T-House

Reconnecting with nature through shinrin yoku Sunlight streams through the lush greenery, illuminating spiderwebs, creating a visual feast. Conversations between squirrels and birds harmonize with wind-rustled branches. An errant breeze kisses your cheek as your feet sink ever so slightly into the soft earth. The smells of damp moss, fresh flowers, and wet wood fills your lungs. You feel your pulse gently slow. Your breathing becomes easier. You are forest bathing. All month long, we’ve been exploring the Japanese concept of shizen, which focuses on the importance of nature to our well-being. With so much of our lives existing in the digital space, we’ve come to realize how nurturing it is to reconnect to nature. One of our favorite ways to do this is forest bathing. Better known as shinrin-yoku, forest bathing is any act that involves making contact with and taking in the atmosphere of the forest. Coined by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries in 1982, shinrin-yoku is an ideal way to restore harmony in your mind, body, and soul. Something as simple as taking a walk through a wooded area has been shown to help lower pulse and blood pressure*. Even if you live in the heart of a city, spending some time in a nearby park or green space can help trigger the same soothing effects. You could consider forest bathing a form of healthcare. Many studies have been conducted with positive results concluding that spending prolonged time in nature can help reduce stress levels and boost immunity. Humans evolved in nature, so it stands to reason that returning to our original environment can act as a natural remedy for our modern-day stresses. Forest Bathing: How To Engage Your Senses With Shinrin-Yoku from Tatcha on Vimeo. For the most authentic experience with the best results, we recommend diving in head first—leave your phone at home and no, you don’t need to bring a bathing suit! While bathing is in the name, forest bathing does not involve swimming. Our preferred forest bathing activity is slow, aimless wandering. Walk without a destination in mind—the destination is to simply experience each and every aspect of the present moment. Take in the environment and mentally note each sensation you feel—the warmth of the sun on your skin, the pungent scent of soil in your nose. If you feel so moved, stop to examine the lines in a leaf, or peek under some brush—who knows what beauty you may come across.

Did you know that the same ingredients we use to care for your skin can also care for your insides? It’s understood that what is good for the body is also good for the skin, so many of our most beloved ingredients are present in the Japanese diet. For instance, Hadasei-3™, our proprietary complex, consists of three superfoods that are dietary staples in Japan: rice, algae, and green tea. Incidentally, Japan has the longest life expectancy among developed countries. Scientists credit their longevity to genetics, but also, importantly, to lifestyle and diet. The same way you care for your skin, you can care for your body with natural, wholesome ingredients. Not only will you feel better, but it will also have a positive impact on your skin, since your skin is an expression of what is going on under the surface. So when you regularly feed your body healthy food, you’ll be rewarded with a healthy glow. Below, we’ve put together three easy recipes to help you incorporate these simple yet transformative ingredients into your meals. RICE Chirashi-style Green Tea Rice Makes 5 servings From Vicky: I adore this recipe because you get two superfoods in one dish—and now you have a fantastic reason to clean out your refrigerator. (My daughter loves to rummage through our fresh veggie drawer and hand me ingredients.) The green tea rice makes a beautiful and flavorful base for whatever you sprinkle on top. 1 tablespoon green tea leaves 3 cups uncooked Japanese short-grain white rice Anything in your fridge (eggs, mushrooms, carrots, snow peas, green beans, baby corn, tofu) Pinch of salt, to taste Mix the green tea leaves with the dry rice in a bowl and then cook the rice as usual. The green tea will soften on the stove and add flavor. While the rice is cooking, prepare your add-in items as needed. Scramble eggs over heat and sauté vegetables like mushrooms, julienned carrots, and snow peas. Once the rice is cooked, let it cool for about 10 minutes and mix in the other ingredients. For a crunchier version, add vegetables raw and let the heated rice cook them slightly. ALGAE Seaweed Pesto Makes about 2 cups From Vicky: Reimagine traditional Italian pesto as a savory Japanese topping with this easy-to-prepare recipe. I sometimes add it to my Chirashi Sushi so I manage to enjoy all three superfoods at once. 5 sheets roasted seaweed (such as wakame), torn 1/2 cup pine nuts 1/2 cup olive oil 2 cups mixed greens (parsley, spinach, or basil) 2 garlic cloves 2 tablespoons lemon juice In a food processor, combine the seaweed, pine nuts, and olive oil. Pulse until blended and then add greens, garlic, and lemon juice. Finally, blend and stir. Serve over rice or atop crackers, or add a dollop to poached salmon, grilled tofu, or any other protein. GREEN TEA Homemade Oat Milk + Matcha Latte