What is acne?
Acne forms when pores become clogged with excess oil, dead skin cells, and sometimes, bacteria. The resulting inflammation is typically a swollen, red pimple. The origins of acne are fairly unknown, but scientists theorize that our prehistoric ancestors may have lost their fur faster than their sebaceous glands could adapt, leading to an overabundance of oil.
What causes acne?
Though it’s more common in teens due to a surge in hormones, anyone can get
acne, even babies can experience acne. It’s most often caused by fluctuating
genetics, hormone levels, environment, and lifestyle — factors that can
affect anyone.
Pores are the small openings on the top layer of your skin that release
sweat and oil, and they tend to be most visible on the oily areas of your
face, like your T-zone (forehead, nose and chin). Clogged pores occur when
your skin is regenerating new skin cells during its natural renewal process
and the dead skin cells become trapped in your skin, which leads to an
increase and buildup of oil production, dirt, and dead skin cells. This can
be caused by a variety of factors including bacteria, sweat, hormones,
makeup, or incorrect skincare products.
These dead skin cells, dirt, debris, and sebum (also known as excess oil)
then clog pores by sticking to their sides—which results in breakouts and
blemishes such as pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads.
It’s also worth considering other factors when breakouts suddenly occur. The
Japanese skincare ritual isn’t about overnight transformations or aggressive
treatments. Rather, it’s about meditative moments attending to your skin and
to yourself, every single day. To truly care for your skin, you must go
beyond trying to eliminate a pimple or splashing away makeup. Think of your
skin as a reflection of your body. Could it be stress that causes a
breakout? A lack of sleep that results in dry or dull skin? Skincare can
only go so far if you aren’t paying attention to the state of your soul.
What products can help treat blemishes?
Everyone's skin is different, and your skin can be ever-changing. Consult it daily to assess how it’s reacting to any rituals or treatments. It can be so satisfying to focus on one skin issue until it’s gone, but it would save you lots of effort to try and prevent the issues from occurring in the first place. By purifying, polishing, plumping, and nourishing your skin with a classic Japanese skincare ritual each and every day, you can help minimize those issues that irritate you, whether it’s a breakout, dry texture, or sunspots. The building blocks of a beautiful skincare ritual, particularly for those that are experiencing breakouts, start with the basics: cleansing, exfoliation, treatment, and moisturizing.
Cleansing
Cleansing is one of the most important aspects of your daily skincare ritual, no matter your skin type. Removing excess oil, sebum, makeup, sunscreen, and debris is vital for happy skin. Particularly if you have oily skin or an oily T-zone area, your skin produces extra sebum that can lead to clogged pores and eventually breakouts. Cleansing with The Deep Cleanse is a great start to your morning and end of your day. The gentle gel cleanser lathers into a creamy foam to lift away oil without over-drying. Skin is left feeling refreshed and comfortable afterward.
Exfoliating
Rice is the basis of our exfoliants. We love this humble dietary staple
because it effectively removes impurities while providing skin-nourishing
oils, which is perfect for those experiencing blemishes. A natural enzyme
exfoliant, rice bran boasts potent antioxidants and nourishing moisturizers,
and when activated with water, rice powder can not only decongest your
pores, but also brighten skin tone, diminish the look of hyperpigmentation,
and help enable skin to better absorb the next steps in your ritual.
Many conventional Western exfoliants contain seeds, salt, or ground shells
that can tear and tug at the skin, with even weekly use causing irritation.
Rice powders are beloved because they can be used every day without
stripping or pulling at your skin. Instead, the foam delicately removes the
dead skin cells that make your complexion appear dull. Try our bestselling
Rice Polish Deep
—it’s composed of finely ground rice bran, papaya enzymes,
and wild rose to promote healthy, natural skin turnover. To activate the
powder, simply add a drop of water to create a creamy foam.
Serums and Treatments
For your night routine, we recommend our
Violet-C Brightening Serum
, a
clean, kind-to-skin formula with two types of Vitamin C and antioxidant-rich
Japanese beautyberry. Mild fruit AHAs also work to resurface and exfoliate
dull skin. The brightening serum helps to reveal a translucent, radiant
glow. A brightening serum can also help lighten the appearance of scarring.
Similar to our Violet-C Brightening Serum, our
Violet-C Radiance Mask
is
formulated with Japanese beautyberry, two types of Vitamin C, and AHAs from
seven fruits. This creamy, rinse-off mask helps treat dullness, uneven skin
tone, and texture—and helps provide antioxidant protection from sun damage
while revealing softer, glowing skin.
Moisturizing
Those experiencing blemishes and breakouts may be tempted to skip
moisturizers altogether, thinking it may cause even more to appear. However,
a lack of hydration will cause a dryness imbalance, thus causing the skin to
create excess oil, and increasing the potential for additional blemishes.
Look for a moisturizer that hydrates but doesn’t leave skin coated or
greasy.
The Water Cream
was created for congested skin specifically, as it’s
a lightweight, clarifying cream that releases a burst of hydrating nutrients
and pore-refining botanicals for healthy, balanced skin. The unique
water-burst formula breaks upon application to deeply deliver treatment
benefits and hydrations without leaving skin sticky or greasy.
“When I talk to women with acne or eczema, they often tell me that they feel
as if their skin has betrayed them,” says Tatcha founder Vicky Tsai. “I
understand that because I thought of my skin as being out of control, too,”
she says. “But perhaps the most valuable lesson the Japanese approach to
beauty has taught me is that skincare is about caring. Your skin works hard
for you. If you show it attention and love, it will reward you with a
healthy radiance.”
