A month ago, I opened up a "VoxBox" from Influenster that would allow me to test out one of Tatcha's newest products for free. In case you haven't heard of it, Influenster is an online community of consumers who want to review products. Your average Joes with opinions, really. The idea is for consumers to review products, ask questions about products and services, and occasionally, test products for brands before they officially launch.
I was sent the Tatcha VoxBox for free in exchange for my honest review of the products inside. I am not obligated to write a post about the products, but Influenster encourages reviewers to give their thoughts on social media or any medium that they choose, and I had a great experience, so I want to share!
The claims:
Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum, $88 retail value
According to the Sephora description, the serum is a "clean, kind-to-skin formula with two types of vitamin C stabilized by antioxidant-rich Japanese beautyberry helps reveal a translucent, youthful glow. Mild fruit AHAs resurface dull, uneven skin, while Japanese angelica root helps to reduce the look of dark spots and post-acne scarring." And, at the end of four weeks, you should see a visible improvement in overall skin tone.
Tatcha The Essence, $95 retail value
Also according to it's Sephora description, the essence should help with anti-aging while promoting a "natural cell turnover for improved skin texture and a smooth luster." The product should also soften and plump the skin, and maximize the performance of all skincare used with the serum.
About my skin:
Firstly, I'm a dry skin gal. Secondly, I'm prone to hormonal breakouts. Because my breakouts are hormonal, I am treating them internally with an acne medication, which I began about two months prior to using the Tatcha products. I tend to look for products that help with hyper-pigmentation, acne scarring, and dryness.
How I used the products:
I use the essence after double cleansing my face, first with micellar water and then with a cleanser. I swipe the essence all over my face using a cotton pad and let that air dry. Next, I squirt one or two pumps of the serum into my hands and pat it all over my face, including under my eyes and down my neck.
Both the products are very gentle and lightweight in consistency. My first experience using a vitamin C serum was with The Ordinary's Vitamin C Suspension 23%, which was gritty and took awhile to absorb into the skin (I did see improvement in my skin, though). Tatcha's serum is smooth, even runny, and unscented (another relief, as you expect a potent citrus smell). The essence was also smooth, almost a creamy water texture, if that makes sense, and unscented.
My favorite thing about both products is how quickly they absorb into the skin without leaving behind any oil or residue. They play super well with my moisturizer, too. I'm using the Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream at the moment!
My results:
First, I'll let the photos speak for themselves.
The "before" photos (first and third from left) were taken Dec. 27 and the "after" photos were taken Jan. 28.
I had just come back from Montreal when I took the first set of photos and my skin was not in a great state. I was breaking out all along my jawline from wearing a scarf while traveling, and this is the typical site of my hormonal acne.
As you can see in the photos, my acne improved over the few weeks, but that could be attributed to the aforementioned acne medication and being back in my environment after traveling. Ignoring the live acne, the hyper-pigmentation on my cheeks seems to have lightened and the appearance overall seems a bit smoother on both sides of my face.
Based on my experience using this and The Ordinary's serum, I think vitamin C is something my skin really enjoys, and I love the Tatcha formula. However, my only issue with Tatcha is the price. My wholehearted opinion is that expensive skincare, while sometimes justified by the ingredients or the ethics of the brand, can always be rivaled by cheaper alternatives.
I feel similarly about The Essence. It's super gentle on my skin and acts as an extra step to making sure all my makeup is removed. I am not sure if it has actually made my skincare ingredients work better, as it claims, but I enjoy having it as a step in my routine.
Final thoughts:
As much as I enjoy the Tatcha products and believe they are positively impacting my skin, I do not see myself repurchasing them anytime soon because of the price (hi, I have student loans to pay) and because I am not positive that they are doing anything that other vitamin C or tone/texture correcting serums could not do. I will, however, enjoy using up these products, and I am so grateful to Influenster for allowing me to try something that I wouldn't have bought for myself.
If you have any questions about my experience trying the products or my experience with Influenster, please sound off below!
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