the opportunity to try it in the harshest winter months, but I'll bet I like it then just as much.

I'll pause and remind you that my skin ranges from dry to very dry and is sensitive. In my opinion, these products from TATCHA will perform equally well on all skin types, mainly because they are so lightweight on the skin, even though they are packed with good stuff for your skin.

The third product I tested was TATCHA Polished Rice Enzyme Powder ($65). The exfoliating grains come in three variations: Gentle, Classic, and Deep. Even though my instincts told me to start with Gentle, I started with Classic. Why was I hesitant? Physical exfoliators and I have a rocky relationship. My skin is very thin and tears (micro-tears leave red, raw-feeling skin) at the slightest provocation. Not with these!

The water-activated enzyme powder of rice bran, papaya, and TATCHA's HADASEI-3 Bioactive Complex will reveal your skin's natural gleam, exfoliating without harsh abrasives for effortless baby-soft skin. These rice enzyme powders function as a 2-in-1 cleanser for those who aren't wearing makeup and would like a nice deep clean. I was impressed. I mix the powder with water, and a paste forms. The paste thoroughly cleanses my skin, leaving it soft and clear.

My overall verdict is that TATCHA is a keeper. I love the products I tried, and I'm looking forward to a long-term relationship. I'm already coveting the Luminous Dewy Skin Mist, which I discovered online.

You really need to check out TATCHA's Web site, especially if you can't get to a Barneys. TATCHA is a "find," and I recommend a visit. Those geishas were onto something.

Photos courtesy of TATCHA