T-House

The key to treating oily skin is the perfect finishing face cream—one with half the weight of your regular cream, but with double the hydration potential along with oil-controlling ingredients. The term skincare refers to a vast assortment of options, but there are only a few things skin truly needs. One of those things is a moisturizer or a face cream. At the microscopic level, a moisturizer helps form a seal that replenishes skin’s natural barrier and retains moisture. At the visual level, it plumps, smooths, and softens. Most moisturizers are creams, but come in other textures, like rich oils or plush gels. They’re one of the most important parts of anyone’s skincare routine.This is true for all major skin types; a dry face needs to moisturize as much as a combination face does. Even those with oily skin (who may feel moist enough already) require this step. Choosing the right formula is another matter entirely. But understanding your own skin’s needs, and some ingredients that can benefit your skin type, will lead you to the best moisturizer for oily skin. Why is my skin so oily?When people talk about oil on their face, they’re talking about sebum, a waxy substance stored just beneath the skin’s surface. Sebum is a waxy substance secreted to help our skin retain moisture, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Sebum comes from sebaceous glands, which are found usually tucked into hair follicles. You can imagine sebum traveling up the base of a strand of hair or climbing the inside of a pore until it reaches the skin’s surface.Sebum itself is composed of a complex matrix of lipids, including some not found elsewhere in the body, like wax esters and squalanes. Dermatologists know that it's a protective substance, but lack a full and complete understanding of sebum’s purpose. They also know that increased sebum production is one of the main events involved in the formation of acne.Some people produce more sebum than others, and are described as having oily skin. Surveys of skin types found that those who experience oily skin tend to skew younger. While having oily skin is not a prerequisite for acne, increased sebum production is associated with higher rates of breakout. Is my oily skin acne-prone?The answer is yes and no. Yes, it’s true that oily skin can lead to the development of acne, but just because your skin is oily doesn’t necessarily mean it's acne-prone.Acne is the most common skin condition in the world, and we all deal with it from time to time. But if we find ourselves dealing with it frequently—or constantly, our breakouts never seeming to leave—then it could be a sign of acne-prone skin. Skin that is acne-prone can be dry or combination. It’s believed that oily faces are likelier to be acne-prone than drier ones, because increased sebum can result in breakouts, but the two categories don’t always go hand in hand.According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, increased sebum can lead to healthier skin overall by thickening skin and delaying wrinkles. Rest assured, if you have oily skin, it can also be a gift. But this gift comes with its own instruction manual. If you want to treat it right, you’ll have to pay attention. Can skincare products help oily or acne-prone skin?There are a few products that can be supremely helpful in caring for oily skin.The most obvious choice is a cleanser. Imagine a surface slick with oil, and try to resist the urge to clean it up. Gel face washes that leave squeaky-clean feelings in their wake have long been marketed to those with oily skin. But Cleveland Clinic actually warns against harsh cleansers or detergent-like face washes: “Products that dry out your skin too much will actually stimulate oil production.” So it’s wiser to use something mild that will respect the integrity of your skin’s moisture barrier. The Clinic also recommends toners, lightweight emulsions that follow cleansers and precede moisturizers, to soothe over-oiled skin.A moisturizer may be a counterintuitive choice to save your oily skin, but it’s true: A moisturizer will help keep sebum production under control, according to Allure magazine. The key is in understanding how oil and water are balanced in the skin, and how adding and preserving skin hydration using a moisturizer can balance out oily skin.There are other useful tools that every oily face should have on hand, like blotting papers. Tatcha’s Aburatorigami Japanese Blotting Papers are made from abaca leaf, which drinks up sebum, leaving skin mostly matte. Which skincare ingredients help oily skin?There are many ingredients that have unique benefits for oily skin, from mopping up excess sebum to strengthening slick skin barriers. A few notables include:Abaca leaf fiber. These fibers come from the leaves of the abaca, a banana tree native to tropical Asia. Paper made from abaca leaf fiber lifts away excess oil gently and instantly. Aburatorigami, or ‘oil removal paper’ in Japanese, has historically been made from the finest grade abaca leaf fibers. Geishas and Kabuki performers have used the thin sheets to keep their makeup in place and fresh throughout performances.Beta hydroxy acids. While alpha hydroxy acids are water-soluble, beta hydroxy acids are oil-soluble; they’re able to sink down into pores and dissolve excess sebum, which is why doctors recommend them for oily and acne-prone skin types.Camellia oil. Word to the wise: Fight oil with oil. Camellia oil is rich in oleic acid and vitamins A, B, D, and E as well as nourishing Omega 3, 6, and 9. The molecular weight of the oil is an almost identical match for skin, allowing it to absorb quickly and thoroughly. These kinds of lightweight oils can be very beneficial for balancing out oily skin, according to some dermatologists.Leopard lily. True to its name, this plant has spots everywhere, from its dark sage leaves to its molten orange flower petals. It can also be spotted along the streets of Kyoto’s geisha district during the Gion Festival. (Japanese Leopard Lily has earned the name “the flower of Kyoto.”) It’s also known to minimize excess oil production.Kucha clay. Clays of all kinds can help draw oil out of the skin. Tatcha’s Clarifying Clay Mask, recommended for oily skin types, makes use of Kucha clay from Okinawa, a mineral-rich clay that absorbs excess oil, sebum, and dirt from the pores and helps to detox skin. Wild rose. Wild rose, a time-tested ingredient used throughout history, is known for its ability to minimize excess oil. In Eastern medicine, Japanese wild roses are used to bring the body back into balance, improve circulation, and even calm the spirit.What is the best moisturizer for oily skin?Every face needs a good moisturizer. But when your skin tends toward the oily side, you might find creams that are heavy in texture to feel oppressive. Something lightweight that is formulated with oil-controlling ingredients but still provides that necessary seal to the skin barrier is going to suit you better.It’s a unique request of your moisturizer: all the rich benefits of a heavy cream without the heft. Innovations in skincare technology have made this possible with a product called The Water Cream. The lighter-than-cream gel texture ferries oil-controlling botanicals from wild rose and leopard lily directly to where they’re needed. The unique technology breaks upon application to refresh, treat, and hydrate skin. The Water Cream has won Allure magazine’s prestigious Reader’s Choice Award three times. “Few moisturizers delight both those with oily skin and those with dry skin the way The Water Cream does,” read this year’s review. “Skin is left glowy—not shiny.”

