As far as ritualistic skincare - the sort steeped in centuries-old tradition - are concerned, few brands carry the same weight as Tatcha. In fact, when it was still only available to buy State-side, firm fans of the brand on this side of the Atlantic were so infatuated with the Japanese skincare brand, that they were willing to pay those hefty US custom charges just to get their hands on its cult offerings (guilty as charged). Luckily, that all changed in 2022, when the J-Beauty brand came over to the UK by way of Space NK.
A Brief History Of Tatcha Skincare
Launched in 2009 by Vicky Tsai, Tatcha seeks to marry Kyoto's age-old beauty rituals with modern skincare tech , the aim being to deliver functional, effective and sensorial skincare products that deliver visible results and luxe up your everyday skincare routine in one go. Take Tatcha's first-ever launch, the Aburatorigami Japanese Blotting Papers, £12. Tatcha took its cue from gold artisans in Kyoto who used sheets of abaca leaf paper to protect the precious metal. These sheets of paper were cleverly repurposed by Geisha, who used them on their faces to whip away shine without ruining their intricately applied make-up or unnecessarily sapping moisture from their skin. Tatcha's papers pay homage to this tradition, and bring the genius of a historic beauty hack to the beauty shelves of the modern world.
At A Glance: Tatcha's Best Buys
Best Cleanser: The Rice Polish Classic, £64
Best Moisturiser: The Water Cream, £67
Best Serum: The Serum Stick, £49
Best Body Product: The Hinoki Body Milk, £50
Over the years Tatcha has evolved into a world-renowned skincare authority, famed for a skincare line-up that delivers results and seamlessly blends scientific innovation with tradition, think Japanese botanicals enriched with clinical ingredients.
Watch Daniel Martin's Genius Face Mask Hack With Tatcha's The Essence
Celebrity Fans Of Tatcha Skincare
Skincare aficionados have long been hooked on Tatcha's skincare offering and the brand counts a number of A-listers among it's roster of loyal devotees. the brand has amassed 445.9M views on TikTok alone), and the same can be said for A-listers, too. We know Meghan Markle is a longtime fan of the brand's The Rice Polish Classic, £64, a water-activated daily exfoliant that transforms into a creamy foam and gently exfoliates as it cleanses. Likewise, Jennifer Aniston has been known to use Tatcha’s Serum Stick, £49, - it was spotted BTS on the set of The Morning Show while her makeup artist Angela Levin prepped her skin during filming.
The brand has even attracted the attention of celebrity make-up artist Daniel Martin, who is now Tatcha's Global Director of Education and Artistry and has helped develop several key products in the range including the bestselling Silk Canvas Primer, £51. It's a seamless link-up - Martin is a close friend of the Duchess of Sussex. It's unknown who first introduced who to Tatcha, but the pair have been working together since the Duchess's Suits days. If you're keen on trying Tatcha but don't know where to start, scroll on as we run through the brand's best launches to date.
Did you know that Tatcha's entire skincare range is pregnancy safe?
Tsai first began working on Tatcha when she was pregnant. Bowing out of a decade's worth of work in corporate America, she devoted her time and concentration to studying the natural Japanese ingredients and timeless rituals that transformed her skin, all while she was months away from becoming a mother. Alongside a team of scientists, geisha, and cultural advisors, from Kyoto to San Francisco, she launched a brand and a skincare line-up that she wanted to use. The result is a skincare range that is entirely pregnancy-safe. Take a look at the brand's official line on the topic below:
'Our products are pregnancy-friendly as we do not formulate with retinols. Additionally, we do not formulate our products with the following ingredients that health professionals recommend avoiding during pregnancy: Mineral oil, synthetic fragrances, sulphate detergents, parabens, urea, DEA, TEA, phthalates. If you have any allergies or specific concerns, we encourage you to consult your doctor.'
Shop: Tatcha's Best Beauty Products Of All Time
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If a real glow is what you are after, turn your attention to this. It's rich and works to plump and nourish skin thanks to a blend of hyaluronic acid and Okinawa algae, as well as antioxidant-rich Japanese purple rice which protects against daily aggressors.