Makes 1 serving A finely ground powder of young green tea leaves, matcha retains more nutrients than traditional green tea brewing methods, making it our preferred beverage for a quick pick-me-up. Oat milk gives this energizing beverage a soothing touch that you can feel even after you’re finished sipping—the leftover pulp can be used as a gentle body scrub. This is delicious both hot and iced, so you can enjoy it year-round. For the Oat Milk ½ cup whole rolled oats 3 cups filtered water 3 dates (optional for sweetness) Pinch of salt (optional for taste) Add the oats, water, dates, and salt to a blender and blend for 30 seconds. Place a mesh strainer over a container to store the milk. Then place a nut milk bag within the strainer, and slowly pour the contents of the blender into the bag. Let strain. For the Matcha ¼ teaspoon matcha powder 2 ounces hot water Pour the matcha into a small bowl and sift with a matcha whisk or regular whisk, whatever you have works! Slowly add the 2 ounces of the hot water, whisking briskly in an “M” or “W” shape until the matcha is fully dispersed and there is a foamy layer on top. Combine your preferred amount of oat milk with matcha in a glass and enjoy!

Here at Tatcha, there is nothing we love more than getting to know our customers. To return the love, we thought you might like to get to know us. So, we’re giving you an inside look at our very own team members. You might recognize Shira as our model, cast in a glow of blue light to demonstrate how our newest offering, The Silk Powder, can shield your skin from this digital skin stressor. Read on for her skincare rituals, how she became a part of the Tatcha family, and more. What do you do at Tatcha? I am the Visual Merchandising Production Designer at Tatcha. With the rest of the Visual Merchandising team, I help bring the Tatcha experience to life through designing stores, pop-ups, events, and travel retail spaces. It has been a rewarding and wonderful experience being able to work with different people across multiple teams to bring Tatcha to life to so many customers around the world. Tell us about your skin. I have oily-combination skin and tend to break out easily. What is your favorite Tatcha formula and why? My favorite Tatcha formula is the Violet-C Brightening Serum. It contains vitamin C, Japanese beautyberry, mild fruit AHAs, and Japanese angelica root. My skin instantly absorbs it and I found a dramatic improvement in my skin tone. It didn't take too long to see the results and this has become a staple for me! What is your skincare ritual? My skincare ritual is pretty simple. I usually cleanse my face with The Rice Wash and follow it with The Essence, and The Water Cream. At night, I use The Rice Wash again with The Essence afterward. I also use the Violet-C Brightening Serum and The Dewy Skin Cream to end the night. It's only 3-4 steps, but I find this manageable and very enjoyable to do each morning and night. What’s your definition of self-care? Self-care is not only taking care of your body physically, but also taking the time to care for yourself emotionally and mentally. Sometimes, being alone and doing simple everyday tasks such as cleaning my desk or meditating is a form of self-care. I also try to maintain a consistent workout schedule even if it is only 20-30 minutes a day. That is still time that I intentionally allot for myself! What’s one thing you do for yourself every day? I always start my morning making my own cafe- or matcha latte. It signifies that I am ready to tackle what's ahead of me that day! What’s your best skincare tip? Drink a lot of water! Good skin comes from within so hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! What about Tatcha most resonates with you? From day one at Tatcha, I knew that the people who made the magic happen behind the scenes would be the reason why I continue to stay here. Tatcha strives to take care of its customers and that is also embodied by each and every person on every team at the office. Everyone is so authentic and welcoming, and I think that extends to our work. What drew you to Tatcha? I usually listen to podcasts when I commute to work. One of my favorites is Skimm'd on the Couch. One episode featured Vicky, the founder of Tatcha. That episode was so memorable because she spoke so eloquently about her humbling experience starting the brand from the ground up. She had so much respect for Japanese culture and I remember thinking to myself that it would be such a cool experience to work at Tatcha one day. I am so lucky that everything fell into place! What have you learned about yourself working at Tatcha? I have learned that I am able to step outside of my comfort zone and grow tremendously. With a background in architecture, I always thought my lane would be straight and narrow. At Tatcha, I have been able to do multiple things from designing spaces to accessory conceptualization to graphic design. I have been able to wear many hats and I am able to learn something new almost every day. It has truly been such an eye-opening experience to know I am able to pick up new skills and broaden my horizon. We hope you enjoyed getting to know Shira, and are excited to meet more of the Tatcha family in the future!

