Tatcha The Essence Review (SKII Dupe?)
I love most of Tatcha’s products, but this one holds a special place in my heart. As soon as you pick up the bottle and open it, you just feel that everything is designed well, and the essence is of beautiful quality. It also smells a lot like fermented rice wine if you’ve ever had it.
But the best part is after you pat it into the skin, it absorbs easily, and literally by the next day or so, I noticed that my skin seemed more plump, luminous, hydrated.
I haven’t used the SKII yet so I can’t compare, but I imagine this is what the rave is all about when it comes to this type of fermented essence products!! Read below for the full Tatcha The Essence review.
This post isn’t sponsored (although I wish it was). Photos are taken by me.
Quick Facts
Formulation: Free from mineral oil, sulfate detergents, parabens, urea, DEA, TEA or phthalates. Cruelty-free.
Ingredients: Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Propanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol – aka Tatcha’s proprietary Hadasei-3™Complex
Potential irritants: None
Scent: Sightly floral scent that reminds me a lot of fermented rice wine
Application: Very lightweight, watery toner with just a slight slip. It feels super soothing to apply to the skin, and I usually can pat in multiple layers. It doesn’t feel sticky at all and your skin feels instantly hydrated and plump.
Where to buy: Sephora or Tatcha’s website
Verdict: 10/10. Definitely making it into my all-time favourites list (when I get around to updating it). Yes the price is high, but I do believe you’re getting a high quality product that warrants this price point. It’s 100% Hadasei-3™ proprietary fermented complex (more about it below). This is really the backbone of Tatcha’s entire line. You could even invest in just this essence and put on a more simple moisturizer over top, since this is so potent (girl math)!
About the Tatcha The Essence
The Tatcha website notes that the essence: Resurfaces, softens, and plumps. Made of 100% Hadasei-3, a trio of fermented Japanese superfoods, the Essence is proven to make your skincare more effective. Non-irritating. Non-sensitizing. Dermatologist tested. Cruelty-free.
Why It Works
This simple yet transformative formula is 100% Hadasei-3™, a proprietary fermented complex of the very superfoods core to the Japanese diet: rice, algae, and green tea. This potent formula boosts the effects of skincare, resurfaces, and hydrates for primed, plump, petal-soft skin at any age.
The complex is rooted in Akita rice fermented with a specially selected yeast strain to yield much less alcohol. As the base, this ferment helps deliver nutrients directly into the skin, allowing them to permeate. Moisture-retaining Okinawa algae replenishes the skin barrier for a plumped appearance, and antioxidant-rich Uji green tea protects the skin from premature aging. With each component represented at its optimal level, this harmonious trio of superfoods is fermented once more, boosting the benefits of the transformative superfoods therein. This fermentation process produces amino acids and AHAs like lactic acid, which support natural surface cell turnover for smooth skin.
How to apply Tatcha The Essence
Use daily, after cleansing, and before any other skin care.
Pour a loonie amount (that’s the Canadian one dollar coin - err I guess US equivalent would be just slightly larger than a quarter) of The Essence into your hand and press gently into the skin on your face and neck.
You can use multiple layers of this for added hydration. (It won’t leave the skin feeling sticky at all!)
Do you use Tatcha essence before or after serum?
Apply Tatcha’s The Essence before your serum! It is meant to make your skincare more effective.
Generally, it is also always best to apply your products from the thinnest to the thickest texture. For example, essences, and toners have a liquid, water-like texture, thus they’re applied after cleansing and before serums; Serums are applied after essences because they tend to have a slightly thicker, more viscous feel.
You'll also need to moisturize on top of this to seal in hydration.
Is Tatcha the Essence worth it?
If you’re looking to invest in your skincare in the realm of brightening, plumping, anti-aging, the Tatcha Essence is definitely worth it. If you’ve ever been curious about Tatcha’s products, this is also 100% Hadasei-3™ proprietary fermented complex, so it’d be worth a try!
I’d say this wouldn’t be suited for those who have acne-prone skin or have fungal acne.
My Final Thoughts: Tatcha The Essence Review Verdict
In short, I love using the Tatcha essence over any of the other SKII dupes I’ve tried out there in the market. It’s expensive but really worth it because it’s such a beautiful, high quality product, and the results are really visible within a few days!
Let me know if you’ve found this review useful or if there’s another product by Tatcha you’d like me to review, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
*This post may contain affiliate links. However, these are always my honest opinions*