As many of you with children know, every day seems to bring a new adventure.

With wedding season in the air, I wanted to introduce one of my favorite ‘crane’ stories. Katia Beauchamp, the founder of Birchbox, was married three years ago but has known her husband since they were children. Their 5th grade playground friendship continued through high school, finally blossoming into a romance.

One of my favorite activities in Kyoto is to unwind at one of the many tea shops that dot its cobblestone roads, often with a perfect view of the creeks and rivers flowing through the city. On a recent trip to the timeless city, I noticed recently an elegant crane basking in the sun, and pointed it out to my friend and cultural guide Nami Onodera.

Several years ago, when I first began studying the benefits of Camellia Oil, I came upon an unexpected discovery: numerous texts referencing Ama using Camellia Oil.

Not so long ago, I shared the story of our gold-flaked beauty papers and how my discovery of this timeless secret inspired be to found TATCHA. Since then, I have been simply obsessed with this exquisite part of Japan’s history and culture, returning again and again to explore its significance.

In honor of Mother’s Day, I wanted to share some of the best advice that my mother has given me.

Los Angeles-based makeup artist took an unconventional road to the world of beauty: after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Math/Science, she worked as an auditor for a decade before stumbling upon a career in makeup.

A letter for my daughter in this Mother’s Day Season.  

There are many things I love about summer – warm breezes clearing the winter air out of my house, riotous bursts of color from flowers, sundresses – but the dazzling sun and beach days also bring a sense of dread.

I was fortunate enough to time my last trip to Kyoto with the blossoming of the Cherry trees (they were quite early this year). Words cannot describe the explosion of blooms that appear, or how ethereal it feels to walk through drifting clouds of delicate pink petals.

As many of you who have followed TATCHA’s journey—and mine—know, it has been a whirlwind few years.

Amidst my travels, however, it occurs to me that I have never shared the story of how TATCHA began with you. It was around this time five years ago that I made the trip to Japan that changed my life. Every time the winter chill starts to subside and the flowers burst into life, I remember where we came from.

Women throughout history have found their way in any circumstances. At TATCHA, we always look to the past to inspire our work; now I look back to inspire my life. Any time I have a moment of fear or doubt, I think about the Okasans (“mothers”) who run the geisha houses of Kyoto.

Greetings from Kyoto! I am here visiting with my muse and teacher, Kyoka-san and the plum blossoms are in full bloom. It truly feels as if spring has arrived, which makes me think of clearing away the old and beginning anew. For me, a fresh start begins with your skin.

As I find myself in Japan this week, I am taking a moment to reflect on the many journeys I have taken with my wonderful companion and co-treasure hunter Nami
Onodera. A Tokyo native, Nami has spent half of her life in Japan and half in the U.S. As our Cultural Advisor and Senior Director of Product, she so perfectly embodies and reflects TATCHA’s duality of inhabiting both East and West.

Your wedding day. The monumental occasion a lifetime in the making, the blissful realization that beauty lives as much between us as it does within us.

Understandably, the weeks leading up to your big day are a stressful time. Fortunately, I’ve discovered—first-hand—a few fail safe secrets to ensure your skin glows as you walk down the aisle.

Girl’s Day, also known as the “Doll’s Festival,” is observed in Japan on March 3rd–just as peach and plum blossoms begin coloring the trees, filling the air with delicate fragrance.

Growing up, I took my skin for granted. It was nearly flawless and I had no idea how lucky I was for that—until later in my career when I had the opportunity to work with some of the biggest beauty companies in the world.

Since starting TATCHA, I have received many questions and compliments about the packaging of our collection – this week, I wanted to introduce you to a man who was instrumental in their design and creation. Hitoshi Sagaseki, a native of Japan, studied architecture before building his own creative design agency.

Valentine’s Day is a special day for me as it coincides with my anniversary. Today, my husband and I are celebrating fourteen years together.

Even before I had a valentine, however, I enjoyed the generous spirit and love surrounding this day. Considering the importance of gift giving in Japan’s culture, it’s not surprising that Valentine’s Day is widely celebrated in Japan, as well as here in the states.

Nick Wood may have a British accent, but he is honorary Japanese: the composer, producer and co-founder of Syn has lived in Japan with his lovely wife Norico for almost longer than he lived in England.

I often think of TATCHA and my daughter Alea as twins.

There is a Japanese saying that describes the grace of a beautiful woman: “sitting like a peony, walking like a lily.”

Nonie Crème, celebrity nail artist and the creator of Butter London’s product line, has been obsessed with beauty from a young age. From painting her nails every night in 5th grade to roaming backstage at Fashion Week, she is a force to be reckoned with in the beauty industry.

A devoted TATCHA fan, Nonie curated a special set of her must-have items from our collection. We spoke with her about kodawari, her beauty tips, and what’s next for Nonie.

As we prepare to celebrate the holiday season with friends and family, my focus on the importance of giving is renewed.

