Tatcha Blog

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.

 Today, we are honored to introduce you to Natsuko Kanno, an Osaka native who is now a rising talent in the New York fashion world.  After graduating from Kobe Art University and the Fashion Institute of Technology, Kanno-san honed her craft under Doo-Ri, DKNY JEANS and Liz Claiborne before launching her own line in 2007 called 4 corners of a circle.

A look from the Spring/Summer 2012 show at New York Fashion Week

T: Congratulations on debuting your 2^nd full collection last week at New York Fashion Week.  What was your inspiration for this collection?

NK:   I’ve always loved my culture but now that I’ve been living in New York since 2002, I appreciate the beauty of my culture even more because I’ve developed a broader perspective.  After the catastrophe that happened this year, I wanted to pay tribute to the people of Japan who have been so brave.  I was drawn to this film by Akira Kurosawa called “DREAM” about classical Japanese fairytales.  The subject matter in the movie is very traditional but the colors were so vivid, like a rainbow.

T: “Heritage through Fairytales” was also the theme of J-Collabo’s event last weekend, in which you were a featured designer.  Can you tell us about J-Collabo and your involvement with the group?

NK: J-Collabo is a collaborative of artists interested in sharing Japanese culture.  We are passionate about using classical Japanese culture to create new forms of art together.  I am a young designer so working with J-Collabo has given me a unique opportunity to work with other artists, like photographers, that I otherwise wouldn’t have a chance to meet.

T: How would you describe your line, 4 corners of a circle?

NK:  4 Corners of a Circle is my personal motto – in what looks like a circle, there might exist four corners.  For me it’s about the importance of originality.  I work to create pieces that women today can wear comfortably, look stunning in, and really live in.  It’s about elegance and comfort and ease. 

T: Where did your passion for beauty and design come from?

NK: My mother has been a really big influence on me.  She is a gymnastics teacher but you would think she teaches English because she is always dressed so beautifully.  She is so beautiful and naturally stunning.  Even when I was a little girl, she would dress me YSL.

T: How do you define beauty?

NK: I always believe in a person's inner beauty, which really comes out with age. 

T: What is your beauty routine?

NK:  I love bathing in sake.  It warms your whole body.  I love drinking sake too so when I tell my friends I’ve bathed with sake, they think I’m drinking while bathing but I’m really bathing in it.  I also noticed that when I drink sake, my skin looks really good the next day.

Kanno-san, after the beautiful show you put on at Fashion Week, you deserve a relaxing soak and great sake.   Congratulations again!

To learn more about Natsuko Kanno’s 4 corners of a circle, please visit www.vvvv-o.com

To learn more about J-Collabo, please visit http://j-collabo.com/

Photo Credit: Stanley Hainsworth

Dear Friend

Although I have only had the opportunity to meet many of you virtually, you've come to feel like old friends to me so I wanted to share a more personal note on this day of remembrance.

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.

I'm sharing this now because that experience is ultimately what led me to create TATCHA.  I learned on that day to stop focusing my energies on what I hope to accomplish in the future and instead be grateful for everything and everyone in my life today because every day is a gift.  After 9/11 whenever I felt lost and ungrounded, I would instinctively return to Asia and sought comfort in studying ancient truths and the healing arts.  Over the years, my journeys in Asia have not only healed me but renewed my faith in the abundance of beauty and goodness in this world.

TATCHA is my way of sharing the treasures I discover on my journey.  The greatest treasures have without a doubt though been you.  

With gratitude and prayers for the families who lost a loved one,

Vicky Tsai
founder, TATCHA

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 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. 

Today, we are honored to introduce you to Anne Akiko Meyers, one of the world's most celebrated concert violinists and recording artists whose rare talent is matched only by her remarkable beauty and joie de vivre.

T: Anne, we are honored to have this opportunity to share your story.  By all accounts you were a child prodigy with the violin and have since gone on to touch so many people around the world through your breathtaking performances.  Can you share a little about your evolution and inspirations as an artist?
AAM: My life began with my mother feeding me and playing David Oistrakh’s Beethoven violin concerto. I think this connection of nourishment/food with music helped set my brain up for a lot of music in my later life. When I was 7 years old, I studied with Alice and Eleanore Schoenfeld at the Colburn School of Performing Arts in Los Angeles, and they taught me the importance of chamber music and sharing thoughts, ideas with my classmates. This was truly inspiring and I feel this core to this day when I perform. Making music is such a collaborative effort, chamber music enforced my love of the violin repertoire and how important it is to listen to one another when playing. My studies continued with Dorothy DeLay and Masao Kawasaki at the Juilliard School, and helped shape the musician I am today. It is incredibly important to share music with my audiences, no matter what form it comes in (jazz, blues, rock, classical, opera). Expanding my audience is important to me as most people come away so surprised that they had one of the best, most memorable listening experiences of their lives at a classical concert.

