Abaca Leaf Fiber
How does abaca leaf fiber benefit your skin?
Benefits
Clarifying, Even Texture
About
Abaca fiber is prized for its strength, but perhaps its most notable benefit is the ability to maintain a comfortable balance of water and oil on the skin, while still absorbing excess shine. For centuries, gold artisans in Kyoto have used abaca leaf paper to protect the precious gold they hammered into whisper-thin leafing. The abaca fiber papers were discovered to be incredibly soft, strong, and absorbent, and they were eventually repurposed to wick away traces of oil without stealing moisture from their skin. This same tradition is cherished by Tatcha today and is the inspiration for the Aburatorigami Beauty Papers.
“ Abaca fiber is prized for its strength, but perhaps its most notable benefit is the ability to maintain a comfortable balance of water and oil on the skin, while still absorbing excess shine.
Science
A relative of the banana tree, abaca (musa textilis) is strong enough to be used in ropes and twine for large ships and the fiber is naturally water-resistant. The pulp of the abaca fiber is also used for many textiles and furnishings, but papermaking is the most common use of abaca fiber today. Abaca leaf is naturally compostable and has a low environmental impact.
History
Aburatorigami, which translates to ‘oil removal paper’ in Japanese, has always been made from the finest grade abaca leaf fibers. The fiber is a by-product of gold leaf, used to protect the gold during the vigorous technique. For centuries, geishas and Kabuki performers have utilized the thin sheets to keep their makeup in place and fresh throughout performances.
Provenance
To achieve the highest efficacy and most luxurious feel, Tatcha’s Aburatorigami Beauty Papers are made from only the innermost part of the abaca leaf, where the fibers are velvety-soft.
Did You Know?
Most abaca fiber is made into specialty papers, from tea and coffee bags to luxury stationery. In fact, Japanese currency is printed on notes that contain up to 30% abaca leaf.
