When formulating her innovative skincare brand Tatcha, Victoria Tsai drew inspiration from her extensive travels in Asia. She was fascinated by the timeless beauty secrets and rituals of the geisha that she discovered in a 200-year-old Japanese text, and she bottled that spirit in her coveted East-meets-West products.After countless trips to meet with modern-day Japanese geisha, who taught her their beauty rituals and traditions, Tsai distilled her learnings into 10 essential tips for being a woman:
1. There are many attractive women out there, but it is hard to not be attracted to someone who is confident, courageous, and has a point of view.
Tsai created the Tatcha skincare line after suffering from acute dermatitis, which is enough to affect anyone's confidence. Since that time, she dedicated herself to using only high-quality ingredients on her skin and helping others to do the same.
2. Red lipstick looks good on everyone.
Geisha, Marilyn Monroe, Taylor Swift—need we say more?
3. True beauty begins in the heart and mind.
…And ultimately from the inside out.
4. A large part of the allure of the geisha stems from the fact that they’re a little bit unknowable… It's a good thing to be a little bit mysterious.
Although we salute women comfortable enough to let it all hang out, there's something to be said for subtlety.
5. When it comes to showing some skin—less is more. When in formal kimono, almost every inch of the geisha's body is covered. The only areas exposed are the hands and the nape of the neck, tantalizing the imagination.
6. Being excellent at what you do is undeniably appealing.
Solid skin care and chic clothing makes for an attractive exterior, but confidence is what truly finishes the look.
7. Stay out of the sun! Long before science proved how damaging UV rays are for the skin, and the geisha knew that minimal sun exposure kept their skin looking healthy.
Living in the gorgeous Bay Area, it's hard to avoid the sun. Always wear SPF (seriously, every day), and replenish your skin with Camellia Beauty Oil, chock-full of brightening licorice root extract, hydrating squalane, and a touch of luxe 24-karat gold flakes.
8. Wash your face every night. Purification is at the heart of the geisha beauty ritual and offers a woman a truly fresh start.
To elevate facial cleansing from a chore to a luxurious experience, take your time when you cleanse, and try different products until you find the right combination that leaves you feeling refreshing and nourished.
9. There’s a lot to be said for dressing up.
The Japanese describe a woman's elegance as "sitting like a peony, walking like a lily.” Channel the flowers.
10. Beauty is something to be gained over time, not something that is lost over time.
We like the sound of that.
The name "Tatcha" is inspired by the name and philosphy of the earliest Japanese floral arrangement, the tatehana. This simple, sophisticated art form showcases the understated beauty of a single standing flower. Based in San Francisco, the Tatcha skincare collection is sold at Barneys New York, Sephora and Tatcha.com.