T:  You are as beautiful as you are talented – no small feat considering that you are also a new mother.  What is the secret to your effortless beauty, especially given your jet setting lifestyle?
AAM: I try to take care of myself by eating healthy, exercising when I can and enjoying time with my family. Laughing is definitely the best medicine!

T:  We could not conclude the interview without mentioning your adorable baby girl, Natalie.  If you could have one wish for Natalie, what would it be?
AAM: That she play the cello! I love the cello! (sorry, Jason-my hubby)

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. 

Today, we are honored to introduce you to Kevin James Bennett, a five time nominee and two Emmy Award winner for his creative vision. His artistry can be seen on primetime network and cable productions such as Law and Order, Another World and As the World Turns. His makeup talent is also represented in independent and feature films.

T: How did your love affair with beauty begin?
KJB: I was a Performing Arts major in college.  Most stage actors apply their own makeup, so learning theatrical makeup was a given ...but it never thrilled me. Fast forward to my short career in display design at Bloomingdale's NYC. I occasionally worked on the fashion windows where the mannequins were "painted" with real makeup to cross promote clothing and cosmetics. Suddenly art and makeup became entwined and my obsession began!

T:  You’ve expanded your role from an award winning celebrity makeup artist to writer, public speaker, and entrepreneur. What advice would you give to an up and coming makeup artist to expand their talent and reach?
KJB: Network, network, network ...oh, did I say network?  As you've noted in the question, I have totally diversified my career and continue to add layers and facets. This can only be done by immersing yourself in the industry, exposing yourself to new people and experiences and constantly evolving and re-inventing yourself. Simply being a good artist is no longer enough.

T:  TATCHA is honored to be featured in your celebrated reference guide, “In My Kit”.  What are your tips for creating exquisite skin?
KJB: It's no secret, I'm obsessed with with creating perfect complexion. "Blenderella" is the nickname i was given due to my preoccupation with creating custom colors, textures and finishes for each face. I rarely use a product straight out of the bottle or jar.  I invariably combine a a curious cross-section of products until I achieve the exact finish I envisioned.  TATCHA is the perfect addition to my "tool box".  Many times I've meticulously created the perfect complexion color, only to have it ruined by powder that added a tint of it's own or even worse, a dry caky texture.  TATCHA sheets absorb the shine and leave nothing behind but soft, natural looking skin. LOVE that!

T:  We love that your goal is to be the Tim Gunn of beauty.  What’s in store for Kevin James in 2011/2012?
KJB: There are so many exciting projects on the horizon or already underway. Unfortunately I can't talk about many of them due to a pesky legal thing called Non-Disclosure Agreements. But in homage to Mr. Gunn, I assure you that I will "make it work"!

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. 

Today, we are honored to introduce you to Matthew VanLeeuwen, the talent behind some of Hollywood's most breathtaking transformations including Jennifer Lopez, Heidi Klum and Scarlett Johansson amongst many others.  Matthew is loved not only for his technical genius but also his warmth and generosity of spirit. Enjoy!

T:  Matthew, you are by all accounts one of the greatest talents in makeup artistry today. When did you first realize this was your calling?
MVL:  My infatuation with makeup started at 7 years old when I discovered my Mom's makeup case under her vanity but it wasn't until the end of my college days that I realized makeup was truly my calling. Instead of interviewing for jobs with fortune 500 companies as I was expected, I took a job as a waiter so I could do makeup jobs during the day. It was during this amazing time that fire for creating beauty was ignited within me!

T:  It is often said that your talent is in how you bring our a subject’s true beauty. How would you describe your artistic aesthetic?
MVL: The essence of my artistic aesthetic is about seeking out the points of balance and harmony that exist in each face. The points that activate and energize the unique inherent beauty of each canvas at a certain point in time. In this way the makeup becomes more about the journey than the destination. It is not formulaic but rather a discovery and a celebration, it is an act of LOVE.

