Beauty tech—the kind of thing that makes LED face masks and sonic exfoliating devices smarter and flashier with each new launch—shows no signs of slowing down. In recent years, I’ve derived a lot of enjoyment from these advancements. My skin is visibly reaping the rewards, at least. But for all the upgrades and add-ons brands can offer, there are still those who prefer to do things the old-school way.
In the spirit of enjoying the simpler things in life, here’s one idea for a worthy splurge: an under-the-radar collaboration between one of the oldest brush makers in Japan and a skincare brand with a penchant for tradition. The brush maker in question is Kashoen 1883; the skin care brand is Tatcha.
Even a passing knowledge of the two will reveal why it’s a perfect pairing. Kashoen’s top-tier makeup brush series hovers around the $200 mark, a testament to the amount of time it takes to painstakingly hand-produce and double check each one. Tatcha first made a name for itself by redesigning blotting papers as sturdy, gold-flecked squares whose sole purpose was soaking up the oil on your face (and doing it very well, at that). These are two companies that don’t mind taking their time to produce a luxury object.
The result of their partnership: a single brush in Tatcha’s signature purple. The handle is polished birchwood and the ferrule is coated in 24-karat gold. The bristles are a combination of goat hair and synthetic fibers. (I suspect this is because a brush solely crafted from natural hairs is usually better suited for fine application of powders, lacking the durability to be dipped over and over again into a frothy cleanser.) Each bristle is hand-trimmed with a razor to achieve varying lengths, resulting in a shape that effectively clears pores and exfoliates skin.
To use it, I pour a scant half teaspoon of Tatcha’s Polished Rice Enzyme Powder into the accompanying bowl, add a few drops of water and vigorously whisk the whole thing together with the brush. I apply the concoction in small, circular motions, holding the brush perpendicular to my face. The brand will of course advise you that it’s best to use one of their rice powders, the raison d’être for this entire invention. This is indeed a recipe for skin care success, but I see no reason why you couldn’t substitute another powder exfoliant or regular cleanser. Just be sure to rinse everything off and gently pat your face dry when you’ve finished.
You can use Tatcha’s cleansing brush on a daily basis, and I highly recommend that you do so if you’re investing in one. It’s quite easy to clean: You simply rinse it under warm water for several seconds, then gently squeeze the bristles to remove excess moisture. Do not lay it on a hand towel to dry; there’s a small chain on the end of the brush handle for this purpose. Loop it around the stand, so it can dry in high style.
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