After winning multiple Best of Beauty and Readers’ Choice Awards for its unique formulas and gaining the attention of celebrities along the way — including Selena Gomez, Kim Kardashian, and Meghan Markle — there’s no denying the hype around Japanese brand Tatcha. I mean, it’s even the most sought-after beauty brand in my group chat. That said, I’ve always been a fan, and today I’m a super fan. Why, you ask? Tatcha has officially stepped into the body-care space and I’m one of the first to try out Tatcha’s Forest Awakening Collection.
The collection features three products: Hinoki Body Milk, Hinoki Body Wash, and Hinoki Body Oil. You’re probably wondering, what is Hinoki? Well, for this collection Tatcha worked very close with Qing Li, MD an expert in forest medicine, who spoke to Allure to explain how forest bathing ties in with Hinoki. “The Japanese Hinoki is one of the trees that I’ve studied the most since Hinoki forests were the birthplace of forest bathing in Japan,” says Dr. Li. He adds that Hinoki is an evergreen tree, meaning it stays green for many seasons, producing high levels of essential oils throughout the year. “I’ve studied multiple types of trees’ essential oils, and Hinoki has proven to be the most beneficial of forest oils in terms of mental and physical benefits.”
Courtesy of brand
Now let’s break down the products and get into my thoughts. The brand suggested I use the collection together, starting with the Hinoki Body Wash, then the Hinoki Body Milk, and ending with the Hinoki Body Oil. I stepped into the shower with the Body Wash and, immediately, I was intrigued by the scent. It has a subtle earthy vibe, thanks to the blend of forest-awakening essential oils. Once I squeezed the formula into my hands I noticed that the Body Wash was more of a scrub. The formula is a gel texture that has cellulose in it, meaning it provides natural exfoliation and is a substitute for the microbeads you’ll find in other body scrubs and exfoliators. However, unlike others, this scrub-wash lathered up like a dream.
After coming out of the shower I was greeted by both the Body Milk and Body Oil. I pumped out the Milk first and then realized that since the entire line has the forest-awakening blend of oils in it, each product was going to have that same earthy, aromatherapy scent to it — which I personally love, because consistency is key for me in body care.