Masks have been beloved beauty products for centuries upon centuries. Even today, this category can provide all sorts of benefits to your skin, from hydrating to brightening to clarifying. When you think of face masks, it’s possible that the mind conjures a dated image of a face covered with green gloop, cucumber slices set atop closed eyes. The picture feels old fashioned, but only because we’ve been using masks for a long time.For example, masks made with clay have always been popular choices among those with oily skin, for how they can effectively clean deep within pores. They’re popular today, and were popular decades ago, but their history stretches back thousands of years. In ancient India, face and body masks called ubtan were made using Ayurvedic recipes and ingredients. Along Japan’s Okinawa islands, women used a seaborne soil known as Kucha clay for their own cosmetic preparations—it was said to be enriched with millions of years of marine nutrients.At Tatcha, all of our skincare is inspired by these centuries-old ingredients, and the timeless care that they offer, placing them in formulas that pair these powerful superfoods with the skincare technology of today. Each of Tatcha’s products is designed to support healthy skin, but masks may be some of the most useful in the lineup because of how they limited exposure to alternatingly rich, or potent, or intensely repairing skin care. Most masks are designed to be used a few times a week, instead of daily. (If you have sensitive skin, once a week might be enough.) That makes them easy to add on to whatever your current routine might be. Figure out your skincare goals, and which benefits of face masks can help them. Then it’s time to mask up. What is a face mask? A face mask is a treatment for the face that is left on the skin for a short period of time. Masks come in different sizes, shapes, colors, consistencies, materials, and models. According to a blog from Penn Medicine, a mask traps moisture “and creates [a] film that helps to either hydrate, moisturize, dry or exfoliate the skin depending on the ingredients used and its purpose.”The mechanisms by which masks operate can be different, but a commonality is their thickness, or their ability to seal over the skin. Some are made with thick emollients (perfect for those with eczema), while others use materials, like biocellulose, to create that occlusive effect. What a mask is made of will ultimately tell you how it works—and if it’s the best face mask for your skin type. What are the types of face masks? You can categorize face masks by the stuff they’re made of. Some of the most popular kinds include the following.Gel-cream masks. Masks that are creamy in texture, based in shea butter or watery gel, fall into this broad mask category. Many of these treatments are hydrating, and use their thickness to trap moisture in the skin. If your dry skin needs a little love, look for masks that are rich in humectants (which draw moisture from the environment into the skin) or lipids and ceramides (that compose the skin barrier).Clay masks. Remember the long history of clay and skincare? That’s because of clay’s unique cleansing ability. A dermatologist explained to Self how it works: The dryness of the clay sucks up excess oil and impurities from the skin like a sponge. This makes them popular choices for faces that produce more than the average amount of oil, like those with the oily skin type. Sheet masks. We tend to associate sheet masks with the Korean beauty trend, and that’s because it’s widely thought that the product category was invented long ago in South Korea, by dipping a cloth into a skincare serum and applying it to the face. The fabric of the mask itself acts as the occlusive layer. Now sheet masks can be found all over the world, with other countries, like Japan, lending their skincare expertise to infuse them with even more potent formulations. Tatcha’s Luminous Deep Hydration Lifting Masks are made from coconut-derived biocellulose drenched in hyaluronic acid and red algae to visibly firm and lift skin with hydration. Overnight masks. Some masks are brief affairs, but overnight masks can go the distance. These formulas, often creamy or jelly, function like heavy-duty moisturizers, and are meant to work while you sleep and your skin is in a reparative state. One of Tatcha’s best-sellers, the Indigo Overnight Repair, is a serum-cream treatment that functions like a night mask, maximizing skin smoothing and plumping. Body masks. Not just for the face, there are hosts of masks that are made to target your other parts, like the neck, even the butt. One of Tatcha’s best-selling masks isn’t for your face at all, but your lips—the Kissu leave-on jelly treatment. What are the benefits of face masks?A different question might read: Is there anything face masks can’t do? And the answer is, well, no. At least in the realm of skincare, there is no goal that a well-selected face mask can’t support. All you have to do is find the right one and figure out how it fits into your overall routine. But even before that, you might want to think about the benefits of face masks you’d like to receive.1. Masks can purge pores. Washing your face daily takes care of a lot of dirt, grime, and impurities—but every once in a while a deeper clean is necessary. For thousands of years, those who have been looking for this type of squeaky skin-cleanliness have turned to formulations like the Clarifying Clay Mask, which combines clay with volcanic ash and Japanese konjac root to fully resurface, exfoliate, and expunge. 2. Masks can boost your barrier. You can think of your skin barrier as the outermost layer of your skin. The Cleveland Clinic tells us that this layer is composed of dead cells, lipids, fats, and proteins, and benefits greatly from moisturization, especially when you can seal that moisture in with a mask. Sheet masks are superb choices for this task, especially when they’re made of materials that maximize their occlusive effects. Tatcha’s Luminous Deep Hydration Masks are made of biocellulose derived from an entire coconut, allowing for more efficient penetration of its serum than paper masks. 3. Masks can add glow. The extended application time of masks makes them particularly well-suited to carry potent active ingredients, like antioxidants that fight and repair free radical damage, or acids that exfoliate and resurface the skin’s outer layers. Something like the Vitamin C Radiance Mask includes both: A creamy, hydrating mask packed with two types of vitamin C and 10% alpha hydroxy acid content to improve skin texture, brighten skin tone, and unveil a soft, dewy glow—all because you took some time for yourself.

