Cover Photo: Tatcha

And it only takes her five minutes every day

For those who are new to skincare or in the midst of switching up their routine, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and lost while figuring out the best steps to follow. The quest for brighter, radiant skin is one that is shared by many—not just skincare aficionados. The internet offers a myriad of skincare advice from all over the world, including multi-step routines that involve everything from cleansing to masking. But sometimes, simplifying your routine is the way to go. 

Vicky Tsai, the Taiwanese-American founder of Japanese skincare brand Tatcha, is a firm believer in quick and simple steps in her daily skincare regime. In 2008, Tsai encountered classical beauty rituals in Kyoto that forever altered her life. The pure, natural formulas and philosophy of harmony in Japanese skincare healed her acute dermatitis and helped her regain balance inside and out. The following year, Tatcha was born. As part of building her brand, Tsai convened leading skincare scientists and cultural researchers from Japan to create the Tatcha Institute in Tokyo—the company’s R&D heart. 

She shares more about her current skincare rituals below. 

Read more: Japanese Dermatologist Dr Mihoko Yokoyama on Why Proper Skincare Should Begin At 3 Years Old

How long do you typically spend on your skincare routine?

Vicky Tsai (VT): Contrary to popular belief, not all Japanese skincare rituals are 10+ steps. Mine takes just five minutes but that time is so precious. Whether I’m starting my day or winding down for the night, that’s my time to reconnect with myself and feel present. 

What is your skincare routine like for the day?

VT: I generally follow our Classic Ritual, which was informed by the classical Japanese beauty secrets I was introduced to on one of my first visits to Japan. 

  1. Purify with The Camellia Cleansing Oil: I close my eyes to think of anything in the day that stuck to me, and just let it go with my makeup and the physical residue of the day

  2. Polish with the Rice Polish: Classic: As I exfoliate, I think about anything during the day that I didn’t hit the mark on and remind myself that I can always begin again. With our skin, as with ourselves, we can always shed the old and start anew. 

  3. Plump with The Essence: As I press the formula in and replenish my skin, I think about replenishing my energy. As women, we spend so much of our time taking care of others that we can deplete ourselves. It’s a reminder to give back to yourself as much as you give to others.

  4. Nourish with The Silk Cream: As I seal in moisture for my last step, I envision also sealing myself into a cocoon of care that’s given to me by the people in my life. This reminds me that for all I give throughout the day, there are always people who are caring for me in return.

What is your skincare routine for the night?

VT: Same as above.

Are there any new skincare trends that you’re excited to try?

VT: Now that it’s summer and my skin is getting a little more oily, I’ve been loving our new Clarifying Clay Mask. It’s a hydrating clay mask that combines the clarifying and oil-absorbing properties of Okinawa kucha clay with two other potent ingredients from Japan—exfoliating konjac and warming volcanic ash—for a temperature-changing, colour-changing, and pore-changing transformation in three minutes.

When did you start paying extra attention to your skin? 

VT: When I was in high school, my mother ran a high-end skincare and cosmetics boutique and I spent a lot of my free time there working with her, so in a way it’s always been part of my life. 

What’s one skincare must-have you’ve “influenced” others to purchase?

VT: Our first primer, The Silk Canvas. The formula and format is so unique—inspired by bintsuke, which is the wax that geishas use to smooth their skin before applying performance makeup. Most consumers had never seen a priming balm, but since then, many have fallen in love with it.  

What’s a skincare product you can’t live without? 

VT: It would be The Essence, it contains Hadasei-3, our proprietary complex in every formula, is rooted in the nutrient-dense Japanese diet, known to boost longevity. Double-fermented rice, green tea, and algae that goes deeper than water to channel nutrients into the skin, boosting the efficacy of your skincare ritual, while replenishing the skin’s moisture barrier for a plump, supple complexion. 

What’s the most important skincare step for you? 

VT: Cleansing! Without a proper cleanser, nothing can get absorbed properly.

Where and what is your go-to facial?

VT: Rather than a go-to facial, I enjoy my own skincare ritual at home. Cleansing with an oil, and polishing your skin instead of exfoliating are all concepts that are foreign in the US but kind to skin. 

Is skincare the new self-care? What are your thoughts on this?

VT: Absolutely! As long as you're taking care of your skin and you're honouring and respecting it and using that as a moment for yourself, then we are happy campers.

What is one piece of skincare advice that you live by?

VT: My advice is the same advice I have to give myself, which is to prioritise rituals of well-being because without health there is no beauty. Prioritise sleep, prioritise a healthy diet, prioritise time for yourself and give yourself the freedom to prioritise things that give you joy and meaning.

What is your beauty tool of choice?

VT: I’m not very skilled at makeup or hair, so I’ll have to say my Akari gold massager. I pop it in the freezer to de-puff in the morning. 

Have you tried out aesthetic treatments? Why or why not?

VT: I have extremely sensitive skin, which is why I tend not to experiment much outside of Tatcha formulas. I gave myself acute dermatitis during my time at Harvard Business School, where I interned for a large beauty company and treated my face like a science experiment as part of the job. The result was itchy, flaky red skin that my dermatologist said was “irreversible”. All I could put on my skin was petroleum jelly, topical and oral steroids and antibiotics to keep my skin in check. Because of that experience and what I’ve learned while studying classical Japanese skincare, I am very delicate and gentle with my skin. 

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