Blogs

 When I turned 30, I began to struggle with my skin. Part of the issue was pregnancy hormones, but I was also experiencing skin challenges as a result of testing too many products.

When I first saw a geisha’s flawless complexion, I wondered aloud what her secret was. The geisha confided that their ritual is simple, straightforward, and founded on one vital concept, purification, which they discovered by chance. For centuries, geisha have relied on light camellia oil to melt away debris and wash away their famous makeup. The beloved oil is rich in oleic acid and serves as a source of vitamins A, B, and E.

To remove the pore-less wax barrier beneath their makeup, they devised a gentle daily exfoliant from rice bran. The age-old ingredient is prized for its skin-soothing and smoothing enzymes. It's also a rich source of gamma oryzanol, a potent antioxidant, and inositol, a multitasking ingredient and nourishing moisturizer.

I was surprised! All my life, I had invested in treatment products and used the cheapest cleansers available. I didn't think it was worth it to invest time or money into anything that washed off. It turned out that all those inexpensive, bubbly cleansers and exfoliants made from crushed nuts and sand were stripping my skin, leaving it dry and aggravated—and yet, I just assumed I had dry, sensitive skin.

What I learned, though, is that purifying the skin is the first step of any effective antiaging skin-care ritual. By removing burdens (makeup, environmental aggressors, SPF, etc.) without robbing skin of its native moisture, we can bring our skin back to neutral every day.

Geisha have long believed that the skin is a brilliant organ that's at its most radiant when it's free of makeup and debris. I love this holistic approach to skin care, one that comes from a place of deep respect for the skin’s natural abilities. I’m honored to share it with you through our duo for pure, polished skin.

—Vicky Tsai