Within the face mask category lies a vast range of options, from sheets to creams, from peel-offs to leave-ons. Which one is right for your skin type? A skincare routine happens daily. Most of the basic steps of that routine, from cleansing to moisturizing, are designed to maintain skin on a day-to-day basis. Washing off the day’s makeup, or the dirt that has accumulated throughout the day, and applying a layer of moisture that seals and shores up your skin barrier. But there are some products that are meant to be used more infrequently than that. Unlike some cleanser, they’re not rinsed immediately, and they’re usually packaged with more potent ingredients than you might find in a moisturizer. We sometimes call these products “treatments”, but we usually call them face masks.Face masks come in a wide assortment that vary by the materials they’re made up of, the ingredients they contain, or the specific skin goals they target. Some are made of paper soaked in serum, and others come distilled in thick creams. A few contemporary masks even use electricity. But how these products are used tends to look the same across their many varieties: Face masks need a short period of time to work after they’re applied to the skin. For this reason, we tend to use them weekly or every few days.Besides the downtime they offer by design, one advantage of masks is how they work on all skin types and fit into all routines. The best mask for you is within reach—but first, it’s a good idea to consider what you’re looking to get out of the masking process. What is a face mask, and how does it work?Here is how a recent article in an academic journal defines face masks: “Facial masks are the most prevalent cosmetic products utilized for skin rejuvenation… [with] some advantages for specific skin types based on the ingredients used.” Masks are divided into different categories. There are sheet masks, which are fabric or biocellulose soaked in potent serum. There are cream masks, which are like heavy-duty moisturizers used sparingly. There are masks that you leave on and others that you peel off. Some even work better when used in tandem.Due to the infrequency with which you apply them, face masks can contain a higher concentration of active ingredients that you might find in a daily serum or moisturizer. The key to reaping the benefits of the best face masks is understanding which ingredients are likely to be found in which formulas—and which skin type they’re tailored to. When should you apply a face mask?Here’s the fun part: The best time to apply a mask is when you’ve got nothing else going on. If you can find a spare 20 to 30 minutes in your day, you might enjoy devoting one or two of them to applying a face mask, and the rest to relaxing while it works. If nothing else, it’s a good time to center yourself in the current moment of wherever you are. The Japanese term teinei loosely describes a state of mindfulness achieved by putting another person first—but for a brief few moments each week, why not practice a little self-teinei?Depending on the sensitivity of your skin, you may be able to mask up to a few times each week. The mask’s directions should tell you how much to apply, and how long it should remain for—but the best advice will come from your dermatologist or licensed aesthetician. Before you incorporate a new product into your routine, it’s a good idea to run the idea by an expert, first.What is the best face mask for oily skin?Everybody’s skin produces oil—or, more accurately, sebum, a waxy substance secreted from our pores that protects and moisturizes our skin. But some people’s skin produces more sebum than others, and are typically categorized as oily skin types.Managing oily skin is a balancing act, making sure that skin’s oil and water levels are in proportion. The American Academy of Dermatology Association has a few everyday tips for achieving this: Yes to frequent face washing and oil-free formulas, no to touching your face or sleeping in makeup.There are also skincare products, like face masks, that are known to help oily skin in particular. Many of these formulas are based in clay, which may be the oldest skincare ingredient in human history, with some of the first appearing in ayurveda, or ancient Indian medicine. Tatcha’s Clarifying Clay Mask, perfectly suited for oily skin, is made with Kucha clay, a mineral-enriched marine soil from Okinawa. It naturally absorbs excess sebum and dirt from the pores, and minimizes those pores in the process. What is the best face mask for dry skin? In contrast to oily skin, dry skin might produce markedly less sebum. Sebum comes from sebaceous glands, according to the Cleveland Clinic, and one of its chief functions is as a lubricant that guards against moisture loss. Skin that has less sebum can be more prone to giving up its necessary moisture, and going dry as a result.Skin that is properly hydrated looks bouncy and plump, but skin that is dry could be rough, flaky, or scaly. Untreated dry skin can break open, making things markedly more complicated. For that reason alone, it’s important to have the right skincare on hand for dry skin.Sheet masks are particularly good for hydrating and moisturizing the skin. The “sheet” itself creates an occlusive seal that allows the skincare product to soak into skin—a greenhouse effect, but for nourishing skincare. Tatcha’s Luminous Hydrating Sheet Mask is made from a coconut-derived biocellulose, and infused with the brand’s proprietary blend of anti-aging superfoods. (We found that it boosts skin’s moisture content by up to 200% in 15 minutes.) What is the best face mask for sensitive skin?When it comes to sensitive skin, the idea of adding another product to one’s routine seems counterproductive. When a new interaction between skincare ingredients creates a possibility for a skin reaction, why try anything new? But the truth is that some skincare formulas can actually help with sensitive skin, if you know what ingredients you can use.At Tatcha, we’ve long praised the healing powers of Japanese indigo extract, more commonly associated with a deep blue dye. But the plant has a long medicinal history. Centuries ago, in Japan’s Edo era, it’s said that samurai wore undergarments dyed with indigo to speed the healing of their injuries. The dye was also used for traditional firefighter uniforms to protect against burns, and many of these indigo pieces have been preserved as museum artifacts.Indigo also forms one of the key ingredients of Tatcha’s sensitive skin care range, which includes a unique face mask called the Indigo Overnight Repair. This serum-cream has the density of a heavy moisturizer but functions like a mask that you can wear nightly to soothe even irritated, sensitive skin. The formula also includes ceramides that replenish lipids to keep moisture in and pollutants out, and Mondo grass root, which cultivates good bacteria, helping the skin perform at its optimal level and relieving irritation and dryness. What is the best face mask for dull skin? In short, dull skin suffers from a lack of light, but the dermatological truth is a little more complicated.Dull skin can occur due to a lack of collagen and elastin, structural proteins that give skin its plumpness and bounce. It can also be due to a buildup of dead skin, owing to how cell turnover slows with age, according to dermatologists. A damaged skin barrier might also lead to roughness, cracking, or dryness that can contribute to dimming one’s light. With so many mechanisms contributing to this one skin type, how can you treat all of them with one skincare step?The answer, which might be obvious by now, is a good face mask. To treat dullness, you will want to look for a product that promises radiance but includes more than one active ingredient to provide it. Antioxidants, which help repair environmental damage within the skin, are hugely helpful for dullness—especially vitamin C, one of skincare’s most potent and popular antioxidants. It’s the star of Tatcha’s Violet-C Radiance Mask, which is also dosed with alpha hydroxy acids. These acids will help loosen the bonds between living and dead skin cells, resurfacing the face in the process. It’s a great way to turn on your light—and get some R&R in the process.