T:  Shu Uemura handpicked you to study under him in Japan.  What did you learn from your time with him?
MVL:  Shu Uemura was one of the most amazing people I have ever known.  He taught me that creating beauty is sacred act. A spiritual connection.  It is a respect for life!

T:  Tatcha is honored to be a part of your kit. What is your secret to exquisite skin?
MVL:  Tatcha definately plays an instrumental role in my makeup process and has become a must have in my kit . As I see it there are four major tenets to achieving exquisite skin:
1.  Know what kind of skin you have and care for it appropriately and religiously!
2.  Know your skin tone; cool, warm etc.to select the best makeup shade.
3.  Know your skin texture and choose the best formula for it.
4.  Know how to keep the skin finish looking fresh all day or night. This is very important! Tatcha Aburatorigami papers make this step simple and elegant.

T:  What brings you the most joy in your work after all these years?
MVL:  I have been very blessed to be able to work with the most talented photographers, hairdressers, stylists, and set designers on the planet. There is nothing like making art with an incredible team! Also there is an indescribable joy that comes when I can make a woman feel her true beauty. When the makeup literally becomes the woman and she see's herself as a person she dreamed of being!

Dear Friends,
We are so grateful for everything you've done to help us support reflief efforts in Japan.

Thanks to you, we are able to send $10,000 to help the littlest survivors through Save the Children's Japan fund!

For more information on this amazing humanitarian organization, visit: www.savethechildren.org/japanquake.

We feel blessed to have fans and supporters that are as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside. 

Vicky

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!

Tatcha’s customers are at the front of a developing movement for healthy body care. Recently, reading the environmental health news I receive daily, I was perturbed by a British study on the exposure of women to chemicals. A natural deodorant company, Bionsen, supported a research survey of 2000 British women to understand their use of personal care products. Although the study was funded by a company, the data is plausible.

The most startling discovery was that the “average” British woman wears 515 chemicals on her body daily. Moreover, some of these chemicals, like sodium laureth sulfate, propylene glycol, and parabens are suspected of posing risks to people’s health. Even if the ingredients in individual products are at very low levels, they could combine to generate adverse health effects. Emerging toxicology science also suggests that hormone-disrupting chemicals can have an effect on your body at very low doses.

Unfortunately, the study revealed that only nine percent of women knew most of the ingredients in the products they were using. Over seventy percent claimed that they didn’t care about what they were being exposed to, illustrating the great paucity of knowledge that consumers have about toxic risks. American women are likely to have a similar, if not greater, population of chemicals on their bodies. It’s not only women who may unknowingly wear large numbers of chemicals. Many men increasingly apply a variety of personal care products to their bodies. I have male friends who enjoy putting creams on their faces to look fresher and younger.

Tatcha gives you a choice. You can use a very simple product made from natural materials like abaca leaf using a sustainable, traditional method, instead of a complicated product made from oil-based chemicals through industrial processing. Using aburatorigami can help eliminate your need to use products with ingredients that could harm your health, or your children’s growth, in the longer term.

One reason why I favor products such as aburatorigami is that they are examples of low-impact products. Aburatorigami is made from abaca leaf by artisans hammering away on gold leaf and using the abaca leaf to protect the gold. As such, it’s a by-product from a traditional craft process that’s deeply rooted in Japanese culture, thus using material that might otherwise be thrown away. After aburatorigami is used, it can be composted and degraded naturally back into the earth. No oil-based chemicals are used; the energy comes from humans, not from fossil fuels. As a result, aburatorigami has relatively low environmental impacts.

I also think it’s important to retain a connection with our time-tested traditions because they embody much wisdom from our forebears. There are many traditional food, cosmetics, and craft production methods across Asia that could provide us with modern alternatives to the personal care products that we now use. Interestingly, Bionsen’s deodorant is made from Japanese bath minerals, suggesting that more and more companies are paying attention to Asia’s rich heritage. That’s why Tatcha aims to uncover more products by studying what Asian cultures have long known.

Alastair Iles is an assistant professor of science, technology & environment at the University of California at Berkeley. He works on green chemistry, environmental health, and environmental justice. He also helped found Good Guide. In his free time, he likes to learn more about ceramic sculpture techniques, including raku firing (a traditional Japanese method).

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!