In Japanese, there is a phrase Ichi-go, ichi-e. It means “just this one moment, once in a lifetime” and speaks to the preciousness of experiences and interactions in our lives.

Ward off winter's harsh effects. Discover TATCHA's secrets for the season to ensure your skin remains more exquisite than the Japanese Snow Monkey's. 

As I welcome autumn’s cooler temperatures and the changing colors of the coming season, I can’t help but take a moment to reflect on a larger awareness, too. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to not only focus on the importance of health, but to recommit to it.

A year ago, I found myself in Kyoto wearing full geisha regalia, including makeup (stay tuned for that story!). The makeup takes a pro about 20 minutes to apply, far longer for a sub-novice like myself. 

When my mother and I used to make rice for dinner, she always washed the rice with a few rounds of water before cooking it. The first wash was always cloudy and milky, eventually running clear. We would wash our faces with the first wash – my mother insisted it was what kept our complexions clear and spotless. Later on, as I began researching the ingredients from our inspiration book, I came across rice extract in almost every recipe. I wanted to learn why, and my search led me to sake brewers.

On TATCHA's first journey through Kyoto, we learned that although a geisha is most famous for her iconic makeup, and the mochi-hada (baby smooth) complexion beneath it, she also has a variety of instruments that complete her ensemble.

Nestled within the delicate washi pages of our ancient beauty bible, we found an intricate wood block print of an ancient distillation system – a sort of alchemical still.

When I first traveled to Japan, I was quickly taken with the bustling, neon-lit streets of Tokyo and the serene canals of Kyoto. I soon learned, however, about one of Japan’s lesser-known treasures: Okinawa, a collection of islands south of the mainland.
 

When met with a new product and its claims of greatness, the question on every woman’s mind is (so often and quite understandably), “That’s nice, but will it work for me?”

This ancient text, called Miyakofuzoku kewaiden (“Capital Beauty and Style Handbook") and dating back to 1813, is widely regarded amongst scholars as the oldest beauty book written in Japan—and perhaps one of the oldest surviving beauty books in existence - and forms the foundation for the geisha's skincare rituals and Tatcha's modern day formulations.

The Western perception of a geisha is always accompanied by her iconic makeup: snow-white skin, red lips, impeccably lined eyes. Through my travels, however, I’ve found that the real story of a geisha’s beauty lies beneath her makeup.

Having heard that many of the world's greatest beauty secret originated with geisha, I went to Kyoto to seek out the meaning behind the myth.  Here is a little of what I learned...

Several years ago, after a decade of big city living and big company work, I began yearning for simplicity and authenticity in my life—so I started traveling. 

This is the sixth interview in a series in which we will be featuring great talents across a range of professions that touch the beauty world and who inspire us with the simplicity, authenticity and elegance they bring to the work they love.

I was at ground zero on September 11, 2001.  It is hard to believe that 10 years has passed since that surreal day in New York City because there are times when it feels like yesterday.  I was 23 years old and working on a bond trading floor in Four World Financial Center, which was connected to the Twin Towers via a land bridge.  When the first plane hit, the trading day was well underway so we were all at our desks when we felt the impact of the first plane hitting but we assumed it was simply a tragic accident.  When the second plane hit though we knew we were in danger and immediately evacuated the building into the commons just as the aftermath of the planes hitting began to unfold in front of us.

This is the seventh interview in a series in which we will be featuring great talents across a range of professions that touch the beauty world and who inspire us with the simplicity, authenticity and elegance they bring to the work they love.

This is the fifth interview in a series in which we will be featuring great talents across a range of professions that touch the beauty world and who inspire us with the simplicity, authenticity and elegance they bring to the work they love.

This is the fourth interview in a series in which we will be featuring great talents across a range of professions that touch the beauty world and who inspire us with the simplicity, authenticity and elegance they bring to the work they love.

This is the eighth interview in a series in which we will be featuring great talents across a wide range of professions that touch the beauty world and inspire us with the simplicity, authenticity and elegance they bring to the work that they love.

This is the third interview in a series in which Tatcha will be featuring great talents across a range of professions that touch the beauty world and who inspire us with the simplicity, authenticity and elegance they bring to the work they love. Enjoy!

This is a guest blog by Professor Alastair Iles who leads innovative research on green chemistry and environmental health for the University of California, Berkeley. Enjoy!

One of the coolest aspects of bringing Tatcha to the western world has been getting to know the amazing people who have come to love our little beauty essential as much as we do. This is the first interview in a series in which Tatcha will be featuring rising talents across a range of professions that touch the beauty world who inspire us with the simplicity, authenticity and elegance they bring to the work they love. Enjoy!

This is the second interview in a series in which Tatcha will be featuring rising talents across a range of professions that touch the beauty world who inspire us with the simplicity, authenticity and elegance they bring to the work they love. Enjoy!

In the hustle of everyday life, do you ever look around and wish you could have a fresh start? I  have. As with many women, my beauty rituals have been a metaphor for my stage in life. Early on, I longed for reinvention and my dressing table overflowed with products that promised total transformation.