Aging comes with its blessings along with mature skin. But caring for skin in your 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond is just a matter of education—and the right routine. A birthday always offers an opportunity to reflect on our life and the choices that brought us here. At the turn of the decade especially, when the passage of time feels more pronounced, the urge to examine your life, down to the routines that make up the day, is irresistible. If you’re wondering if now is a good time to update your skincare, the answer is: Very likely. Why? Because the needs of your skin change. Most women begin experiencing menopause by the age of 55, and the attendant changes in the body manifest all over, including in the skin. One study from India on how menopause affects the skin recognized a dropoff in collagen metabolism. Owing to this change, postmenopausal skin can appear less elastic or supple than it used to be. Even men who don’t experience menopause will see a kind of transition in their skin at this time. If your 40s are characterized by the beginning of your skin maturing, the process may be well under way by the time you are 50. This guide will help you understand the finer points of how to care for mature skin in your 50s and beyond, as well as how to adapt it to your personal skin goals. Be sun-smart Protecting your skin from the sun is something you should be doing every day, whether you’re 8 or 88 years old. The reason for doing so becomes more urgent with age. UV radiation, caused primarily by sun overexposure, can have deleterious effects on every layer of the skin, from the outer layer where it causes burns to the inner living layers where it can attack cells and genes directly. UV exposure from the sun is also the primary cause of skin cancer. Most skin cancer cases are diagnosed in people aged 65 and older. Men older than 50 have a much higher incidence of melanoma than women, and men are twice as likely than women to die of melanoma at any age. These statistics are not intended to frighten, but to demonstrate the importance of defending skin against UV radiation. This happens by exercising proper sun hygiene, which starts with a good sunscreen. (We’ll have some recommendations later, but the best sunscreen for your skin is the one you’ll use every day—choose wisely but pragmatically.) Good sun hygiene doesn’t end there, though: You can also strengthen your sun protection with Ultraviolet Protection Factor accessories or clothes, and by staying indoors when exposure is harsh. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends a three-pronged defense for seniors: One: Stay out of tanning beds. Two: Use protection whenever you’re in the sun. Three: Get your skin checked by a dermatologist. Don’t neglect the neck Often, the target of our creams and balms is the skin on our face. But if you haven’t started already, your 50s are a good time to start thinking below the chin. After all, the skin on our neck and decolletage—that large plane of skin between our jaw and breast bones—is subject to aging just like the rest of our skin. In fact, a dermatologist recently explained to The New York Times how the skin on the neck ages faster than any other place on the body, citing how “poor posture, insufficient skin care, sun exposure, and the natural weakening and decline of your neck muscles” can all speed up the process. Not only should the neck and decolletage be cleansed and moisturized, but they can also benefit from more potent ingredients, like retinols or exfoliators that encourage cell turnover. Go heavy with hydration Perhaps one of the most critical needs of aging skin is hydration. Mature skin often tends toward the drier side. As we age, our skin loses viable blood vessels, as well as collagen and elastin; our skin barrier weakens and holds on to less water than it once could. Coupled with other biological processes, like menopause, your 50s and beyond are a dry time for your skin. There are, however, plenty of products and potions that help hydrate skin. Hydration is distinct from moisturization, another necessary skin step that has to do with the water content of your skin. But while moisturizers seal moisture in, hydrators help actually bring water into the skin cells. The best skincare routine for your 50s and beyond should address both moisturization and hydration, with special consideration toward keeping skin hydrated with water-binding ingredients and skincare layering. A Skincare Routine for Your 50s and Beyond Above all, your skincare should be gentle but effective. You can design a multi-step routine where each step helps set up the next, creating a cascade of replenishing, firming skincare. But remember that the best ingredient for any skin type is consistency. Try to build a regimen you know you can stick to with these essentials: 1. A gentle but effective cleanser. You should be kind to your skin—you’ve been through a lot together, after all—and that kindness should begin at the very first step of your routine. The Camellia Cleansing Oil, a two-in-one makeup remover and face cleanser, gently melts away even stubborn waterproof mascara, plus dirt and impurities. The oil is also made with Hadasei-3, Tatcha’s proprietary complex of Japanese superfoods that plump and hydrate skin. It starts your skincare off on a gentle note. 2. A hydrating essence and serum. If your mature skin could use a boost in hydration, a product like The Essence will become an immediate mainstay in your routine. The waterweight texture can be softly pat into skin after cleansing for a dose of skin nourishment: The Essence delivers Tatcha’s skin-refining complex to plump skin and prepare for better serum absorption. Then follow it with a potent serum like The Silk Serum to amplify skin’s hydration. 3. A wardrobe of moisturizers. Your face moisturizer is coming soon, but for now, we’re tackling other areas: Namely, the eyes and neck. The delicate skin of these two zones is prone to aging at the same rate (or even quicker) than the skin on our face, but is so often ignored. You’ve probably already adopted an eye cream, but it’s wise to consider a neck cream, too. Tatcha’s Ageless Revitalizing Neck Cream is made with botanical actives and antioxidants that have shown powerful skin-firming properties: When 20 consumers were polled after a four week study, 100% experienced an improvement in skin texture and appearance of wrinkles on their necks.* 4. A cream that seals it all in. At this point, you’re probably committed to your moisturizer—keep on using it! But if we can make a suggestion, the Ageless Enriching Renewal Cream is an intensely rich cream that renews and firms the look of skin. The Hadasei-3 complex supplies amino acids that promote natural skin surface turnover, while peony flower and gardenia fruit extracts lend antioxidant benefits that fight free radicals. 5. A glow-boosting mask. In addition to your daily routines, a regular treatment step can help deliver potent ingredients to your skin in short, super effective bursts. The Violet-C Radiance Mask is designed for use up to three times a week after cleansing. This vitamin C mask is a powerhouse of ingredients, including two types of pure vitamin C and Japanese beautyberry. (Among other properties, beautyberry’s antioxidant activity helps to stabilize vitamin C.) Used before events, or whenever you need some extra glow, this step could become something you look forward to. 6. A daily sunscreen. Everyone needs a daily sunscreen, but especially those with mature skin. The higher the protection, the better. An SPF 50 should do the trick. And bonus points if it also contains skin-smoothing ingredients, like The Silk Sunscreen does. Zinc oxide provides broad spectrum protection, while niacinamide and hyaluronic acid plump and hydrate. It’s your best defense against UV radiation and skin cancer—iit just happens to make you look good, too. *Individual results may vary.

