Long-time readers of The Beauty Look Book know that I’m a huge fan of skincare from Tatcha. Many of my readers love the line too and I’ve tried things based on your recommendations as well. The Camellia Nourishing Lip Balm was the first item I tried from the line, followed by their Indigo Line which is hands down the best thing I’ve tested for dry sensitive itchy skin. It’s rare that I like everything I’ve tried from a single skincare line, so the fact that I’ve fallen in love with everything in Tatcha’s lineup is huge. I’ve restocked on their sheet masks, enzyme face powders, and hand cream many many times. If you’ve ordered anything from them you know how beautifully they package and wrap everything. If you haven’t yet, you need to, their customer service is excellent.
One of my favorite parts of Tatcha is that they offer a wide selection of their full sized products in Travel Sizes. It’s a nice way to try something small before committing to the full size. They are travel essentials for me. Other loves include the Pore Perfecting Sunscreen which really does make pores disappear. The Beauty Papers are in my purse at all times – they are really the best blotting papers to absorb shine without making the face look powdery.
Tatcha has teamed up with The Beauty Look Book to giveaway. 10 lucky winners will selected to each receive a travel sized Dewy Skin Mist. It’s one of my favorite mist sprays that adds the perfect amount of hydration and has a fresh feel.
Terms and Conditions: No purchase necessary to enter. A purchase does not increase your
chances of winning. Void where prohibited. US legal residents only. 1
entry per person and per email address, entry by 1 person from multiple
email addresses may be disqualified from winning. Entry begins
10/29/15 at 12:00AM PST and ends 11/2/15 at 11:59PM PST. Winners will
be notified by email. Prizes will be mailed within 30 days of end of
giveaway. By submitting an entry you agree to receive emails from
Tatcha, you may unsubscribe at any time.
Be sure to follow Tatcha on Facebook and Twitter. They have good promotions every month, sometimes you can get the news via their social channels. I was able to get a sneak preview of their holiday sets coming out soon, there are really good ones this year!
P.S. There’s a promo going on right now where you can enjoy a complimentary Luminous Deep Hydration Lifting Mask with any purchase over $75 (use code MASK75), or a four-pack with any purchase over $150 (use code MASK150) at TATCHA.com. Valid 10/29-11/2.
Do you have any Tatcha favorites? If yes, please share in the comments!
Good luck! This giveaway is brought to you by Tatcha.
Tatcha’s latest is the new Indigo Soothing Rice Enzyme Powder, available in two forms: $65 for the Full Size Version (60 g / 2.1 oz.) or $15 for Travel Size Mini (10 g / 0.5 fl. oz). This is the most gentle rice enyme powder they’ve released to date with rice bran, indigo extract, colloidal oatmeal + HADASEI-3 Bioactive Complex. Based on my testing of the Classic, Gentle and Deep, the new Indigo is the best one yet. It’s strong enough to give the skin a proper cleansing but gentle enough for days when your skin is extra sensitive. Even though it seems like the winter season never really arrived in Southern California (it’s in the high 70s this week), the weather has been dry making my skin react like a roller coaster. The Indigo Soothing Rice Enzyme Powder is the perfect exfoliant for those who don’t like traditional scrubs. If you’re like me they are almost always too harsh or if they are gentle they leave a film on the skin. The Tatcha cleans the skin well leaving it soft and residue free.
In case you are new to the Tatcha Rice Enzyme Powders, these are soft powder exfoliant cleansers that are activated with water. They come in a sturdy canister with a clever opening that helps dispense small amounts of powder into your hand. It prevents the product from getting all over the place when you use it and also makes sure that the product stays inside the container in case you travel with these. There are three types of the Polished Rice Enzyme Powders designed for different skin types: Classic is for normal skin, Gentle is for dry skin and Deep is for those with oily skin. You can see my previous review on all three here.
