Tatcha the Indigo Cream

I always like to complain about little things about certain products as for Tatcha...It has so many bugs that I don't know where to start. First there is that Geisha mystique (personally cultural appropriation doesn't bother me, as long as they don't act all white knight or go "we know your culture better than you do"), the various PR talks by the founder like "worked four jobs (part time gigs and helping landlord counted) and having sold her engagement ring to start the business" (call it millennial problem, I think second hand diamond rings has very little resell value, consider how abundant the mineral is and how the stone gets dull and chipped easily with wear) ...There were so many buzz about the brand that somewhat put me off. 

Also, when Tatcha debuted several years ago, I only read about it from a clique of PR-Friendly allcheerleaders/ bloggers who had nothing but praises. How can I trust their view on 130-dollar moisturizer and 60-dollar sunscreen when they never buy those products themselves, instead have the swags delivered to their doors periodically? (I don't). 

Years later as the brand established itself in Sephora and Department stores, the reviews became more consumer-based (less sale pitch), I got a better view of their range but I didn't cave it...Their products were too rich for my blood.  I am definitely not in their target demographics since if I want Japanese skincare, I would just buy them on Rakuten or from Hong Kong based sellers (many established, high end Japanese brands are more affordable than Tatcha). Anyway, sometime around last year, they revamped (perhaps reformulated) some of their product and it suddenly became within my reach! I remember their indigo cream used to retail around $120-130 (god forbid it's just a moisturizer) but the new version was reduced to $85. It's still pricey but it became justifiable during sale. 

Oh I also enjoy looking at the hefty glass jar with golden details. It really makes the routine more pampering and as they call it "ritual" like. The new version of Tatcha Indigo Cream is a somewhat heavier cream in a pleasant gel-cream texture. It's tinted blue and have a comforting oatmeal smell. The while the cream is more on the heavier side, it has a light glide that spreads easily.  Like a soft, moist mask, it keeps skin flake free and protected during very dry cold days, without an oily finish or residue (it's still leaves skin a little moist and tacky but it won't get on clothes or sheet). 

It's a very effective and gentle skin protectant for colder months and in terms of feel and texture, I haven't tried anything quite like it (there are many heavy moisturizers that do the same thing though). Since the last winter we had was rather humid, I didn't really need this but the cream has such fine texture that it was also perfect for the eye areas - It's gentle, nourishing, doesn't drag and keep the area quenched before I wash everything off. 

For a moisturizer, it's comforting, pleasant to use and very well formulated (what else can I ask for?) so I feel the 60-70-dollar price tag was at least reasonable. I don't need a whole lot and a jar should last for a whole winter. 

The top has a kimono knot spatula, it's coated plastic but not at all flimsy. I feel like lot of effort was put into designing the packaging as well and that's appreciated (oh their lipstick are so beautiful, to bad the shades aren't what I usually wear). 

Water/Aqua, Squalane, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Glycerin, Diisostearyl Malate, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Wax, Behenyl Alcohol, Saccharomyces/Camellia Sinensis Leaf/Cladosiphon Okamuranus/Rice Ferment Filtrate*, Indigofera Tinctoria Leaf Extract, Polygonum Tinctorium Leaf/Stem Extract, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Sophora Japonica Flower Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Germ Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Inositol, Sericin, Tetrasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Naringeninchalcone, Amorphophallus Konjac Root Powder, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sorbitan Tristearate, Trihydroxystearin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Beheneth-20, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Disodium Edta, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sodium Acrylate/Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Dimethylacrylamide Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide (Ci77891), Tin Oxide (Ci 77861), Mica (Ci 77019)