Fresh from the acne-pocked days of teenagedom, one day you find yourself embarking on your 20s—the first decade of your life when you are an adult from start to finish. It’s a time of serious change, from living at home to traveling abroad, or graduating from high school onto college or work, or even from just having a parent do your laundry to doing it all on your own. It’s also a time when you begin building routines for everything from cooking to cleaning to skincare. Your approach to taking care of yourself probably looks different from your teenage days, which were likely dominated by acne face washes and “no-tears” shampoos. And while your skin has time before it matures—signs of aging usually don’t appear until your 30s—the groundwork you lay in your 20s can have benefits that last decades. There’s no better time to begin a skincare routine than as soon as possible: Good skincare practices lead to good skin. Before we build the perfect skincare routine for your 20s, here are a couple things to keep in mind when caring for young skin. Stop tanning. Start sunscreening. The first thing you need in your stash is a good sunscreen. Sunscreen is important to wear as a kid, which is why so many beach day memories are slathered in a thick layer of white cream. But it doesn’t lose its importance when you become an adult. In fact, sunscreen should be a part of your daily routine for the rest of your life. When our skin is exposed to the sun for too long, it can be damaged at its deepest levels by ultraviolet radiation. Two types of ultraviolet rays are primarily responsible for this damage: UVA rays, which reach down into the skin and can age it prematurely, and UVB rays, which char the skin closer to the surface and can cause burning. Overexposure to the sun is also understood to be one of the main causes of skin cancers like melanoma. For decades, tan skin was in vogue, and to appear to have skipped sunscreen was in fact a desirable look. Perhaps it’s our new understanding of the dangers of UV radiation exposure that have made tanning a less popular pastime than it once was. At least one study found that fewer Americans were using indoor tanning services, such as beds lined with UV lights, than in years past, but 10 million Americans still tan at least once yearly. It’s important to be aware that exposure to UV light in a tanning bed carries the same risks of exposure to UV light from the sun. The American Academy of Dermatology advises against indoor tanning. Learn about exfoliation. Exfoliation, or the removal of dead skin-cell buildup, is a necessary part of anybody’s skincare routine. By the time you reach your 20s, you may have already tried it when you indulged in a skin scrub. These products use finely milled materials, like sugar or coffee grounds, to buff dead skin away. (Tatcha, a brand that uses Japanese botanicals uses a fine rice bran for its gentle and effective Rice Polish.) This form of exfoliation known as physical exfoliation works in large part thanks to friction. Another form of exfoliation, chemical exfoliation, cleanses the skin using acids that can dissolve the bonds between living cells and dead ones. In the offices of aestheticians and dermatologists, these acids can be dialed up to induce peeling, but in skincare products they are usually gentle enough for daily use. Daily chemical exfoliants are typically lighter than your average moisturizer or serum. The Texture Tonic, which incorporates alpha hydroxy acids derived from apple, grapefruit, orange, lemon, lime, hawthorn, and jujube fruit extracts, feels like an essence or toner. In the end, the best method of exfoliation for your skin depends on your skin type—or just personal preference. Give your ingredients an upgrade. As a teen, the odds are good you dabbled with acne-zapping face washes—if you dabbled in skincare at all. In your 20s, your options multiply. Before you wade into ingredients, ask yourself: What do you want for your skin? Or what does your skin want? Depending on your goals, these tried-and-true go-tos may help you: Hyaluronic acid. This molecule is naturally abundant in places where our bodies need lubrication, like in our joints. Dusted into skincare formulations, it helps cells bind water, and offers other replenishing benefits, too. Hyaluronic acid can be used at any time throughout day, is generally easy to add to your routine, and is found in many different formulations, from moisturizers to face mists. Retinol. This vitamin A derivative is backed by tons of research—and doctor recommendations—for its ability to resurface skin. (Because of its powerful effects, retinol is usually found in products you put on at night before bed.) Natural botanicals have also been discovered that mimic the benefits of retinol when applied to skin. If fine lines or uneven skin texture is a concern, reach for a retinol or a retinol alternative. Vitamin C. This potent antioxidant has manifold health benefits, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it can also benefit the skin. Vitamin C neutralizes the free radicals that occur from sun exposure, and also aids the skin’s natural regeneration process. Vitamin C is usually found in vitamin C serums. More on those later. Get some expert help. Welcome to adulthood. Do you have a dermatologist? Though some skincare advice is fine to seek out on Google, it’s a good idea to have a professional in your corner who can help observe and treat your skin over time. A dermatologist, or a trusted licensed aesthetician, can also turn your skin goals into product recommendations or in-office treatments. Whatever you do, make sure a skin doctor is included on your medical roster, if for no other reason than this: The Skin Cancer Foundation advises you get screened for skin cancer once a year. It’s possible to check yourself, but it’s not unwise to leave it to the expert, too. A Skincare Routine for Your 20s Keeping all of this in mind, you can assemble a skincare routine that will help your skin adjust from adolescence to adulthood. “Consistency” is a keyword that doctors often use when making skincare recommendations, because it’s the most important ingredient of any regimen: Repetition begets results. You can use the below outline to get a sense for what an effective multi-step skincare routine for your 20s might look like. 1. A gentle cleanser. Washing is the first—and one of the most important—step of any skincare routine for two reasons. The first is that it removes accumulated dirt and build-up that can cause irritation and acne. The second is that it preps the skin for other skincare products. Cleansers come in a wide variety of textures, but you might prefer one that doesn’t strip skin of its natural moisture, like Tatcha’s creamy Rice Wash. A thicker formula like the Indigo Cleansing Balm can melt waterproof makeup away while restoring moisture—two benefits in one. 2. A super serum. You could call this the “treatment” step of your skincare routine. Remember those active ingredients you learned about earlier, vitamin C and retinol (and its alternatives)? This is where they come into play. Often, they are distilled into serums, which have a lighter texture and should be applied post-cleanser and pre-moisturizer. Finding a serum is as simple as finding one fortified with your desired active ingredient: Some serums like The Dewy Serum are made with plumping hyaluronic acid, and others like The Brightening Serum are made with glow-inducing vitamin C and alpha hydroxy acids. 3. A plush cream. No need to get too fancy—all you need is a simple moisturizer that will seal your skin barrier, keeping hydration locked in and irritants locked out. Tatcha’s The Dewy Skin Cream works on both fronts, thanks to superpowered botanical extracts purple rice (full of antioxidants that fight pollutants and cellular stress) and Okinawan algae (blended with hyaluronic acid to boost moisture retention). 4. A sunscreen. But you already knew that. Make sure you find a sunscreen you really like: You’ll be using it every day.

