Unwrapping TATCHA Skincare

I started writing about TATCHA because I couldn't find a comprehensive review of the geisha-inspired skincare line. And if I had searched for a review, I reasoned, then there must be other individuals out there searching as well. Wanting to close the gap, I sent for the sampler kit and put up my review. Essentially, I rolled up my review, put it in a bottle, and tossed it onto the ocean of the World Wide Web.

To my surprise, the CEO of TATCHA herself, Victoria Tsai, found my posts and reached out to me. She signs her e-mails "Vicky" and "Founder," which encapsulates perfectly her business philosophy: professional yet personal. If you follow her on Twitter, where she recently put up beautiful pictures of her research trip to Kyoto, you can see that she genuinely cares about both her brand and her customers.

In my review, I had mentioned that redness was one of my primary concerns. Victoria Tsai e-mailed me an article on inflammation, in which a certified dermatologist recommended antioxidants, and especially green tea, as an effective countermeasure. Victoria then explained, "In a clinical study, we have found that women see a marked reduction in redness after 1-2 months of use and it's because of the anti-oxidants (green tea) + abrasion-free exfoliation." This is promising.

I would have been honored to receive the e-mails alone from the CEO of a beauty company I admire, but Victoria went on to send me a token of appreciation as well: a full-size jar of the Moisture Rich Silk Cream. (My first freebie as a beauty/style blogger! Disclaimer: no affiliation, no profit, no influence, yay.) I got to see once again how thoughtfully she has worked out every detail of her line. Opening this package was like unwrapping a gift of many delicate layers. Shall I show you?

  
A beautiful card with a handwritten message from Victoria Tsai inside, wishing me exquisite skin.

The box resembles mahogany wood, and the logo is in gold foil. On the sides are the ingredient list and the product description. It opens from the side, and accordions out into a exquisite interior. The passage on the inside explains the concept and history behind the line.

Wrapped in a strip of printed rice paper is the jar itself.

The bow holding the little spoon is utterly charming, and practical as well. But that's not all. On the inside of the rice paper "scroll" is a note from the CEO.

Have you ever seen a skincare product so intricately designed and packaged? I've said this before, and I'll say it again: TATCHA gets luxury and customer service right. That is rare.

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Face, with Estee Lauder Topaz Mosaic Eyeshadow Palette

In college, I went through what only can be called a monochromatic neutrals phase. Each outfit would be composed of variations on one shade: i.e., brown, tan, beige, ivory. I've since learned the value of a pop of color, but there's still a part of me that loves a clean, neutral palette.

For that reason, I've kept meaning to try out this spring's Estee Lauder Pure Color Five Color Eyeshadow Palette in Topaz Mosaic. The other evening, getting ready for a date at The Orchard in downtown Frederick, I saw my opportunity to create a whole face around this palette.

Outdoors.

Indoors.

The eyes actually took me three tries to get right. The first try, I overdosed on the peach shade in the upper left corner and ended up with orange brows. The second try, I went with the standard darker crease and realized it didn't suit this palette. Finally, I succeeded in replicating - or more accurately, approximating - the look on the models as made up by Tom Pecheux for the Derek Lam Spring 2012 show.

Charlestongirl of Best Things in Beauty was instrumental in me getting this look (and the palette, for that matter). Not only did she showcase beautiful swatches, but she also shared some tips from Pecheux on how to wear the yellow in this palette: "Try layering with one of the taupe or brown shades to add warmth and depth. Yellow doesn't need to be scary, try using it just as a highlighter on the brow bone until you get used to playing with such a different shade." Charlestongirl pointed out that Pecheux had placed the darker shades on the center eyelid, instead of in the crease as usual.

First, I applied the scary upper left peach-orange shade to the center of my lid, being very careful not to stray into the crease or onto the brow. This served as a warm base. Second, I washed the upper right gray taupe shade all over the eyelid. Third, I took the lower right brown shade and softly lined my upper lash line; I stopped short of the inner corners, however. I also smeared some brown onto the center of my lid. Fourth, I swept the lower right shimmery pastel peach along my brow bone. Last, I dabbed the inner corners with the yellow (which can be applied either sheerly or heavily).

It took trial and error, but I got there. Topaz Mosaic gave me a clean and warm yet sultry look, and the yellow just makes things interesting. For mascara, I used my favorite, Dior DiorShow Mascara in Mitzah. Described as a "tawny panther sparkling brown," the mascara deposits tiny shimmery brown particles along my lash line. I turn to this when I feel black mascara would be too harsh. Mitzah is limited edition and available only on Sephora; currently, it's on sale for $14.50. I still wanted a bit more color, so I lined my inner lower rim with Giorgio Armani Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil in Copper, a beautiful rose-gold that has a brightening effect.