When it comes to beauty rituals, we believe that beautiful makeup begins with beautiful skin. That’s why we formulate both our skincare and makeup with protective, nourishing ingredients. Silk is one of the best examples of this; its amino acid–fortified structure is so similar to that of our skin that it sits like a weightless veil, cocooning our faces in protection and nourishment while imparting the smooth, silky luster associated with the beloved fabric. Our newest offering, The Silk Powder, demonstrates how these time-tested ingredients can care for your skin while helping you look like the best version of yourself. This talc-free setting powder protects skin and makeup, blurring pores and shielding skin from blue light and pollution, all while imparting a soft-radiant finish that looks beautiful with or without makeup. We asked our very own Global Director of Artistry and Education, makeup artist Daniel Martin, to share how to create a natural makeup look with The Silk Powder. When developing the formula, we turned to Martin’s expertise in the field; he has mastered the delicate art of creating a “no-makeup” look better than anyone we know. Tatcha founder Vicky Tsai, a long-time friend of Martin, says it best: “He believes makeup is not just about covering up, but elevating and exposing natural beauty.” Read on for his tips, how The Silk Powder compares to its inspiration, and more.The Silk Powder is inspired by oshiroi, a protective makeup worn by geisha. What fascinates you most about the traditional geisha beauty ritual?The ritual of time and application in the process of transformation. From the tools, to placement and skin prep underneath, it is the true form of a beauty ritual respecting the art and practice of it from start to finish.Oshiroi is the opaque white powder that gives geisha their otherworldly appearance while shielding their delicate complexions, but The Silk Powder is translucent, which makes it more palatable for modern-day makeup looks. How else would you say The Silk Powder compares or differs to traditional oshiroi?The Silk Powder blurs out pores and fine lines while also setting and finishing makeup, similarly to oshiroi. Adapting oshiroi’s protective benefits for the 21st century, The Silk Powder acts as an invisible barrier between the skin and the elements: anti-pollution and blue light ingredients filter pollutants and blue light emitted from screens, both of which may cause premature signs of aging and irregular skin pigmentation. Similar to the powder that inspired it, the finely milled texture of The Silk Powder helps makeup last 8 hours* and prevents transfer onto face masks and clothing. Instead of an opaque white appearance, this translucent powder uses a blend of pink and gold Japanese pearl powder to give a soft-radiant finish for a shine-free, video-friendly glow.While it appears to have many benefits, what do you love most about The Silk Powder?The anti-pollution and blue light aspect feels especially beneficial now, with many of us spending a significant part of our day looking at our phones and computers.What is your makeup ritual for a more natural look?For a no-makeup look on oilier skin, I’ll first apply 1-2 pumps of The Liquid Silk Canvas all over the face. For drier skin, use The Silk Canvas. These primers create a really great magnet for foundation, but also protect the skin. I’ll then use a large powder brush to apply a light dusting of The Silk Powder all over the face, focusing on areas that shine. This gives you the protection you want while also blurring out any unwanted radiance. Then, I like to use a small brush to apply foundation, starting in the center of the face. If your skin is on the drier side, I recommend using a more moisturizing foundation to give a little extra glow. If your skin is on the oilier side, a mattifying foundation will help even out your complexion. After makeup, use The Silk Powder again to set and finish your makeup. A little goes a long way, so use sparingly. This ritual gives a natural radiance without looking flat.Do you have any tips on how to use The Silk Powder?For the best appearance, make sure to really buff the powder into your skin. If you want more coverage in the T-zone to cancel out shine, use The Silk Powder with a powder puff pressed into designated areas.We’d love to see how you enhance your natural beauty with The Silk Powder—share your Tatcha look on Instagram with #TatchaMoment.Watch Daniel Martin Create a Natural Makeup Look*Based on a clinical study of 26 women using a long-wear foundation and the Silk Powder for a duration of 8 hours

