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Two of our most beloved formulas—the Indigo Calming Cream and the Indigo Overnight Repair—are often compared interchangeably. But they differ in a few, notable ways. Read on to discover which formula is right for your skin. In Japan, skin is considered a conduit to the world: It perceives temperature, touch, light, and even time. It then sends those messages to the brain to distinguish how we feel and think. Our brain and skin work in tandem, which helps to synchronize our intelligent facial skin. But, this symbiotic relationship can often lead to trouble when chemical and hormonal interactions come to play, like adrenaline, inflammation, and cortisol. Pair that with external stressors like pollution, sun radiation, and poor nutrition and you might have a damaged skin barrier.The skin barrier’s primary job is to keep moisture in and harmful substances out (including allergens, irritants, and pathogens). When it’s damaged, skin is out of sync, showing signs of dryness, redness, sensitivity, itchiness, flakiness, dullness, hyperpigmentation, and fine lines. This is where Tatcha comes into play. The Tatcha Institute has been studying and perfecting skin barrier repair for nearly a decade. Keep reading to see two products (and what makes them different) that calm and visibly relieve damaged skin.Stressed Skin SolutionsIrritated and stressed skin can occur frustratingly easily. Thankfully there are a handful of Tatcha products that are designed to strengthen skin just as quickly. Two of our most beloved products for this very task are the Indigo Calming Cream and the Indigo Overnight Repair, but which is right for you? Read on as we uncover Tatcha Indigo Cream vs. Overnight Repair.Indigo Calming CreamTransform stressed skin to strengthened skin with the newly updated Indigo Calming Cream. Our beloved fragrance-free cream has been proven to calm visible irritation and relieve itchy skin, thanks to Japanese indigo and colloidal oatmeal (an FDA-designated skin protectant). What sets this innovative cream apart from others (and even the Indigo Overnight Repair) is the addition of colloidal oatmeal, which has helped earn it the coveted National Eczema Association seal of approval for its ability to soothe irritated, eczema-prone skin on the face and beyond. Whether as a face cream or spot treatment, The Indigo Calming Cream offers a luxurious way to heal visibly stressed or eczema-prone skin for a calmer, stronger skin barrier.100 percent of panelists in a clinical study saw an improvement in softness and suppleness immediately, an improvement in the appearance of the skin barrier after one week, and an improvement in visible redness and evenness of skin tone after four weeks. The emotional benefits of using the new Indigo Calming Cream are worth noting, too. In a clinical study self-assessment questionnaire, 86 percent of panelists noted that the product left them feeling like their skin was healthier after just one week.Benefits: Soothes dry and irritated skin Relieves redness and itchiness Long-lasting hydration Texture: Velvety rich creamUse: Morning and nightIngredients: Japanese indigo Colloidal oatmeal Hadasei-3 Indigo Overnight RepairTatcha’s award-winning Indigo Overnight Repair is a fragrance-free, soothing serum-in-moisturizer treatment. The formula, which includes Japanese indigo, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid, provides an immediate improvement in moisture, smoothness, and radiance. What truly sets the Overnight Repair apart from other treatments is the formula’s ability to balance the microbiome, helping to cultivate good bacteria so skin performs at its optimal, symbiotic level. The cushiony treatment is ideal for evening use, where the luxurious application can be used as an act of mindfulness and sensorial skincare moment, helping to bring comfort and peace of mind while unwinding at the end of the day. In clinical studies, 100 percent of users saw an improvement in their skin barrier strength within four weeks.Benefits: Visibly calms irritation and redness Strengthens skin barrier Balances skin’s microbiome Texture: A cushiony creamUse:Night onlyIngredients: Japanese indigo Ceramides Hyaluronic acid Mondo grass root Suggested Skin-Soothing RitualWhile it’s tempting to pit Tatcha Indigo Cream vs. Overnight Repair—the two products truly work best together. Here’s our suggested daily ritual that’s proven to soothe, calm, and visibly repair skin.Morning Ritual Purify with The Indigo Cleansing Balm Polish with The Rice Polish Plump with The Essence Nourish with The Indigo Calming Cream Evening Ritual Purify with The Indigo Cleansing Balm Polish with The Rice Polish Plump with The Essence Nourish with The Indigo Overnight Repair

