Let’s Just Get to the Point:
Silicone-laden primers may make your skin look like a porcelain doll’s, but over time, your pores can become seriously clogged. This first-ever primer from Japanese beauty brand Tatcha, The Silk Canvas ($52) uses silk rather than silicone to smooth out your complexion and perfectly prep it for makeup.
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If You Want to Know More:
One of the pioneers of the J-Beauty (Japanese beauty) movement stateside, Tatcha looks to its Eastern roots for inspiration, especially when it comes to skin care. The Silk Canvas is based on the centuries-old skin preparation ritual of geishas in Japan: After a multistep regimen of cleansing, exfoliating, hydrating and nourishing their skin, geishas used a clear, soy-based wax called “bintsuke” to keep their skin clear. They would melt the wax and apply it to their face to create a barrier between their makeup and skin, which is how we use primer today. According to the brand, it’s the same wax sumo wrestlers put in their hair, and it helps the skin retain moisture while keeping makeup out of pores.
To give it its velvety-smooth texture (it feels like a mix between balm and paste), The Silk Canvas is formulated with thin layers of silk made of three components: fibroin, the inner part of silk that nourishes the skin; sericin, the outer part of silk that holds in moisture to prevent dryness; and silk powder, which works with the other two elements to deliver the coveted blurring effect we all want. The best part is that it blends seamlessly into your skin without leaving any of the greasy slip behind on your fingers that you often get from silicone-based primers.
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The packaging is also unique—don’t expect a tube, or a pot you have to stick your fingers in each time you apply, but rather a compact of sorts that comes with a tiny spatula so you can scoop out just the right amount of product. Having trouble visualizing? Check out the video below.
If you are one of those people (like me) who loves the way your makeup looks when you use primer, but you sometimes steer clear of it because the silicone doesn’t mesh well with your skin, this is bound to become your new favorite product. My makeup hasn’t looked this good in a long time—my pores pretty much disappear when I wear it—and it stays on all day without budging, even in the Florida heat and humidity. Oh, and did I mention you can also use it on your eyes and lips? Talk about a multitasker!