When it comes to skincare, it’s easy to be tempted by promises of instant skin transformation. We see a pimple in the mirror and begin plotting its demise with whatever ointment will dry it out the fastest. And while that might sound appealing, quick fixes can mean harsh ingredients, leading to signs of sensitivity like redness and dryness. Bringing about changes in our skin not only takes time, but the proper care. Our philosophy of using kind-to-skin ingredients starts with the story of Tatcha Founder, Vicky Tsai. After experiencing acute dermatitis, she tried everything she could think of to reverse it—luxury creams, DIY serums, prescription oral and topical antibiotics and steroids—to no avail. Her skincare journey led her to discover classical Japanese skincare secrets, incorporating time-honored skincare ingredients and products into her daily ritual—and after two months had passed, her skin was fully restored. We incorporate this philosophy into everything we do, to help ease that overwhelming feeling and bring comfort and calm to both your ritual and your skin. Rather than treating your skin as a problem to be solved, try nurturing it with gentle yet effective ingredients proven to bring transformation over time. Core to the Tatcha skincare philosophy is that small steps can make a big difference, in everything from choosing the right ingredients to selecting the correct skincare products for your skin type. We believe in caring for your skin each and every day—that’s why it’s called a ritual! By incorporating kind-to-skin ingredients into our formulas, you can care for your skin both gently and effectively. We have a few tips and tricks for how to care for your skin while incorporating these gentle ingredients and formulas into your ritual. Exfoliate Your Skin with Care Treating your skin with harsher ingredients can disrupt the skin barrier, decreasing your skin’s ability to hold moisture, and leaving you vulnerable to the environment, possibly creating more lasting damage down the line. Used in excess, some exfoliating acids can harm, taking off more of your skin than is ready to come off. If you’ve ever noticed your skin feels raw and sensitive, or stings when you apply a product, it’s likely it’s over-exfoliated. To avoid irritation, make sure to always listen to what your skin is telling you, and remember: less is more. Seek Out Kind-to-Skin, pH-Neutral Formulas Do you ever have that dry, tight feeling after washing your face? That’s likely caused by high pH cleansers that can throw your skin off balance, leading to symptoms like dryness, or even clogged pores, the very thing you may be hoping to avoid! When your skin is stripped of its natural oils, it actually overcompensates by creating more oil, which can lead to breakouts and skin sensitivity. To keep your skin happy and balanced, look for ph-neutral formulas that won’t steal much-needed moisture. Be Mindful with Your Skincare Ritual When it comes to choosing the products for your skincare ritual, it is important to remember that every person’s skin is unique. What works for one person may not work for another. You may need products that nourish your skin with plumping hydration, or ones that help you to maintain an even skin tone. It is important to be attentive to your skin and listen to what it is trying to tell you, through signals like blemishes, redness, dry patches, or oiliness. Carefully selecting the correct products for your skincare needs will help to bring added pleasure and happiness into your ritual. With that said, the harsh winter months can cause more intense drying and dehydration for many skin types. We like to care for our skin with a calming ritual designed to hydrate and nourish, which includes the products in our Dewy Collection. The lush, creamy textures of the products within this collection glide effortlessly over the skin. Our new The Dewy Serum hydrates with hyaluronic acid and locks in moisture with squalane, giving your skin new life. Meanwhile, The Dewy Skin Cream helps to replenish ceramides and aid in the reduction of future moisture loss, leaving you with skin that is visibly smooth and plump with hydration. Embrace Consistency with Your Ritual To experience the ideal results with your skincare ritual, it is important to use your products regularly and in the correct order. It is always best to apply your products from thinnest to thickest texture, which allows them to layer properly and sink into the skin in the most effective way. Read more about the correct order to apply skincare products here.