I use these as a double cleanse. First I use a cleansing water or oil to remove all traces of makeup. Then I follow with a regular cleanser or one of the Rice Enzyme Powders. These are the perfect mix between a cleanser and exfoliator. For me traditional face scrubs often end up tearing the skin and cause break outs (no matter how gentle they are). There is a learning curve to figure out the right mix of water to powder to create the right thickness in texture. I usually have one hand wet with water, then I’ll sprinkle about a tablespoon of powder into the palm. I’ll take the other hand (also damp) and rub together to create a paste.
Some more close ups of the Indigo Soothing Rice Enzyme Powder, featured here is the travel size:
The Indigo line is created for sensitive skin. I’ve been a huge fan of the Body Butter and Hand Creams because they really do work wonders for the skin when it’s dry or irritated. I love that they’ve added more to the Indigo line because the items smell incredibly good (although the Rice Enzyme Powder has no detectable scent). I’m secretly hoping they will release a shower gel or body lotion in the future.
If you’re new to Tatcha they have a large selection of Travel/Trial Sized items which makes it nice to try things out at a lower price point before investing in the full sized options. Out of all the Rice Enzyme Powders the Indigo is my new favorite followed by the Classic version. Tatcha kindly sent me the travel size to try out. I have the full size version in my online shopping cart right now and will be purchasing it after I hit publish on this post. The travel sized version will be traveling with me on a few trips I have in the upcoming months.
Bottom line highly recommend. You can find the Tatcha Indigo Soothing Rice Enzyme Powder in two sizes. The Full Size (60 g) retails for $65 and the Travel Size (10 g) retails for $15. Note there is still a promo code available: receive complimentary Aburitorigami Beauty Papers ($12 value) with any order over $20. Use promo code TREAT2015 at checkout to redeem. Offer may not be combined with any other promotions. Valid 3/5/2015 to 3/31/2015.
The travel sized Indigo rice powder was provided courtesy of Tatcha for review consideration.
I’ve featured the Tatcha Aburatorigami Blotting Papers in some of my previous posts here, here and here. I like keeping these with me inside my bag because they are compact, fit into small spaces and work really well. Today I have a dedicated post on these papers inspired by a long-time beauty friend. She recently wrote me asking for my thoughts on these stating “the problem with most papers is that the packaging works against you when you are on the go … it’s difficult to grab just one and hot, sticky weather doesn’t help.” She brought up excellent points. I too had actually given up on blotting papers a long time ago for a variety of reasons. Packaging was often an issue, getting just one paper out has been a challenge, and often times papers either had too much of a powdery feel or disintegrated and fell apart (even on moderate oily days).
Enter in the Tatcha Aburatorigami Japanese Beauty Papers. These are described as “all-natural leaflet blotting sheets which absorb excess oil without disturbing makeup for petal fresh skin anytime, anywhere.” These are phenomenal blotting papers that work like blotting papers should. They are fragrance-free, powder free and pulp-free.
Everything is amazing about these from packaging, design and performance. The papers themselves measure approximately 3.75 inches by 3.75 inches. The size is just right so you can use one sheet for your entire face. These absorb oil without leaving any powdery residue (there is no powder on the sheets) yet they won’t strip moisture, nor will they leave your skin looking or feeling dry. Each sheet is thin with tiny gold flakes but they have just the right amount of thickness that they won’t fall apart and don’t feel flimsy in the hands. I like that they are sturdy enough so you can easily remove one at a time. They also won’t tear easily and the thickness makes it easy to grab just one (versus thin papers that are SO thin you end up grabbing several at a time). I like that they don’t disturb makeup on the nose or forehead when you blot your face.
Another plus for these papers is that Tatcha offers multiple packaging options, individually and in kits (they are genius!). As you can see below they are compact enough to slip into a pouch.
