Summary
In this conversation, Tatcha Global Ambassador Kiko Mizuhara opens up about the intersection of skin and mind—how caring for her body has become a way of caring for her emotions, too. She talks candidly about learning to define her own worth after years of seeking it elsewhere, what Japan's contrasts of softness and intensity have taught her about beauty, and what ritual, rest, and self-acceptance look like for her today.
Tatcha's Global Ambassador Kiko Mizuhara is a model, actress, environmental activist, and cultural tastemaker. She began building a career on her own terms after arriving in Paris at the age of 18—and being told there was no place for her there. She has since become one of Japan's most influential style icons, with a career spanning global luxury campaigns, acclaimed film roles, and a devoted following across Asia.
The pandemic marked a turning point for Kiko, prompting her to turn inward and reconnect with herself. Finding beauty in stillness. Learning to set healthy boundaries. Discovering her own worth and confidence. Not performing balance, but living it. At 35, she defines beauty as feeling healthy, grounded, and comfortable in who she is today.
You’ve been an outspoken advocate for mental health. Tatcha believes beauty is not just skin deep, it’s where skin and mind intersect. What does that intersection mean to you?
Life is always changing. Some days are beautiful and some days are really hard. Even on difficult days, taking care of myself helps me feel more grounded. Sometimes just having my skin feel healthy and hydrated can comfort me emotionally too. It feels like a small reminder to be kind to myself. I think when you learn how to take care of your own energy and emotions, hard days become a little easier to move through.
Today we’re shooting in Japan. It’s a place filled with so much beauty and nature with a quality unlike anywhere else in the world. What has Japan taught you about presence, has it shaped how you think about beauty?
I think people often see Japan as very quiet and peaceful, which is true in many ways. There’s a real beauty in stillness here. But Japan also has this very punk, expressive side too–festivals, music, fashion, underground culture, creativity. There’s a lot of intensity in emotion here, as well. I think that contrast inspires me the most. Softness and strength existing together. Stillness inside intensity and intensity inside stillness. That balance has really shaped the way I see beauty.
Life can move pretty fast–travel, work, constant motion–what has stillness taught you that motion couldn’t?
I still struggle with slowing down sometimes, but I think those are usually the moments I need to reconnect with myself the most. For me, that can mean doing yoga, moving my body, spending time in nature or even just sitting by the river and focusing on my senses for a while. We live in such an overstimulating world now and our minds become overloaded very easily. So I really value moments where I can quiet my mind a little and come back to my body. That’s usually when I feel the most inner peace.
How has your idea of beauty shifted over the years?
I think that what matters most to me now is feeling good within myself. If you always think about how other people see you, the worries never really end. When you focus more about how you feel inside, your relationship with beauty changes completely. Of course getting older brings new insecurities and changes, naturally. I’m 35 now, and for me beauty is about feeling healthy, grounded and comfortable with myself as I am today. There’s so many different standards of beauty now, but personally, I still think natural, healthy beauty is most beautiful. To me there’s something really beautiful about someone who feels comfortable in their own skin.
You once said that you underestimated yourself and eventually learned to believe in yourself instead. What did that journey look like, what experiences created that shift?
I think I spent a long time looking for validation outside of myself. Starting in this industry so young, you naturally become aware of other people’s opinions. Through different experiences–heartbreaks, mistakes, and growth–I realized nobody else can really define my worth except me. For me, confidence didn’t come from becoming perfect. It came from accepting myself more honestly. Including the sensitive, emotional, imperfect parts of me. I still have moments where I feel insecure. But now I try not to judge myself so harshly for it. Little by little, I’ve learned to accept even the sadness or loneliness inside of me as a part of who I am and through that I became much more connected to myself.
Tatcha practices skincare as a ritual, not a regimen–grounded in the intention you bring to each step. If you were to design the Kiko ritual, what would it look like?
My ritual would be very simple and sensory. I love making tea, lighting incense, and listening to music. Dance a little, take a warm bath and doing my skincare slowly and carefully. I also love stretching and really checking in with my body. For me, ritual is about taking time for myself and paying attention to how I feel–my skin, my body, my energy. It’s really about reconnecting with myself.
This campaign is about the connection between skin and mind. What does that connection look like for you in our own life?
I absolutely believe there’s a deep connection between skin and mind. Life moves so fast, and we constantly are going through different emotions and experiences. Some days feel beautiful and some days feel really difficult. But I think even taking a few small moments every day to care for your skin, body and mind can really affect how you feel emotionally. Sometimes when I’m having a hard day, just feeling like my skin is healthy and cared for makes the day feel a little softer. Doing my skincare at night gives me comfort and helps me feel hopeful for the next day. For me, skincare isn’t just about appearance, it’s a way to care for yourself emotionally too.
If you could say something to young Kiko, what would you tell her?
If I could say something to my younger self, I’d probably tell her that she’s going to love herself more and more as she gets older, and that life will become even more beautiful than she imagined. I’d tell her to keep going and keep believing in herself, and not to be afraid of difficult experiences because eventually those experiences will become her strength. Most importantly, I’d tell her to trust herself more. And be healthy!
What is your favorite Tatcha product?
My favorite Tatcha product is the Deep Hydrating Sheet Mask. I love it so much. I used it the day before the photoshoot and I feel like it’s working!