Tatcha is honored to have a collection of innovative, highly-effective face creams. But we often get asked about two of our most popular moisturizers: The Water Cream vs. The Dewy Skin Cream—which is best? Read on to discover which option is right for you. At Tatcha, we are truly honored to care for your skin. We aim to put the ‘care’ back into ‘skincare’ with each and every Tatcha product—and our collection of nutrient-rich, highly-effective face creams are some of our proudest innovations. One question we often receive, regarding two of our best-selling products, is: Tatcha Water Cream vs Dewy Skin Cream—which is best? There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to the Tatcha Dewy vs Water Cream debate—the only correct answer is selecting the ideal moisturizer for you and uncovering the unique cream that can deliver the optimal level of hydration for your specific skin type. And that’s a question we can answer. Read below to uncover the differences between The Water Cream and The Dewy Skin Cream—and discover which option is right for you to unlock your healthiest-looking complexion yet.Why We Love The Water Cream Launched in 2017, The Water Cream took the world by storm, offering a refreshing burst of hydrating nutrients and pore-refining botanicals for balanced, healthy-looking skin. The Water Cream features wild rose and leopard lily to balance the skin, decongest pores, and minimize excess oil production. Plus the water-burst cream formula also includes our Hadasei-3 Complex, which includes Uji green tea to detoxify and prevent premature aging, Okinawa red algae to seal in moisture, and Akita rice to nourish and hydrate. Appearance-wise, the cream imparts a subtle, shine-free glow.Those with combination and oily skin will adore The Water Cream for its pore-reducing, balancing, and lightweight qualities. The unique formula delivers deep hydration, without leaving skin sticky or greasy, too. Oily skin types tend to shy away from face moisturizers because they can feel greasy or have used a hydrator in the past that led to clogged pores. But finding a lightweight moisturizer, like The Water Cream, balances oil and can make skin not only feel better, but also look healthier. In consumer studies, 95 percent of users found their skin looked brighter, more hydrated, and had a healthy-looking glow after four weeks of usage. Why We Love The Dewy Skin Cream Making its debut in 2019, the emollient-rich Dewy Skin Cream was specifically launched to give skin a natural glow and pair beautifully under makeup. The rich, moisturizing cream plumps skin for a dewy, healthy-looking appearance–thanks to antioxidant-packed Japanese purple rice, hyaluronic acid, and our superpowered Hadasei-3 Complex (to restore healthy radiance). The rich texture increases hydration, radiance, plumpness, and overall texture and firmness. When applied, the cream gives the skin a dewy and radiant glow.The Dewy Skin moisturizer is wonderful for a variety of skin types, but those with dry skin will treasure this cream. Dry skin needs extra emollients, ceramides, and peptides (all are present in this cream), which soften the skin’s surface and drench it with hydration. In consumer studies, 100 percent of users noticed an increase in hydration and an improvement in radiance and plumpness in two weeks of consistent use.Similarities: The Water Cream vs. The Dewy Skin Cream Both moisturizers are complexly hydrating and contain a handful of similar ingredients, including hyaluronic acid and our treasured Hadasei-3 Complex. They both also have a whisper of 23-karat-gold for a subtle, lit-from-within sheen.Differences: The Water Cream vs. The Dewy Skin CreamThere is a noticeable and intentional difference between the two moisturizers. The Water Cream is specifically designed for combination and oily skin, helping to target oil production and balance the skin. While The Dewy Skin Cream is ideal for drier skin types looking for more intense nourishment and hydration.Your preference between the two might also depend on your locale or time of year. If you live in an area of extreme humidity and heat or a cold, dry climate, your choice of moisturizer might alter depending on the skin’s needs at that time. For example, those with oily skin might need the extra hydration and support from The Dewy Skin Cream during extremely chilly, dry weather.Of course, both work beautifully under makeup, but they do have different finishes. The Water Cream has a pore-refining, light texture and imparts a more matte-like finish. While The Dewy Skin, as you might expect from its name, provides a dewy, radiant glow.No matter which moisturizer you select, we encourage you to take a few moments of mindfulness while applying your cream during your daily regime. Having a moment of mindful meditation paired with your skincare routine can elevate the routine into the extraordinary.