For the individual Aburatorigami Blotting papers, there are two main packaging types. There is the Original Aburatorigami Japanese Blotting Paper that comes in a flat packed envelope with 30 sheets ($12 for a single pack, $40 for a four pack or $150 for fifteen packs.) You can also find these in a number of different sets like the Travel Kit, Nozomi Girls Kit and Bridal Skincare Set. I really like this format because of the flat pack packaging. It takes up little room in your makeup bag, clutch or purse.
The newest packaging option is the Aburatorigami Japanese Beauty Paper Tube ($15 for 35 sheets). These are cased in a black cardboard case with a clever mirror at one end. These are packed into the tube stacked, but the size is large enough so it’s easy to remove one sheet at a time from the inner part of the tube. The packaging is sturdy but since it is made of paper/cardboard, this one does seem like it will be prone to wear if it comes in contact with lots of items in your bag. The size of the papers in the tube is the same as what comes in the flat packs.
A closer look at the packaging:
Bottom line, these are indispensable to me. They will absorb oil and keep the skin looking matte for a few hours without removing moisture or adding powder to the skin. I like that they are well made and sturdy and won’t fall apart. As usual with all Tatcha items, the packaging is well designed and I like that they give you multiple options. For me these are a definite must. I’ve ordered multiples of these multiple times.
You can find the Tatcha Aburatorigami Japanese Beauty Papers at Tatcha.com and also at Barneys New York. There are two promos going on that I want to share.
At Tatcha.com, receive a complimentary Aburitorigami Beauty Paper pack ($12 value) with any order over $20. Use promo code TREAT2015 at checkout to redeem. Offer may not be combined with any other promotions. Valid 3/5/2015 to 3/31/2015.
Right now at Barneys New York, the spring Love Yourself Beauty Event starts today through 3/14. Spend $200+ on beauty and receive a gift bag with goodies and samples (while supplies last). I don’t have the full listing but the e-mail I received shows 1 pack of the Tatcha Beauty Papers is inside.
Have you tried these blotting papers? If not what are your current favorites?
I’ve received numerous e-mails about the Tatcha Travel Kit I featured about back in September. It sold out shortly after I reviewed it and was out of stock for weeks. The good news is that it’s finally back in stock on Tatcha.com!
You can see my original post for more details and thoughts on the contents, but here is a quick recap of what the Travel Kit set includes:
LUMINOUS Deep Hydration Lifting Mask – 20ml | 0.68oz
LUMINOUS Dewy Skin Mist – 40ml | 1.35oz
LUMINOUS Deep Hydration Revitalizing Eye Mask – 5ml | .16 fl. oz.
INDIGO Soothing Silk Hand Cream Travel Size – 10ml | .34 fl. oz.
It retails for $125, currently exclusive to Tatcha.com. (All items are available for individual purchase except the pouch which is currently available only as part of this Travel Kit.)
I’ve fallen in love with the Tatcha Classic Rice Enzyme Powder ($65 for 60 g/ 2.1 oz) ever since I ordered it back in July. It’s a unique water-activated enzyme powder cleanser and exfoliator in one product. This is a great alternative to traditional scrubs which I find can be too harsh for my sensitive skin. The Tatcha Rice Enzyme Powders are designed to be used on skin without makeup. I find it’s effective even with makeup on, but prefer to remove makeup at the end of the day with a Cleansing Oil first (favorites here). After I purchased the full size, Tatcha released a Travel Size version ($15 for 10 g/ 0.35 oz) which they kindly sent to me to feature alongside the full size option.
These cleansing powders are really easy to use. Pour a small amount into wet hands and add a tiny bit of water to lather up the product into a creamy foam. Apply on the face and massage like a regular cleanser for about 20 seconds and rinse.
The packaging is designed really well – it has a clever opening on the top with a small push back cap for the product. The small opening at the top prevents you from over pouring powder into your hand and also seals the packaging shut making these ideal for travel. There’s no worrying about liquids or creams leaking and the size of both the full size and travel options are compact enough to carry with you in a small bag. One of the things that keeps impressing me with Tatcha is that the packaging design of the travel sizes matches the same quality as the full size.