T: Nick, we are delighted to interview a man of so many talents. Starting with your work as a designer, where do you draw your inspiration from when creating the elegant NIKOLAKI gowns that marry the timelessness of Grecian goddess forms with modern luxury?
NV: First of all, thank you so much for those kind words, I am “clutching my pearls” as I read this! I think I draw my inspirations from my life experience, my mixed culture background, my travels and from just being very aware of “everything and anything” around me. My father is Greek-American and my mother is originally from Panama and I was raised in Caracas Venezuela as well as the Bay Area—yes, near San Francisco! So, when I design, there’s a little bit of South American Diva mixed in with Grecian Goddesses mixed in with the “metropolitan” feel of Pacific Heights. My dad was a diplomat so I got to travel a lot and he encouraged me to see outside my “home box”, as it were. So I was fascinated with other lands; their cultures, the geography, the music, etc. All of that becomes my inspirations when I design.

T: Since competing on Project Runway, you’ve become a favorite red carpet fashion expert. We think it’s because you emanate a sense of joy in all that you do. Are you having as much fun as it looks like you’re having?
NV: I have to tell you that I LOVE IT! Absolutely! Trust me, when I did Project Runway, I had no idea that I would have this “other life” and become a “fashion red carpet expert”. That just fell onto me. But I was happy to take it and run! Besides designing my line since 2001, I’m also an instructor of fashion with FIDM for the last 6 years, so I feel completely at ease giving my opinion. I know fashion history, construction, terminology. I am not just an actor pretending to be a “style expert”, as so many are nowadays. But I am so glad that the fun I am having comes through to you. I am just thankful, grateful and humbled that anyone is calling and wanting my “Nick Two Cents”!

T: TATCHA is honored to have our little skin essential accompanying you to your red carpet events. What other secrets do you have for always looking picture perfect?
NV: Can I just tell you how much I LOVE Tatcha. I received it as a gift and it was like “done and done”. My Tzone, I will admit, is , well, let’s just say “overactive”. And when I do my TV shoots, the make-up artists (or myself) are always pouring on more and more powder or at times, just wiping me with paper towels constantly (this occured last year when I did the Emmys Red Carpet and it was 107 degrees here in LA!). But now, I bring my Tatcha and just hand them over to the make-up artist or keep one in my pocket and take it out to blot any excess shine. In fact, I keep TWO packets in my “manbag” and use them EVERY DAY. They are perfect when I host events, have to make appearances, all of it. If there’s any “secrets” , that would be it—that and great editors and photoshop artists!

T: What exciting things are in store for Nick Verreos in 2010?
NV: Well, I am continuing working on my line NIKOLAKI, and possibly having an online NIKOLAKI web-boutique. I am working on a line to be sold at either QVC or HSN. I would love to bring my “red carpet look” to your everyday American woman, at a more “discounted” price. I also filmed a Style Network show which will air in January. I also just signed a deal to be the Style Guy for MSN and Special K’s “The Victory Project”, where I will travel four US cities, find four women and make them over and hopefully make their lives better and more fashionable! Look out for that, I am very excited about it.

T: Fun fact – if you had a themes song, what would it be and why?
NV: It would be a “mash-up” of “Le Freak” by Chic and the theme from Dynasty. Totally!

To learn more about Nick’s beautiful designs for NIKOLAKI and see him in action covering the latest and greatest in red carpet fashion visit: www.nickverreos.com

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.

Later, as a professional I sought confirmation and lined my bathroom vanity with expensive products that proclaimed my status as such.

With each stage of life came a new arsenal of products. It seemed that the more I acquired though, the more I needed to feel whole and beautiful.

Around that same time, I started traveling to Asia and rediscovered a different approach to life and beauty — that less is more.

Today, as I prepare to be a mother for the first time, I am on a humble quest for less.

I yearn for enlightenment, simplicity and authenticity in my life and in my beauty rituals.

Tatcha is my way of sharing things I learn and find along the way – from the playful to the inspirational.

Join me in my journey!

Vicky Tsai

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!

T: Daniel, it is an honor to be able to interview a fast rising talent in the world of high fashion. Can you tell us about how your passion for makeup artistry evolved?
DM: My background is French and Vietnamese, and I fell in love with makeup while watching my french grandmother put on her face in the morning. There was ritual to her application and it always resonated with me.

T: Your approach to makeup has been described as “refined” and “harmonious”, while the overall impact is striking at the same time. How would you describe your artistic aesthetic?
DM: I’m known for my sensibility with skin. Being able to balance color, light and texture without having a face look over-done is what my aesthetic is all about. Call it my inner art director, but sometimes it’s about stepping back and looking at the whole woman, vs. only just the face.