Ever noticed how good you feel after spending time in nature? Our founder, Vicky Tsai, learned that being connected to nature not only lifts your mood, but has a proven impact on your overall well-being. On her visits to Japan, she fell in love with the Japanese ritual of shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, which is scientifically proven to decrease stress, lift mood, and improve concentration simply by engaging the five senses in nature. Through extensive research, forest science experts like Tatcha partner Dr. Qing Li of the Nippon Medical School in Tokyo, have found that seeing greenery, hearing birdsong, tasting wild vegetables, touching tree trunks, and smelling the forest’s natural aroma can set off a myriad of health benefits. After studying shinrin-yoku and feeling its effects first-hand, our founder Vicky Tsai and team set out to discover whether these benefits could translate to skincare. While each sense plays an important role, research shows that 50% of the benefits of forest bathing come from “smelling,” or breathing the forest air, which is rich in phytoncides: airborne compounds emitted by trees’ essential oils to ward off mold, bacteria, and insects. When these compounds are released into the forest air and inhaled into the body through the lungs, they’re proven to boost immune function, decrease stress, lower blood pressure and provide a relaxing effect. “This scent stimulates the brain through the olfactory nerve, and has a relaxing and calming effect on the brain, and also has a positive effect on memory,” Dr. Li told us. But, exactly how do phytoncides accomplish all this? Studies have shown that forest bathing for three days and two nights increases what are known as natural killer cells: immune cells that defend against bacteria, viruses, and tumors, as well as anti-cancer proteins. “If you take a forest bath once a month, your body will always remain at a high level of immune function. This is very important preventative medicine,” says Dr. Li. But you needn’t visit the forest to obtain these benefits. Through his research, Dr. Li has found evidence that inhaling essential oils or applying them to the skin can reduce stress levels and increase natural killer cell activity and anti-cancer proteins in the cells. “I used a humidifier to diffuse [hinoki] essential oil evenly into the air in a hotel room, and had the subjects stay in the room for three nights,” says Dr. Li. “The results showed that inhalation of phytoncides increased immune function, decreased stress hormones, and improved sleep.” Informed by Dr. Li’s research, we created the Forest Awakening body care collection. Rooted in the proven power of trees, all three formulas contain our essential oil blend of hinoki, hiba, and cedar, to deliver the benefits of forest bathing to your home. Our Hinoki Body Wash, Milk, and Oil are each steeped in the citrusy wood scent of hinoki to awaken your senses and calm your mind while cleansing, smoothing, and moisturizing your skin from head to toe for holistic care.