More packaging details, travel size versus full size shows similar packaging design:
Both have the same cap design with the clever push back cap opening:
I bought the Classic Rice Enzyme Powder version (and love it) but Tatcha has also released two additional options for different skin types. There is the Gentle Rice Enzyme Powder (pink powder) and Deep Rice Enzyme Powder (green powder) – both also available in the Travel/Trial sizes. With any online Tatcha order you have the option of selecting samples, these powders are often in the lineup. These packets have also been featured in several special edition kits they’ve released.
Tatcha sent samples of the Gentle and Deep versions for me to put to the test. Aside from the color difference, the formulas are all equally gentle but I could definitely feel the difference between each option. The Gentle Rice Enzyme Powder is designed for dry sensitive skins. After using this one, my skin felt noticeably more moisturized. The Deep Rice Enzyme Powder is recommended for oily skin and does make the skin feel more clean. I wish I had discovered this one earlier in the summer when we had really hot humid weather, it would have been perfect when my skin was more oily. After testing each, I still prefer the Classic Rice Enzyme Powder for my combination skin type.
I highly recommend these. My personal favorite is the Classic Rice Enzyme Powder option. I use it in a double cleanse method (cleansing oil first, then rice enzyme powder. The powder is a gentle but effective cleanser and helps to improve skin texture for those with sensitive skins. It’s suitable for everyday use but I tend to alternate cleansers on a regular basis and use this 2-3 times per week. These work well to clean and gently exfoliate. They are non-irritating and don’t dry out the skin either.
The Travel Sized options are perfect to put these to the test before committing to the full size which I find is on the pricey side. The full size is fairly large though and a little goes a long way so it will last you a long time. If you’re new to Tatcha you may also want to look into the Ritual Discovery Kit ($59 each) which comes in Normal, Oily, Sensitive and Dry Skintype options. These are really nice starter kits with enough product to give you a two-week trial introduction to the line. Another useful tool is the Tatcha Online Personal Skin Consultation which is a questionnaire designed to help you pick items that suit your skin type.
You can find Tatcha products online at Tatcha.com and Barneys New York, stockists listed here. I highly recommend ordering from their website. Tatcha takes great care in their packaging and sample offerings, everything is delivered beautifully wrapped.
P.S. Right now there is a promo code for a complimentary deluxe sample of the Tatcha eyecream (valued at $45) with any Tatcha.com purchase – use code EYECREAM at checkout, it expires on 10/31.
Tatcha sent the mini powder and sample packets courtesy for review. The full size purchased by me.
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Tatcha skincare. It all started with the discovery of their Camellia Nourishing Lip Balm earlier this year and since then I’ve been hooked. I’ve ordered many items from Tatcha over the past few months and have been incredibly impressed with their service. If you’ve ordered from Tatcha’s website you know first hand how much they value their customers. They pay extra attention to all the little details which makes opening your package a truly beautiful experience. All Tatcha products are packaged in exquisite boxes and the packages that come in the mail themselves are packed with extra care along with beautiful personalized hand-written notes. If you’re new to Tatcha and unsure of where to start their Travel Kit ($125) is a perfect introduction to the line. In addition they have a number of individual Travel/Trial Sized items for purchase which are budget-friendly but have enough product to give their skincare a serious test-drive before committing to any of the full-sized versions.
The Travel Kit comes in a TSA friendly zip pouch with a clear front. It’s big enough to hold travel essentials (the pouch itself measures about 8.7 x 9.4 in). Inside the kit:
I’ve tested all the items in the kit before although I haven’t reviewed the Dewy Skin Mist or Deep Hydration Eye Mask. Both are very good for dry skin or if your face needs an extra boost of moisture. With the past month of hot and humid weather, I’ve skipped both from my weekly routine and opted for using just the Deep Hydration Lifting Mask once a week for my facial moisture boost needs. I have used the Deep Hydration Eye Mask during dry/cooler weather, it really helps to soothe the eye area when I get irritation and puffiness from weather changes.