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A personal favourite. In the arena of lightwight, gel-like moisturisers, this takes the cake. Infused with Japanese wild rose, leopard lily and Hadesai-3™ (a fermented complex of rice, algae and green tea), it bursts with a hit of hydration on application and leaves behind a smooth radiance that lasts.
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Lip masks may be all the rage now, but Tatcha's has been around for some time. This overnight treatment boasts squalane, Japanese peach extract and Japanese camellia oil to seal in moisture, soften and restore the lips' delicate skin.
'Whenever I sit down for a makeover with Daniel Martin, he starts by masking my lips with this. It's nourishing, shine-laden and one of my all-time handbag must-haves. I'm forever grateful to Daniel for introducing me to it.' Annie Vischer, Grazia's beauty director.
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Whether you use it to set your make-up or refresh your skin throughout the day, this will quickly become your next skincare routine staple. With 20% botanical oils and humectants, including hyaluronic acid and Okinawa red algae, as well as Tatcha’s proprietary Hadasei-3™ (a blend of double-fermented Uji green tea, Mozuku algae and Akita rice), skin is left soft, supple and radiant.
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A bestseller and product of Daniel Martin's industry prowess, this multi-tasking primer can be used on the face, eyes and lips to prep the skin ahead of make-up application. Featuring silk extracts, powder and the brand's Hadasei-3™ complex it quickly blurs percived imperfections for a smooth, even, soft-focus base.
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Made with finely milled Japanese rice bran, silk proteins and papaya enzymes, this water-activated exfoliant lathers into a creamy foam to gently exfoliate the skin, leaving it brighter, conditioned and smooth. It's especially beneficial for those with combination to dry skin.
'I'm a Suits stan, so I first heard about this stuff when reading through an interview that Meghan Markle had given about her all-tome beauty essentials. Tatcha hadn't yet launched in the UK and I couldn't face the excessive customs charges of having it shipped over from the US, so I bided my time, I waited until Tatcha finally hit UK soil and I made a play for it. I was not disappointed. One pot lasts you for months and months and months, and the formula is second-to-none. My skin seems to get on really well with rice bran an the gentle level of exfoliation it affords. I'm never without a pot. There's also the added bonus that you can take it as part of your hand luggage when travelling without it counting as a liquid - the more space you can save in those teeny tiny plastic bags they hand out at airport security, the better.' Annie Vischer, beauty director.
www.tatcha.co.uk
Tsai created this as a response to the pandemic and the effects of stress on the skin. This hybrid 2-in-1 serum and moisturiser is packed with Japanese indigo extract, ceramides and Mondo grass root to deliver calm, balanced and a strengthened skin barrier come morning.
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A duo of plant-based retinol replacements make this a more gentle and balanced alternative to vitamin A usage. It will reduce redness and lines, while boosting smooth, radiant skin.
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If you love a cleansing oil (yes, everyone can use one), look to this. Centred on Japanese camellia oil, which is laced with vitamins and omega fatty acids, it is surprising effective at removing make-up, sunscreen and daily buildup, all while drawing oils out of the skin without stripping it of moisture.
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A couple of drops of this stuff, patted delicately into the skin while it's still damp, will help to maintain soft, plump and radiant-looking skin. Thanks to the inclusion of amino acids, it also works to encourage natural cell turnover to supports moisture retention.
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Tatcha's newer collection of cleansers features this cream-based delight that is loaded with Japanese rice powder , Okinawa algae, hyaluronic acid, and a pH-neutral amino acid base, which leaves skin silky, smooth and supple thanks to ceramides. Ideal for dry skin types.
www.spacenk.com
Inspired by forest bathing, AKA shinrin yoku in Japan, Tatcha's collection of body care offerings is intended to immerse the five senses to help calm and relax the mind. this luxurious body oil boats a forest awakening essential oil blend of cedar, hiba, and hinoki oils, as well as natural Hinoki oil blend to reduce stress and lift mood while softening the skin.