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.

Your mindset has the power to change your entire day. When we “wake up on the wrong side of the bed” it’s easy to continue seeing the negative of every situation, but you can think of that as a self-fulfilling prophecy—if you choose to look for what’s going wrong, you’re more likely to see more of it. So how do we change things when they feel like they’re spiraling out of control? The best thing to do is reset your mood. Whether you take your time or only have a few moments, there are plenty of ways to come back to yourself and back to the moment so you can function at your optimal state of mind. Here are some of our favorite ways to regain a positive outlook, with love from Japan. Meditate Even if you only have a few minutes, allowing yourself to step away mentally from the task at hand that is causing you stress can help you recenter your mind. Sitting meditation, or zazen, is a type of meditation in Japan meant to bring peace of mind. According to Ito-san, our Global Wellness Mentor at Tatcha, “zazen is about awareness—it is about the harmony between the outerworld and your body.” To practice zazen, find a comfortable seated position with your back straight, and close your eyes. Ito-san suggests thinking through the practice like this: “Shift your attention from yourself to your surroundings. Once you are there, gradually shift your attention to your body. Then, once you are in that state, review yourself as if you are looking at yourself from a distance. The key is not to push yourself too hard.” Exercise Did you know that exercise can suppress hormones that cause stress and anxiety? Taking just a few minutes to move your body can help release endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine—neurotransmitters known to trigger happy thinking in your brain. Anything from a walk around the block to a few jumping jacks to a full yoga flow can have a positive effect on your mood. The Japanese have the term sanpo, which is specifically used for taking a meaningful walk, such as for leisure or to clear your mind. Engage your sense of smell In Japan, kodo, which directly translates to “way of fragrance” and can be understood as an appreciation of incense, is a classical art perfected by geisha. This practice involves smoldering incense or fragrant wood with coals on a plate, and “listening” to the smoldering material—or allowing your nasal passages, heart and mind to open up to its presence—to determine its origin. Because of the strong tie between your olfactory senses and your memory, it is believed the scent given off by these materials can transport you elsewhere on the spiritual plane. The specific practice of kodo is believed to create a feeling of harmony even under stress, promote alertness, heal feelings of loneliness and purify the mind and body. If you don’t have incense or fragrant wood on hand, you could even do something as simple as brew a cup of tea. Known as ocha in Japan, when you slow down and focus specifically on each step in the act of making a cup of tea—take in its scent, listen to the sound of water boiling, watch the tea change the color of the water—you can reset your mood. Cleanse your body Purification of all kinds is highly regarded in Japanese culture. Even with something as simple as taking a shower, you can feel the positive effect any kind of cleansing has on your mood. Bathing culture is very popular in Japan, from the communal hot spring onsens to private and public ohuro bath rituals. If you have the time and supplies, a yuzuyu, or a bath full of winter citrus fruit, is known for its cleansing and healing properties. It is believed that partaking in a yuzu bath on the evening of the winter solstice can keep one from catching a cold and can ward off any bad spirits. Clean your space A cluttered space provides an easy distraction for your mind. When you physically remove the clutter from your area, it can also help clear the clutter in your mind. Not only does cleaning your space give you a sense of accomplishment, but it removes one thing standing in your way of doing something you really enjoy. Before each new year in Japan everyone partakes in a big cleaning known as o-souji. This act of deep cleaning, tidying, and organizing celebrates the fresh start presented by the coming year. While o-souji occurs in December, you can experience the mood-lifting benefits of cleaning anytime you want! The physical act of cleaning provides purification for both your space and your mind.