A peek at my travel bag contents from a few weeks ago:
Tumi Villa Tote (old style/color, similar white version here)
All the items are available for purchase individually, but the set does give you a slight price break. Purchasing all the items individually would cost around $151 (not including the pouch). I love that the pouch helps keep everything flat and compact. There is enough room to add a few more items in addition to what comes in the kit which is nice. Definitely a huge thumbs up from me. You can find the Travel Kit for $125 on Tatcha.com (all items available for individual purchase as well).
Do you have any favorites from Tatcha?
Many thanks to Tatcha for sending the Travel Kit for review consideration.
I’ve used cleansing oils for years but just recently started using them on a regular basis. I have been really impressed with the long-wear formulas brands have been releasing in foundation, powder, blush and
concealer. Who doesn’t want their makeup to last all day without touching up or fading? For me, the long-wear factor has had one downside: it doesn’t come all the way off with a regular cleanser and leads to clogged pores and breakouts. Using stronger cleansers tend to irritate my skin.
I have my local Chanel artists to thank for recommending that I add a cleansing oil to my daily skincare routine. I did quite a bit of research, pulled out some samples, looked for online promo codes for minis with purchases and bought a few small trial/travel sized oils to do some extensive testing.
This year I’ve explored more in skincare than I have previous years and have found it’s all a slow learning process for me. I am not an expert with skincare ingredients – I know many of you are passionate about skincare and know much more than I do about specific ingredients, formulas and what to avoid. I rely on the product specialists I talk to with various brands, online reviews and personal testing to determine what works for me. As always, I share what I’ve experienced personally – due to different skin types, your mileage may vary.
You might be wondering if you really need a cleansing oil. If you wear long-wear makeup like me and find yourself with small areas of clogged pores, I will say yes. To see how effective your current cleanser is, take a cotton pad soaked with cleansing water or a wipe and swipe your face after your normal process. You might be shocked to see remnants of product transfer to the cotton after you wipe your face down which means you didn’t clean it enough. I’ve found Cleansing Oils and Cleansing Waters help break down long-wearing makeup for cleaner skin. I’ve found the best way to use these is to apply them to a dry face with dry hands and massage all over. Rinse with warm water to activate the foaming quality and emulsify to cleanse the skin. Some are designed to cleanse the skin fully and claim to have no film leftover so you don’t need to double cleanse. I still prefer to use the two step method of a Cleansing Oil + Foaming Cleanser.
I’ve put 9 different cleansing oils to the test with various minis, samples and travel-sized options. I wish more brands would offer sampler/trial sets for skincare. I would be more likely to try new products and brands if sampler sizes were offered.
I’ve tested each oil for a minimum of 6 uses each over the past few months. With all of these, the best way to use them is to apply to a dry face with dry hands right on top of the makeup and massage it in circular motions all over the face.
Josie Maran Argan Cleansing Oil ($12 for 1.9 oz) I purchased the small travel size online based on the 4.2 out of 5 star rating on Sephora. I found this one to be my least favorite of all the oils even though I had high hopes. It has a very thick texture that feels goopy on the skin. It does a very effective job at cleaning and removing makeup, but I couldn’t get past the texture. The scent is also too sweet for my taste and the flip open cap of the mini leaked product all over the place. It also made my skin feel a bit too tight after application.
Tatcha One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil ($12 for .08 fl oz or $48 for 5.1 fl oz) I was really pleased to find out large the trial size was after ordering it online from the Travel Sized beauty category. I was also happy to see the small version come with a good pump and also with good packaging. Sometimes minis are cased in cheap containers but the Tatcha is very well designed. This turned out to be one of my favorites. It has a medium-thin texture which applies well to the face. Massaging the product emulsifies on the skin. It cleanses well with water and gave the skin a moisturizing feel without any residue feeling. It has the signature Tatcha Camellia scent which is soothing and gentle.