Off the southernmost tip of Japan’s mainland lies Okinawa, an archipelago of wondrously clear water, white-sand beaches, and lush, verdant vegetation. Aside from its natural beauty, Okinawa is home to some of the most abundant coral reefs, incredible wildlife, vibrant blossoms—and some of the healthiest people in the world. Recognized as a Blue Zone, Okinawa is famed for the health, vitality, and happiness of its inhabitants, who happen to enjoy some of the longest average lifespans in the world. The astounding longevity of its citizens can be attributed to their activity—Okinawa is the birthplace of karate—as well as their plant-based, nutrient-rich diet. Surrounded by water, Okinawans have much respect for the ocean and its bounties, and make use of its many offerings in their daily life, from omega-rich fish in meals to red algae in their religious ceremonies. Known as a “treasure from the god of the sea,” this same red algae is a key ingredient in many of our skincare formulas, like The Dewy Skin Cream. With the belief that what is good for the body is good for the skin, Okinawans have included many other local oceanic finds in their beauty rituals as well. One such beauty secret includes kucha, a clay found only in the central and southern seas of these islands. This soil was blessed by marine life, enriching it with minerals and nutrients five million years old. For centuries, Okinawan women have cherished this clay for its superb oil-absorbing properties, using it as a hair powder or face mask. We chose this beloved kucha clay to act as the base of The Clarifying Clay Mask, our sensorial face mask that will help return harmony to your skin. We paired the clarifying and oil-absorbing properties of Okinawa kucha clay with gently exfoliating Japanese konjac (a starchy root vegetable) and warming Japanese volcanic ash to create this innovative clay mask. The Clarifying Clay Mask works in three minutes to help your skin let go of excess oil and sebum, leaving behind only essential moisture. Ideal for oily and combination skin, this mask helps reveal a complexion as clear and beautiful as Okinawa itself, with smoother texture, visibly tighter pores, and a soft, hydrated feel. We hope this timeless offering helps transport you to this wondrous island, if only for a few moments.

What words would you use to describe your ideal skin? Some common responses might include “soft,” “smooth,” or “plump”—the same words you would use to describe a baby’s skin, and that’s not a coincidence! When you were born, your skin contained the highest levels of all of the skin-improving substances you commonly see on a skincare label: hyaluronic acid, collagen, elastin, and more. As you age, your body’s production of these substances slows down and the evidence can show up as fine lines, dryness and loss of firmness. The best way to delay the visible signs of aging, like wrinkles, lines, and dark spots, is to focus on enhancing your skin barrier function. Tagawa-san, our Chief Scientist at the Tatcha Institute, explains what your skin barrier is in a way that’s easy to visualize: “Skin consists of regular stratum corneum and intercellular lipids: imagine a brick structure and cement that exists in between, and this structure is strong enough to resist even physical stimulation.” This outermost layer of skin acts as your first line of defense between your body and the environment, like sun and pollution. While the natural process of aging can weaken your skin barrier function, environmental factors can accelerate this damage. “When the skin’s barrier function is impaired by external or internal stress, water is evaporated, and skin becomes sensitive.” Your skin naturally renews this layer every 28 days, bringing healthy, new cells up to the surface. Our proprietary complex found in every formula, Hadasei-3™, helps enhance the skin barrier function with lactic acid, amino acids, and other various components naturally produced in the complex’s fermentation process. When used every day, Hadasei-3™ can improve the epidermal skin barrier function to help reveal healthy-looking skin. Your skin barrier is also responsible for retaining and regulating moisture levels in the skin, and performs best when it is properly hydrated. According to Tagawa-san, “your skin barrier function is not something special; it’s a natural function that your body has to maintain your skin in ideal condition.” In infancy, your body fed your skin barrier nourishing materials like hyaluronic acid and squalane. A moisture-binding molecule that helps skin retain moisture, hyaluronic acid gives skin a hydrated, plump appearance. To maintain the hydration levels in the skin barrier for proper function, squalane, a saturated and stable hydrocarbon, works as an emollient and seals in moisture. Though your skin produces less of these materials as you get older, you can replenish the skin barrier by incorporating these native-to-skin ingredients into your daily skincare ritual. Inspired by the Japanese concept of shinsei, which translates to ’new birth,’ Tagawa-san created our newest formula, The Dewy Serum, to restore and replenish the key components of healthy skin, lost over time, to help it perform at its optimal level. This serum uses 73% Hadasei-3™ to gently sweep away dull, dead skin cells, then replenishes your skin with hydrating and plumping hyaluronic acid, and emollient squalane derived from sugarcane for healthy, renewed cells in your skin barrier. Together, these three ingredients return to your skin the supple, bouncy radiance lost over time. Our whole collection of Dewy formulas—like The Rice Wash, The Dewy Skin Cream, Luminous Dewy Skin Mist, and Luminous Dewy Skin Mask—harness the hydrating benefits of these native-to-skin ingredients to help renew your skin’s barrier function.

