Silk
How does silk benefit your skin?
Benefits
Dryness, Elasticity
About
The quiet strength of silk is a cornerstone of numerous Tatcha formulas. The cherished ingredient helps form a lightweight, moisturizing veil on the skin in both The Silk Cream, our weightless moisturizer, and The Silk Peony, our line-smoothing eye cream. The wonder of silk makeup is also showcased in a handful of Tatcha’s protective primers, The Silk Canvas and The Liquid Silk Canvas, helping to support the skin’s barrier function, hydrate, and protect against pollutants — all while helping to keep makeup lasting longer. Pure silk fabric is also a source of inspiration for Tatcha, as seen in our Kinu Pure Silk Polishing Face Cloth, inspired by the generations of individuals in Japan that would polish their skin with swatches of silk to reveal a lustrous glow.
“ Fibroin, the inner part of silk, nourishes and balances skin for a healthy-looking, lustrous appearance. Sericin, the outer part of silk, provides hydration and a layer of protection for a whisper light, moisture-binding veil on the skin.
Science
Tatcha’s numerous silk skincare products are made with liquid silk protein, which is extracted from natural silk and is rich in two proteins: fibroin and sericin. Fibroin, the inner part of silk, nourishes and balances skin for a healthy-looking, lustrous appearance. Sericin, the outer part of silk, provides hydration and a layer of protection for a whisper light, moisture-binding veil on the skin. Silk proteins can also be broken down and used as silk makeup powder for a blurring effect on pores and wrinkles, helping products glide on smoothly and wear longer by absorbing excess oils.
History
The reason silk is as ubiquitous as it is today is thanks to The Silk Road, an ancient silk trade route that linked the Middle East and Asia to the West. The exquisite fabric has long been a treasured luxury, but it’s also been linked with medical use for thousands of years, thanks to its strength and skin-like protein and amino acid structure, making it ideal for sutures and general use around sensitive skin. Even today, silk is being studied to potentially heal wounds and even replace tendons inside our bodies.
Provenance
Tatcha’s silk extract comes from a heritage company that has specialized in silk extraction since 3500 B.C.
Did You Know?
Kyoto is famous for developing a special kind of silk weave, called chirimen, that requires specific and sophisticated skills. The raw-silk woven material is treasured for its beautiful drape, wonderful sheen, and crease resistance — making it the favored silk for some of the most elegant kimonos.