MAC Cleanse Off Oil ($10 for 1 fl oz) has been a long-time favorite of mine. I like to keep the mini bottle and refill it for travel although it comes in the mini size. The $10 price seemed very affordable for a trial (when I first tried it many years ago). This is the best one for removing all trace of waterproof eye makeup without stinging the eyes.
MAC Tranquil Cleanse Off Oil ($10 for 1 fl oz) was a purchase I made after reading so many rave reviews, I liked the texture and soft scent, but found it less effective compared to the regular version. If you have super sensitive skin or want something more gentle this is a good option for you.
Chanel Le Blanc Immediate Brightening Oil-Gel Makeup Remover (mini sample shown, $60 for 5 oz) is something that has been used on my at several Chanel events. It’s a clear gel that turns into an oil as you work it into the skin. It’s lightly scented which might bother some of you, but it is extremely effective. It’s the only one that will remove all traces of mascara and eyeliner. The upside of the gel texture is that it’s slightly thick so it doesn’t run into the eyes if you work it on the eye area. Even though it’s thicker, it’s not goopy and is very emollient once massaged but not greasy. This is the most unique formula I’ve tried.
Shu Uemura Anti/Oxi Skin Refining Oil (green sample gwp shown, $37-$77 for full size) has had so many raves online. It cleansed well and I found it emulsified nicely too. I couldn’t get over the scent. It smells like green tea with an emphasis on the herbal side. I liked that it left no residue on the skin but it left my skin feeling a bit tight.
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Cleansing Oil (brown sample gwp shown, $42-$90 for full size) is most like a traditional cleansing oil. It reminds me of the older versions Shu Uemura used to have. It’s gentle yet very efficient leaving skin feeling clean.
Shu Uemura Whitefficient Clear Brightening Cleansing Oil (blue sample gwp shown, $38-$81 for full size) is a brightening oil, this one has the best scent out of all the ones I’ve tried, it’s a refreshing clean scent, kinda like dryer sheets, but not quite as sharp. This one emulsified really well and is more gentle compared to the Ultime8.
Dior Instant Gentle Cleansing Oil (mini gwp shown, $36 for 6.7 fl oz) is one I had high hopes for. So many have raved about this one too. I did not like this one. It has a slightly sticky feel making it a bit hard to massage over the face. It didn’t tug or pull, but didn’t emulsify quite as well as the other more fluid options. After cleansing with water the skin felt sticky.
Here are how the minis size up next to each other and compare in packaging design, some of these were samples, some purchased. The packaging of the full size versions are usually better in quality and typically come with a pump.
Samples I purchased below: Tatcha, Josie Maran, MAC. Online samples with codes: Shu Uemura. Samples at the counter: Dior and Chanel.
To summarize my thoughts:
Best at removing all traces of makeup
Tatcha One-Step, Chanel Le Blanc Oil Gel and MAC Cleanse Off Oil
Most gentle
Shu Uemura Whitefficient and MAC Tranquil Cleanse Off
Most moisturizing
Tatcha and Ultime8
Best scent
Tatcha and Shu Uemura Whitefficient
Top picks
1) MAC Cleanse-Off Oil
2) Tatcha One-Step Camellia Cleansing Oil
3) Shu Uemura Whitefficient
I hope you found this roundup helpful. I’ve found that adding a cleansing oil to my routine has helped clean my skin better and has significantly decreased the amount of clogged pores and tiny bumps on the face. Do note that your mileage may vary depending on your skin type. I have normal but sensitive skin. If you are oily or dry you might find different oils work better for you.
What are your experiences with cleansing oils? Do you have any favorites or stories you’d like to share on what worked for you or what didn’t work out so well?