Starting a skincare routine can feel intimidating, but with these few tips and product suggestions, you can easily uncover a ritual that’ll benefit your skin today. How do you start a skincare routine? According to Tatcha’s founder Vicky Tsai, taking into consideration your psyche, skin type, and needs. But don’t let the concept of a daily routine make you feel intimidated—a successful skincare ritual can be only a few steps and take less than a minute to accomplish. Keep reading to uncover tips on how to start a skincare routine (even for beginners), how to introduce new skincare products, and the best formulas for you.How to Start a Skincare RoutineDetermine Your Skin TypeKnowledge is empowering, so caring for your skin begins with understanding its unique characteristics and needs, says Tsai. Discovering your skin type can take mere minutes and will help you make smarter skincare choices that’ll benefit your specific skin. To determine your skin type, we suggest using either The Bare-Faced Method or The Blotting Sheet Method to best identify your type of skin.Pinpoint Your Skincare GoalsFurther build out your skin’s characteristics and needs by zeroing in on your concerns and goals. Hoping to brighten dark spots? Looking to unclog pores and clarify acne-prone skin? Pinpointing your specific concerns will allow you to supplement your skincare routine with products and ingredients that can address these issues.Be Realistic“Beauty routines are personal and in my opinion, an extension of your psyche," adds Tsai. Meaning that you’re not likely to veer far from internalized preferences. Enjoy indulging and luxuriating in self-care? A skincare routine with multiple steps might be a great option for you. But perhaps you’re the opposite—and adhering to a multi-step ritual might feel exhausting and time-consuming. (That’s perfectly okay, there’s still a skincare routine—one that can even be completed in less than a minute—that’s right for you.) Being realistic when considering a skincare routine will help you tailor it based on your needs—and help you not be over- or under-whelmed.Be Consistent (and Patient)As with many things in life, consistency is key. It can take months to know if a skincare product is working and see changes or results in the skin, so be patient. Sticking with a skincare routine, morning and night, can result in significant benefits, but only if you continue to follow it regularly.Start SlowWondering how to introduce new skincare products into your daily ritual? The golden rule of thumb when incorporating new skincare products is to try one product at a time so you can analyze how your skin reacts. If you get overzealous and try multiple products at once, resulting in a negative reaction, it will be difficult to understand the source of the irritation. Paring down your routine to a few key products and slowly introducing more (as wanted) will likely be more effective.Try a Japanese Skincare RoutineAs Tsai has said, the “beauty of a classical Japanese skincare ritual lies in its simplicity.” Whether you’re a beginner or an enthusiast, a Japanese regimen is designed to achieve your happiest and healthiest-looking skin. In this page, titled “The Art of the Skincare Ritual”, we demonstrate and explain the basics of purifying, polishing, plumping, and nourishing. Not only does the page specify tips and products based on your skin type, but it also includes Tsai herself utilizing routine best practices. As an added bonus, a Japanese skincare routine doesn’t just reveal radiant skin through gentle, consistent care, but it also allows for daily moments of mindfulness with the art of self-care.For a customized guide to uncovering your ideal regimen, take Tatcha’s Ritual Finder quiz, which can help discover a skincare routine based on your skin type, goals, and existing skincare collection.

