When it comes to looking after one’s face, sometimes natural feels the very best way to go. Tatcha is a brand we love that does just that. Founded by Victoria Tsai, this Asian inspired skincare label is the latest on our must have beauty list.
Passionate about skincare from a young age, Victoria grew up learning her mother’s traditional Asian herbal skincare treatments before going on to forge a career in the international beauty industry. It was a trip to Japan, however, that got Tatcha started. Searching for a new approach to beauty, an encounter with a modern day Geisha in Kyoto and a glimpse into the 300 year old world of their beauty techniques gave Victoria the formula for her own approach to beauty. As she began to immerse herself in Japan’s culture, Victoria unearthed a 200-year-old beauty manuscript. On its ancient pages, she rediscovered the Geisha’s coveted daily regimen, one that documented their use of the natural goodness from Green Teas, Okinawa Red Algae and Rice Bran to achieve their famous flawless beauty. Moved and inspired, Victoria founded TATCHA as a way to share these timeless secrets with the modern world. Here, she shares her top five tips for beautiful skin.
1. My TATCHA Secret: GOLD Camellia Beauty Oil
I love the Gold Camelia Beauty oil and use it everywhere: my face, hair, nails, elbows. It’s super-calming and nourishing but light in texture; perfect for the summer. I have very oily skin, but because of the molecular weight of the oils we chose, it sinks in quickly and does not leave any weight afterwards.
2. My Secret Ingredient: Camellia Oil
Camellia oil is a light but luxurious botanical oil, which nourishes and hydrates skin. It feels amazing because it’s biocompatible with our skin, and contains 80% oleic acid. For centuries, Japanese free divers have coated themselves in camellia oil to protect their bodies from the frigid ocean water. It’s a key ingredient in our new Gold Camellia Beauty Oil and Gold Camellia Nourishing Lip Balm, as well as our Pure One-Step Camellia Cleansing Oil.
3. The Geisha’s Secret: Rice Water
One of my mother’s favorite tricks growing up was also the most simple. She would save the water from the first wash of rice, and we would use the cloudy water to wash our faces. The opaque water is rich in komenuka, which contains inositol, a nourishing moisturizer, and gamma oryzanol, a powerful antioxidant.
4. My (non-beauty) Secret Ingredient: Green Tea
Your skin is your body’s largest organ, and as such reflects your health. Superfoods such as green tea are beneficial for both. Green tea has been known to detoxify the system and protect against strokes, heart attacks, and infection. I start my morning with a steaming mug.
5. Beauty from within
The most wonderful advice I received from a geisha was to think kind thoughts. She said that kindness and happiness radiated outwards, making you more beautiful than skincare or makeup ever could.