For my cheeks, I decided to try By Terry Rose De Rose Sheer Liquid Blush in Amber Rose. The beautiful warm coral-amber stain turned out to do triple duty as blush, bronzer, and contourer. I applied this very sparingly, as a couple of tiny dabs were quite enough. The product has a heavy rose fragrance, and I found it rather cloying for the first ten or fifteen minutes. At the same time, the rich scent lends a touch of luxury. Best Things in Beauty has swatches on this as well. Charlestongirl is right in that once applied, this brownish shade looks very natural even on light skin.

On my lips, I used Guerlain Rouge G in Gisele, a gorgeous deep rose mauve that grabs almost as much attention as a red lipstick. I'd also bought Estee Lauder Pure Color Lipgloss in Citron Kiss, so I decided to see what would happen if I layered it over Gisele. Wow! The lipgloss deposits a very thin layer of pale sunlight, and it transformed Gisele into an easier, more graceful version of itself. It really helped pull my lips and eyes together. I may have to start layering Citron Kiss over everything.

A perfect face for a warm spring evening. For a base, I kept it light with my usual Tarte Smooth Operator Tinted Moisturizer with SPF in 04 Agent over Rodin Olio Lusso. I did add a pop of color, and a nautical feel, by pairing my crisp white shirt with this navy blue print skirt by Maeve of Anthropologie.

The food and company, by the way, were great.

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YSL Glossy Stain 17 Encre Rose

In the tube, YSL Glossy Stain 17 Encre Rose looked like an unnatural shade of pink. Exactly how would it translate to my lips? I was a bit apprehensive. Then with the first swipe, I realized that this was a glorious, all-but-neon fuchsia.

I have reported on the YSL's hybrid gloss-slash-stain line, and Encre Rose is one of its finest offerings. The pigmentation is saturated, the gloss is lush, and after several hours of wear your lips still are coated in a juicy blue-toned fuchsia.

This color brings to mind the best of the 80s nightclubs. Nevertheless, you could wear Encre Rose during the day for a pop of color. YSL has managed to make a classy neon.

In person, this shade is so vibrant. I decided to take additional photos in our bright lime green bathroom (the interior designer was my little brother) which really brought out Encre Rose's bubblegum-pop neon undertones.

Everyone needs a dash of fuchsia in their life. I defy you not to be happy wearing YSL Glossy Stain 17 Encre Rose.

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Le Metier de Beaute Red Velvet Lip Creme

While we're waiting for the rest (two lip glosses and one eyeliner) of the Cherry Blossom limited edition set to come out, I thought I'd share the sumptuous Le Metier de Beaute Red Velvet Lip Creme.

This may be the ultimate red lip, and it's not even available as a regular purchase. It was marketed as a Neiman Marcus GWP, and I actually passed the event up. It was only when I picked up the Cherry Blossom Kaleidoscope at Mazza in DC that Michael Reinhardt dropped Red Velvet into my bag as a thoughtful gesture.

And oh, it's so red. Others have described this as a true red, a tomato red, and I agree. There are virtually no orange- or blue-leaning tones. It's simply a vibrant bolt of red, and as a result it's a bit overwhelming to wear. I apologize for the terribly clashing shirt; I swatched this at the end of the day, and didn't bother to change. Red Velvet would look insane with a white blouse and a sweeping updo.

The texture is rich and glossy, like an extremely decadent lipstick. I was able to get a relatively steady line with the doe-foot applicator, and the color didn't migrate or feather. Several hours later, after a meal, I still had a beautiful deep red stain.

It's so red! The next closest thing I have is Dior Ara Red Lipstick. Le Metier de Beaute really should make Red Velvet a permanent addition to their line. Failing that, you may still be able to find one squirreled away under a beauty counter somewhere.

What a marvelous red.

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Review of TATCHA Skincare

This evening I went in for my regular European facial at the Art of Beauty, and now my skin feels splendid. Since then, I've been lounging around the apartment in pajamas and eating chocolates. It's a good time to talk about another luxurious skincare experience that I've had recently: TATCHA, inspired by the geisha's ancient beauty routine.

I introduced the line in an earlier feature, and over the past weekend, I tried out the deluxe sampler set. I approached this with modest expectations; I'm quite content with my current regime, which works for my sensitive skin, and I receive compliments on the soft and youthful appearance of my face. Still, my skin could be better, especially when it comes to my pores. So why don't I try TATCHA?