There are countless options available, but what skincare products do you really need? Discover the most vital products to add to your regime and why. A daily skincare ritual can not only be beneficial for your skin, but also your mind. Self care via a consistent skincare routine can increase one’s overall mood and happiness, as established routines can help maintain order and predictability in your life. But with the countless offerings on the market, how do you know what skincare products to use? Keep reading to uncover the most effective and vital products to build the best skincare routine for your specific needs.The Basics: What Skincare Products Do I Need?At Tatcha, we aim to bridge the gap between timeless practices and modern ingredients. And that combination is abundantly present in our simple and straightforward skincare routine for women of every age. Don’t let the word ‘ritual’ intimidate you: a daily skincare practice can be completed with just a few steps. All you need is to purify, polish, plump, nourish, and protect for your happiest, healthiest-looking skin.PurifyArguably, the most important step in your skincare ritual is cleansing. This vital step is not just rushing through the purification process, but actually taking the time to carefully and thoroughly cleanse for cleaner, healthier-looking skin. The trick to transforming the mundane cleanse into a mindfulness ritual is to embrace the Japanese concept of kiyome, which translates to purification. This belief can act as not only a physical cleanse, but also an emotional one, allowing the cleansing process to be an act of letting go. Take a page out of founder Vicky Tsai’s book, Pure Skin, by visualizing distractions, negative thoughts, and self-doubt melting away as you cleanse. PolishExfoliating or polishing is the process of removing dead skin cells from the surface of your skin using a chemical or physical exfoliant. Chemical exfoliants are acids that dissolve the bonds that hold dead skin cells together and the most common forms are AHA, BHA, and PHA. Physical exfoliants, or exfoliating scrubs, mechanically buff off dead skin cells. They often contain, as the name suggests, physical ingredients, like rice bran, to buff skin.While exfoliation may seem like a modern technique, geishas have been using komenuka, known as Japanese rice bran, to polish the skin for centuries. This is a crucial step in your daily routine because it removes dead skin cells and impurities, while also helping the rest of your products achieve their maximum potential.PlumpWhen simplifying or building a routine, utilizing products that have multiple uses is helpful. One of the most multi-use arsenals in your skincare ritual is an essence. A classic Japanese skincare ritual has long featured these “beauty waters”, known for their ability to soften and brighten the complexion. The humble liquid can resurface, soften, plump, and boost the effects of skincare in a single step. To utilize, simply splash a palmful of essence into your hand after cleansing and gently press it into the skin.NourishSeal in hydration with an effective moisturizer. A moisturizer is not a one-size-fits-all product, notes the American Academy of Dermatology. They suggest a moisturizer can come in several different formats, including lotions, gels, thick creams, or ointments. Whether it be a richly hydrating cream or a light, gel-based moisturizer, your ideal product should, on the most basic level, accomplish two major goals: prevent water from leaving the skin and deliver an optimal level of moisture for your healthiest-looking complexion, says the AAD.ProtectDon’t skip the sunscreen! While it might be tempting to consider an SPF simply just a summer must-have, sun protection is a year-round necessity. Even on cloudy or frosty winter days, the sun can damage your skin, notes the AAD. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every single day. It is a necessary—and should be an instinctive—step of your daily skincare routine, says the AAD.Best Skincare ProductsStill wondering what skincare products you should use? Here are a few of our favorite options to round out your ideal daily routine.PurifyingIt’s helpful to separate your morning and evening purification processes. In the morning, you may simply need a splash of water (ideally for dry skin types) or a quick cleanse with a gentle face wash. For the evening, a more thorough cleanse is ideal. Lean into the art of the double cleanse, which is helpful to not only remove makeup, surface debris, and sunscreen, but also unclog pores and prep skin for the following steps.Try: Consider The Indigo Cleansing Balm, our newest cleanser that features a fragrance-free, buttery-soft balm texture that melts away makeup while improving the skin barrier for stronger skin. Or perfect your Kyoto Cleanse with the delightfully nourishing Camellia Cleansing Oil to remove makeup and follow it with either the bestselling Rice Wash or The Deep Cleanse. PolishingChemical and physical exfoliants both have distinct positives. Chemical exfoliants are wonderful for almost all skin types, as long as you stick to low-percentage AHA, BHA, or PHA products when first incorporating them into your routine. Physical scrubs with gentle ingredients, like rice bran, can be wonderfully effective and give you more control over how deep of an exfoliation you’d like to achieve. Whether you prefer a chemical or physical exfoliant, we’ve got you covered.Try: If you prefer a liquid exfoliant, try The Texture Tonic. The AHA-powered formula is ideal for even sensitive skin and is gentle enough to be used daily. It’s specifically formulated to reduce excess oil and sebum, while also improving skin’s moisture levels. The formula has niacinamide and Japanese mugwort to reduce the look of discoloration, while also calming visible redness and irritation.If you’re more of a physical exfoliator fan, Tatcha’s game-changing Rice Polish is a must-have. The Japanese exfoliant transforms into a creamy, cloud-like foam with just a few drops of water. Finely ground rice bran and papaya enzymes promote natural skin turnover, while the amino acid-based formula provides effective cleansing without stripping the skin of essential moisture or breaking the skin’s barrier function. There are also three other Rice Polish formats, from Calm to Gentle to Deep, allowing you to find the formula that’s best for your skin. PlumpingThe top layer of your skin is made up of dead skin cells that protect the delicate skin beneath, but this layer can prevent active ingredients from sinking into the layers where they are needed most. This is where an essence steps in. The simple, yet transformative, formula floods the skin with hydration and amplifies the performance of any treatment that follows. The most important job of the essence and its primary function is to make the skin ready for whatever treatment follows.Try: If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting one of Tatcha’s most cherished products, allow us to introduce you to The Essence. This simple yet transformative formula is 100 percent Hadasei-3, a proprietary fermented complex of the very superfoods core to the Japanese diet: rice, algae, and green tea. This potent formula boosts the effects of skincare, resurfaces, and hydrates for primed, plump, petal-soft skin at any age. In studies, panelists demonstrated a 621+ percent improvement in skin moisturization immediately* and 100 percent of panelists demonstrated an improvement in skin glow and radiance after just one week of use.** *Based on an instrumentation study conducted on 30 panelists in 2022.**Based on an expert-grading study on 30 panelists in October 2021.NourishingA nourishing moisturizer is always beneficial to your complexion, whether your skin tends to be more dry or oily. After plumping skin with The Essence, apply a moisturizer to support the protective barrier of your skin.Try: At Tatcha, we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to nutrient-rich moisturizers. As luxurious as they are effective, each unique face moisturizer delivers the optimal level of moisture for any skin type, helping you achieve your healthiest-looking complexion yet.Consider The Silk Cream, a rich yet weightless gel-cream moisturizer enriched with silk extract for softer, smoother, and firmer-looking skin. Or grab the award-winning Water Cream, ideal for oily complexions, which balances the skin, decongest pores, and minimizes oil production. For dry skin, try The Dewy Skin Cream, which plumps, hydrates, and strengthens the skin’s barrier. For a richer cream, grab the Ageless Enriching Renewal Cream for an intensely hydrating and nourishing treatment. Sensitive skin? Slather on the innovative Indigo Overnight Repair, which visibly calms irritation, strengthens the skin’s barrier, and balances the microbiome overnight.Or not sure which formula is right for you? Consider Tatcha’s newly updated formula, The Indigo Calming Cream. The rich, fragrance-free moisturizer delivers therapeutic soothing relief from redness and itchiness with long-lasting hydration. ProtectingSkincare is moot if you aren’t using sunscreen daily. Not only does it help fight premature aging, but it, most importantly, protects from cancer-causing rays. Protect yourself with an FDA-approved formula that is broad-spectrum and a sun protection factor of at least 30+.Try: The Silk Sunscreen, a silky, lightweight, and sheer SPF that offers 50+ coverage (with 10 percent zinc oxide) and is packed with skin-benefitting ingredients that hydrate, soothe, and reduce redness. If you prefer a matte finish, consider the Silken Pore Perfecting SPF 35 Sunscreen, which has both mineral and chemical protection that not only protects the skin, but also helps tighten the appearance of pores, smooth skin texture, and calm visible irritation.