Over the decade that I’ve been visiting Kyoto and interviewing geisha, there has been one consistent answer to my question, “what’s the most important part of your skincare ritual?” The answer is invariably, bintsuke, a soft wax that she melts in the palms of her hands and massages onto her skin as the last step of her skincare ritual. In addition to creating a smooth poreless canvas to help her makeup last all day, it protects her skin from makeup and pollution while holding moisture in the skin, all at once. I loved the idea of a protective barrier between skin and makeup but having tried the bintsuke wax myself, dreamt of recreating the benefits with a natural material that felt featherlight on the skin instead of waxy. Our scientists at the Tatcha Institute in Tokyo were intrigued by the challenge and so we began researching weightless ingredients that would act as a second skin. We found our dream ingredient in silk. If you have ever worn silk and wondered why it feels as if you’re wearing nothing at all, it is because silk proteins are biosimilar to our own skin’s proteins, down to the amino acid composition. The key to turning silk extracts into a second skin would be marrying three silk extracts together to capture all of the benefits of this wondrous natural material - from holding in essential moisture, to protecting the skin from impurities. After years of refining the formula, The Silk Canvas was born. The first thing I noticed when I began using it was how effortlessly makeup applied, how dramatically it improved color payoff and how my makeup lasted all day whenever I used it - even becoming water resistant. After one week, I was even more delighted to see the texture of my congestion-prone skin changing from not being directly exposed to the oils and pigments in my makeup. For the first time in my adult life, I feel like I have truly foundation-optional skin. It’s our honor to bring you this treasure, evolved from the geisha’s beloved rituals. Spun from the best of both worlds, The Silk Canvas is skin-protecting and makeup-perfecting for healthy, lustrous, filter-finish skin. I hope you love it as much as we do and can’t wait to hear about your results too! The Silk Canvas, $52

Meeting a living, breathing geisha for the first time is a bit like looking at someone who just stepped out of a museum painting. The elaborate kimono and perfect hair capture the eye first, but it’s the iconic white makeup that mesmerizes me the most. The layered pigment, called oshiroi, was one of the main inspirations behind our new sunscreen because of its flawless, smooth-as-silk finish. “Oshiroi is comprised mostly of natural ingredients, including titanium dioxide and zinc oxide ...” During the four-year journey to create a modern-day, translucent version of this complexion perfector, I learned many fascinating things about oshiroi—including its theatrical origins. Centuries ago geisha performed in candle-lit rooms and relied on oshiroi to illuminate their faces. The tradition continues largely unchanged to this day. Oshiroi is comprised mostly of natural ingredients, including titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which have sun protecting properties. Moist to the touch but solid in its small pan, the makeup is gently brushed onto skin in thin layers to achieve the look. Before applying it, geisha use a thin layer of wax-based primer, called bintsuke to protect their pores and create an even canvas. The combination of primer and makeup allows geisha to wear their performance makeup for hours without any creasing or caking. Its mineral-based ingredients created a protective veil that reflected and scattered the sun’s rays, serving as one of the earliest forms of sun care. From the beginning, I knew our Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen would include light-deflecting protection from zinc oxide, which we blended with Japanese Wild Rose extract to tighten pores and leave skin petal-soft. For those who wear makeup, it doubles as a primer so that cosmetics look better longer. For those forgoing foundation, it gives skin a naturally beautiful finish that lasts all day. Even though our version of everyday oshiroi is not as recognizable, it effortlessly imparts the same elegant, skin-perfecting look that geisha mastered long ago.