The people of Japan are acutely aware how paying attention to ingredients can be beneficial to their health. Living in a Blue Zone—a region where a high number of people live much longer than average—they know to avoid certain foods, or have a very plant-rich, clean diet to stay healthy. It stands to reason that what is healthy for their body is also healthy for their skin, as many of the ingredients that are commonly found in their diet are also in their skincare. Their centuries-old emphasis on fewer, better ingredients has been a source of inspiration for Tatcha since our beginning. The Tatcha Institute in Tokyo partners with leading plant extraction scientists to harness the powerful efficacy of these ingredients. The basis of Hadasei-3™, our proprietary complex found in every Tatcha formula, is a fermentation of green tea, rice, and seaweed—the trinity of superfoods credited with Japanese longevity. This single combined ingredient yields over 85 essentials for skin health, including lactic acid, enzymes, amino acids, and minerals. This proves that while a formula doesn’t have to be 100% natural to be good for you, natural ingredients can deliver impressive results without harmful side effects, and give the body what it needs safely. Another aspect we consider when choosing our ingredients is provenance. We source plants grown in the most renowned provenances of Japan, based on climate, soil, and other factors. Our partners include family-run farms and small-scale suppliers that have specialized in that ingredient for years—even centuries—in an effort to be more environmentally sustainable and culturally authentic. Here are just a few examples: —Our natural Japanese Indigo, long regarded for its deeply soothing and restorative powers, comes from a family-run farm on the banks of the Yoshino River, which floods annually to replenish the soil with vital nutrients and minerals. Found in: The Indigo Cream, Indigo Soothing Hand Cream, The Rice Polish: Calming —Silk extracts are easily absorbed into the skin, allowing antioxidants and amino acids to help condition for improved elasticity and resilience. This strong fiber has become a cornerstone of many of our formulas, and comes from a company that has specialized in silk extraction since 3500 B.C.E. Found in: The Silk Cream, The Silk Canvas, The Liquid Silk Canvas, The Silk Peony —The 23-karat gold you can see in some of our formulas comes from a small gold-leafing workshop outside of Kyoto, renowned for its whisper-thin sheets of gold. High-quality gold will crush on application and impart a subtle gleam to the skin, one that mica and other inexpensive optical agents simply cannot replicate. It lends an incandescence that flatters any skin tone. Found in: Gold Camellia Beauty Oil, Camellia Gold Spun Lip Balm, Aburatorigami, Plum Blossom Silk Lipstick —Rich in oleic acid and vitamins A, B, D and E as well as nourishing Omega 3, 6 and 9, our camellia oil is harvested from the Goto Islands. The seeds are cold-pressed to extract the essential oil and retain its full benefits.The molecular weight of the oil is an almost identical match for skin, allowing it to absorb quickly and thoroughly. Found in: Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil, Plum Blossom Camellia Lip Balm —The Okinawa Red Algae is harvested by hand from a tranquil lagoon in Yaeyama. Once dried in the sun, it is distilled to retain the plant’s benefits. This specific type of algae helps to enhance skin’s barrier function, replenish the skin’s natural water reservoir, and increase its moisture-retention capabilities. Found in: The Dewy Skin Cream, Luminous Deep Hydration Firming Serum, Luminous Deep Hydration Firming Eye Serum, Luminous Deep Hydration Revitalizing Eye Mask In this season that fills us with kansha, or a deep sense of gratitude, we want to say how thankful we are for our ingredients. We spend as much time on these materials as we do on the formulas themselves, and continuously return to these natural ingredients because they’ve proven to be gentle, pure, and efficacious.