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.
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.
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
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
www.spacenk.com
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.
Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'My first foray into Tatcha's brilliant world of skin-hugging moisturisers was byway of The Water Cream, which I adore for all its lightweight, refreshing and soothing qualities. But, come winter or those occasions that require an ultra-glam moment, I reach for this. It is rich, creamy and works to plump and nourish my skin instantly thanks to a blend of hyaluronic acid and barrier-boosting Okinawa algae, as well as antioxidant-rich Japanese purple rice which protects against daily aggressors. My skin always looks and feels healthier and lifted post-application, which makes the perfect base for make-up.'
Pros
- Nourishing formula
- Great make-up base
Cons
- Expensive

www.tatcha.co.uk
A personal favourite. In the arena of lightweight, 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.
Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'For days when you want a lighter base, I keep this in close reach. It is ideal for the summer months when you don't want your skin to feel heavy and flooded with product. Despite its featherweight feel, it still manages to leave my skin feeling delightfully quenched and perfectly primed for make-up.'
Pros
- Lightweight
- Ideal for summer
Cons
- May not be nourishing enough for some

www.tatcha.co.uk
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.
Annie Vischer, head of beauty, says: '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.'
Pros
- Ideal for your handbag
- Nourishing salve
Cons
- White lid can get dirty fast

www.spacenk.com
If you love the Dewy series, you'll want to know about this. It is like a spray-on moisturiser that instantly delivers a boost of hydration. Use it both under and over make-up for a refresh at any moment.
Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: '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.'
Pros
- Spray on moisturiser
- Can we worn under and over make-up
Cons
- Small size means you'll get through it fast
www.spacenk.com
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.
Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'Some prime their base with a serum, others use a spray. My go-to is the brainchild of celebrity make-up artist and Tatcha's Global Director of Education and Artistry, Daniel Martin – the man behind Meghan Markle's most covetable make-up looks. This multi-tasking bestseller is a product of Martin's industry prowess, it can be used on the face, eyes and lips to prep skin ahead of make-up application and features silk extracts, powder and the brand's Hadasei-3™ complex (a cocktail of skin-loving green tea, rice and algae) to quickly blur, smooth, and even to help create a soft-focus base all while treating the skin over time.'
Pros
- Pore blurring formula
- Lightweight feel
Cons
- Nature of packaging means product pan can get dirty if not careful

www.tatcha.co.uk
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.
Annie Vischer, head of beauty, says: '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.'
Rachael Martin, beauty director, says: '£61 for a cleanser? There’s no denying that this one sports an eye-watering price tag. I prefer to spend my money on something that will have time to sit on my skin, like a serum or moisturiser. That said, as cleansers go, this one really is a joy to use. Suited to all skin types (normal, dry and combination) Tatcha’s The Rice Wash has been formulated as PH-neutral to balance and keep your delicate skin barrier intact. The texture is creamy and light and smooths on to skin beautifully. While I don’t use it as my first cleanse (I prefer to go in with a cleansing balm initially to melt away stubborn make-up) I do think it works well as a second cleanse. It melts away any lingering impurities and leaves my skin feeling soft and nourished - without that dreaded tight, stripped feeling. There’s an impressive mesh of ingredients to thank here - think Japanese algae to comfort, hyaluronic acid to plump and Tatcha‘s Signature Hadasei-3, said to ‘restore a visibly healthy, youthful-looking radiance.’ And my skin does look brighter and more supple after incorporating it into my routine. Would I repurchase? Yes, actually. But I’ll wait until it’s on sale to stock up.’
Pros
- Gentle daily exfoliator
- PH-neutral
Cons
- Not ideal to travel with

www.tatcha.co.uk
Tsai created this as a response to the pandemic and the effects of stress on the skin. Packed with Japanese indigo extract, cleansing lipids and Hadasei-3, it quickly washes away make-up, without stripping the skin of moisture, with a buttery-soft feel.
Rachael Martin, beauty director, says: 'For a gentle, soothing cleansing balm look no further. Tatcha’s makes light work of melting away make-up. I’ll simply warm it up in the palms of my hands, press into my skin and watch as grime - including waterproof mascara - disappears. I also appreciate the dinky gold applicator which avoids grubby fingers dipping into the pot (guilty). My main gripe? It's much too small. For £40 I want more than just 54g. Although I do think a little goes a long way, my stash is depleting quicker than I’d like.'
Pros
- Buttery formula
- Effective at removing make-up
Cons
- Those with oily skin may want to avoid
www.selfridges.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 milk boasts a forest awakening essential oil blend which does much to reduce stress and lift mood, while softening the skin.
Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'When Tatcha entered the body game, we knew our everything shower was about to level up. 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, relax and rebalance the mind. This luxurious body milk is one such embodiment of that practice. It boasts a forest awakening essential oil blend of hinoki, cedar and hibi to reduce stress and lift your mood, while a cocktail of peach tree leaf extract and plant-derived squalane helps to hydrate top to toe.'
Pros
- Uplifting oil blend
- Skin conditioning formula
Cons
- Packaging print fades quickly

www.tatcha.co.uk
Available in three shades, this hydrating lip tint is loaded with SPF 25 to provide creamy protection whenever you need. The dreamy shades are both blendable and buildable - soft red, coral pink and dark berry. Infused with silk protein and botanical lanolin, it works to nourish while protecting from sun damage.
Rachael Martin, beauty director, says: 'This is my everyday lippie - it’s a total all rounder. Bolstered with a hit of SPF to ensure protected lips at all times, just a slick reveals a beautiful, natural looking wash of colour - ‘Plum Blossom’ is my go to for achieving the perfect peach-toned nude. The texture is light but nourishing, and leaves lips feeling soft and supple. I do have to apply quite frequently to keep the colour topped up but as it’s such a joy to use I don't really mind. Trust me, you’ll be hooked.'
Pros
- Loaded with SPF
- Creamy hydrating formula
Cons
- Only three shades available
Sameeha Shaikh is Grazia's beauty writer, covering all categories to bring you insights on the latest trends, industry news and the products you need to know about, viral or not (most probably viral).