When helping the skin defend and repair itself from aging factors, there’s one skincare product that towers above the rest—and it might already be in your medicine cabinet. The best anti-aging skincare product on the market comes in a wide—but not too wide—variety. Some cost hundreds, and others cost less than 10 dollars, and they’re sold everywhere from gas stations to department stores. Many of them share the same ingredients—and many of those ingredients are regulated by the government. Yes, the best anti-aging skincare product on the market is probably already in your home, if it isn’t already on your skin: Sunscreen.Does sunscreen prevent aging? In some ways, the answer is yes. Skin ages naturally due to biological factors, which is why wrinkles and changes in tone and texture are the signs of a life well-lived, and are worth embracing. But many signs of premature aging are brought on by environmental forces, like pollutants in the air or overexposure to the sun. So, yes, a lot of aging is a matter of prevention. And sunscreen is preventative.But here’s the thing: Even if you were someone who was totally cosmetically unconcerned, sunscreen and other forms of sun protection would still be daily necessities. By protecting your skin from the sun, you are also protecting it from health complications, including one of the most common cancers; any aging skin benefits are merely attendant, but welcome. And by understanding how the sun ages skin, you can quickly understand how sunscreen helps with aging. How skin agesWe’ll begin on the smallest level we can, beneath an electron microscope. Have you met your DNA’s telomeres?Telomeres are DNA sequences that live at the end of our chromosomes and help with cell reproduction. Uncontrolled cell reproduction can be dangerous—and a key event in the development of cancer—so our telomeres shorten over time, until the cell reaches the end of its life. Now it can no longer reproduce, and dies off.As skin cells in particular begin to diminish, the process becomes visible as collagen and elastin proteins decrease in number, resulting in skin-slackening, wrinkles, dryness, hyperpigmentation. This kind of aging is also known as “intrinsic” aging, as a result of our cell biology. But our environments, as well as lifestyle choices, can also accelerate this process. Those who smoke cigarettes, for one example, have been observed to visibly age faster, for a variety of reasons from nicotine’s effect on skin thickness to changes in skin circulation.This is known as “extrinsic” aging. There are a variety of these risk factors, but according to a 2018 article in the journal Cell Transplantation, exposure to UV light “is the primary factor of extrinsic skin aging.”How UV light accelerates agingUltraviolet light from the sun causes an estimated 90% of visual aging, according to data from the Cleveland Clinic. Unprotected exposure to the sun can manifest in skin changes from deep sagging to dark spots to just about every other known sign of aging.But what happens on a deeper level is a matter of more concern. Remember those microscopic telomeres? That is how deep UV rays can reach. Ultraviolet light can be described in three varieties, known as A, B, and C. UVC radiation is absorbed by our planet’s atmosphere, but UVB rays reach the outer layer of our skin, right down to our DNA; this kind of radiation can damage our DNA, aging skin or increasing chances of precancerous cell growth. UVA rays are less potent, but go even deeper into the layers of our skin, where precious collagen cells and capillaries reside. Our bodies can repair some of the damage wrought by ultraviolet radiation, but it can’t repair it all. This is why sun protection is an imperative for all people.This news is a recent development in the history of beauty. As recently as the 2000s, tanning was still seen as a way to enhance one’s appearance, a concept that experts at the American Academy of Dermatology now dispute. They insist that the term “healthy tan” is an oxymoron, and that no amount of tanning is healthy. How sunscreen worksThere are a few mechanisms by which sunscreen works, but the main endeavor is the same: To protect the skin from ultraviolet rays. Some sunscreens use physical filters, like zinc and titanium dioxide, that reflect and scatter UV light, and some use skincare ingredients like octisalate or avobenzone to absorb and neutralize UV light. Others use both to provide a certain kind of skin finish.Because sunscreens in the United States are subject to approval from the Food and Drug Administration, if you see a sunscreen on a store shelf, you can assume it’s safe to use, and has been tested for efficacy. The sunscreen formulation you use probably depends on your own preferences, as there are numerous differences between physical and chemical sunscreens. Does sunscreen prevent aging?By now, the answer posed at the beginning of this guide is clear: Sunscreen absolutely prevents aging, by helping ensure that harmful UV rays don’t reach the skin.Sunscreen isn’t just good for mature skin types—it’s good for all skin types. And the options are nearly endless. Nowadays there are SPF formulas that offer heavy-duty sun protection in weightless and hydrating formulations, like the SPF 50 Silk Sunscreen from Tatcha. (It’s a mineral formula that glides on to skin like a fine veil.) There are also formulas that tend toward improving skin, or provide a perfect base for makeup. Tatcha’s Silken Sunscreen provides broad-spectrum SPF 35 protection from UVA and UVB rays while smoothing skin and tightening pores—perfect on its own, or underneath a little foundation or concealer. Sunscreen is one of the most popular and widely implemented forms of sun protection, but it isn’t the only one. The best forms of sun protection are the ones you use, so make sure to find a method you like—and then don’t go a day without it.