Let me go straight to the end: TATCHA skincare is potent and delivers the "baby-pure skin of the geisha" that it promises.

The One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil is a sweet-smelling oil that you rub onto your dry face to remove makeup and also to condition dry skin. It absolutely does not strip the skin of essential oils. When I returned to my beloved argan oil cleanser from Kahina Giving Beauty, in fact, my skin felt dry and tight in comparison!

The Polishing Rice Enzyme Powder may be my favorite product out of the line, because the results are so clear to the naked eye. You pour a tablespoonful of the dry powder into wet hands, then rub them together to create a paste. Using this for the first time, I was shocked at how gentle the paste felt on my skin, and I thought that the exfoliating action mustn't be working. Then I looked into the mirror and saw smooth and glowing skin. More exciting for me, I also saw smaller pores. Nothing else has ever made my pores shrink so dramatically. After two days, I could no longer say that I had enlarged pores on my nose. Of course, now that I have switched back to my old regime, they are beginning to grow again. For the sake of my pores alone, I must have a vat of this polishing powder. I tried both the Classic and Gentle versions, and I can say that the Classic is perfect for twice-daily use on even my reactive skin. Alternatively, I like to use Classic at night and Gentle in the morning.

The Deep Brightening Serum is similarly marvelous. A pump or two of this milky serum absorbs into the skin weightlessly, and delivers a massive amount of hydration; in the first few seconds, also, it delivers an intense warming sensation. The brightening effect was not dramatic, but the company says it takes four to six weeks of regular use for a difference to be noticed. I like this serum simply for the remarkable hydration that it delivers.

The Moisture Rich Silk Cream is the final step in the routine, and it seals all that moisture in to create a protective barrier around the skin. Amazingly, it is as weightless as the serum, and I felt like I had nothing on my face at all. However, I merely had to stroke my cheek to realize that TATCHA skincare had made my skin the softest and smoothest it has ever been. Geisha beauty secrets, indeed.

The only issue I could find was that the products didn't improve the inherent redness in my skin. Most products aggravate the redness, and it's been a lifelong battle to find ones that are kind to my skin. TATCHA skincare made my face porcelain-smooth, but not porcelain-white. Is this a deal-breaker? I'm not sure yet. I haven't used up my samples yet -- it looks like they are meant to last about a week -- so I'm going to continue experimenting. If nothing else, I know I'm getting the Polishing Classic Rice Enzyme Powder for my pores.

Update 3/28: This morning, I still felt great from the facial. I didn't want to bring my skin back down to earth, so to speak, with my regular old products, so I returned to TATCHA. I followed all the steps, going with the Gentle version of the Polishing Powder, then applied my regular tinted moisturizer which has that all-important SPF. The result was flawless skin. The Silk Cream is meant to double as primer for makeup, so it anchored my tinted moisturizer perfectly. My face looked lighter and brighter, due to the serum, and I could find no bumps or pores anywhere except for my nose. TATCHA preserved, and enhanced, the results of my facial. This is the game-changer I was looking for. I need the entire line now. I'm going to cry when my samples run out.

TATCHA skincare delivers on what it promises, and the clean yet luxurious simplicity of its ritual makes for a transformative experience, day and night. I thought my skin was soft, until I tried TATCHA! The line is currently available on the company's website and at Barneys.

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From TATCHA Skincare, with Love

Best Things in Beauty is currently hosting a forum on beauty samples and their usefulness or lack thereof; one point that hit me was that single-serving skin care packets give a user nearly no information on a product's performance or suitability, since our skin requires a regimen. As things would have it, I've just opened my box of samples from TATCHA, and I think the company has solved the sample issue brilliantly.

Recently I featured TATCHA's new skincare line, and pointed out that they offer a deluxe sample set for $49. When they say deluxe, they mean deluxe.

Unwrapping purple paper, you find a sachet made from elegant rice paper and a beautiful booklet.

Inside the sachet is a surfeit of goodies. The packet of blotting papers alone normally costs $12. And the containers are so generously sized.

Really, these are travel-sized. If I decide to get the full-sized containers, I still would order extra sample sets for traveling with. Speaking of full-sized, the package also arrived with a beautiful rice-paper envelope containing a personalized letter with all the information I could need, including a customer service number.

At the bottom of the letter, the CEO of TATCHA had thoughtfully handwritten a note with a code for 15% off any full-sized item should I choose to purchase one. Now that's service!

Skincare shouldn't be just an obligation, but a luxury. TATCHA has this down cold. More high-end beauty companies could afford to follow its example.

Update: My review of the line is now up!

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