T: Do you draw any inspiration from any other cultures?
DM: I live in one of the greatest cities in the world (NYC) full of cultural and ethnic diversity. Every day I’m blessed drawing inspiration from when I leave my apartment ’til the time I come home.

T: It’s been noted that you have a loyal following from cutting edge designers like Proenza Schouler and Thakoon. Is there a commonality in your beauty philosophies?
DM: I have special relationships with several different designers because I am able to understand the kind of woman they are designing for. Helping execute that vision with their presentation or show, is just as important—something I’ve learned over the years. I’m also very grateful to share these creative collaborations with them.

T: Tatcha is honored to be a part of your kit. What is your secret to exquisite skin?
DM: I have 3 things I always tell my clients, models, whomever—Cleanse, Hydrate and Protect! Keeping these things balanced in your regimen will keep your skin looking its best!

T: What exciting things are in store for Daniel in 2010?
DM: Designer Chris Benz and I have created a lipstick for Lancome that will be exclusive to Saks 5th Ave in February 2010. It’s a limited edition opaque Pink-Coral lipstick! Very fresh and modern for spring/summer! We premiered the shade at his show during Fashion Week here in NY, and there’s already a wait list for it.

T: Fun fact: who is your beauty icon?
DM: I get asked this a lot and its always difficult to answer because beauty has so many facets to it, and it’s very generational, too. So many amazing women have revolutionized trends in the industry but to say one person—I think Madonna. Whether you love to hate her, she has been inspirational for a lot of women after her.

See Daniel’s breath-taking work online at: www.dmartnyc.com

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!

T: Phyllis, Makeup for Life is one of the most widely read beauty blogs globally. What inspired you to begin writing/sharing your perspective on beauty? And what do you think your readers appreciate most about your blog?
PL: I started Makeup For Life in 2006 because I felt like there was a lack of Asian representation in the US beauty scene. I wanted to utilize my diverse background and introduce people to the different beauty products and techniques out there. I think what draws people to my blog is my passion and like my readers, I am your average girl who is obsessed with beauty.

T: One of our favorite characteristics of your take on beauty is your global perspective. Can you tell us about growing up in both the East and West? How do you think it has influenced your personal beauty philosophy?
PL: Growing up in Hong Kong, I was exposed to the best of both worlds. I read American and European magazines for ideas, experimented with the latest Japanese makeup and gadgets, and ate traditional Chinese delicacies to keep my skin in good shape. All this has definitely made me more open-minded and taught me that beauty is not one-dimensional, but comes in different skintones, features and sizes.

T: What are the biggest differences you’ve seen between the beauty rituals of the East and the West?
PL: Oh I love this question because it is interesting to see how different people can be! For example, a tan complexion, which is preferred by most over here, is often frowned upon in the Chinese culture. Back home, people avoid the sun at all cost and slather on whitening products day and night. To treat skin problems, Chinese people turn to food and delicacies like bird’s nest soup, as supposed to the topical approach adopted here. As for makeup, it is normally worn at a later age with a more understated look consisting of sheer neutrals, pastels and fine shimmer.

T: When you review products or recreate looks in your tutorials, you become a beauty chameleon for your readers – but where does Phyllis’ personal beauty style fall on the spectrum from fresh to fierce?
PL: Because of the looks I do on the blog, people assume that I wear a lot of makeup . But the truth is, no one really needs to wear that much on a regular basis. The blog is simply a medium for me to transform and experiment. For everyday, I like a simple look with just a bit of concealer, eyeliner, mascara and lip balm. When I go out, I like to spice things up with a smoky eye, fake lashes and nude lips or a winged eyeliner paired with bright lips.

T: Tatcha was so honored by Makeup for Life’s review of our aburatorigami. What else do you use to keep your skin so exquisite?
PL: Thank you so much! I try to keep my skincare regimen as simple as possible. I am big in moisturizing and I never sleep with my makeup on. Prevention is always better than correction so I use sunscreen with at least spf 30 every day. I also drink a lot of warm water (a very common practice back home) and I try to stay away from harsh chemicals.

T: Do you have a favorite beauty icon?
PL: Madonna is my all-time favorite! I love how she transforms and always manages to stay at the top.

T: Fun facts: Given your world travels, what city inspires you most and why?
PL: This is a tough one because every city I visited has something different to offer. I like Hong Kong for its fast-paced lifestyle and energy; Paris because it is a living painting; London for how fashionable people are; and obviously, the US, the place where all this started.

See Tatcha on Makeup For Life