Tatcha The Silk Powder Review & Why I Love It So Much
Tatcha is not exactly known as a makeup brand, but over the years they released several makeup products that are worth checking out. One of them is The Silk Powder, which Sephora describes as “a protective, talc-free setting powder that blurs pores, shields from pollution and blue light, and provides a translucent, soft-radiant finish.”
True to its name, Tatcha The Silk Powder ($49) is a talc-free loose setting powder that contains real silk and very fine shimmering mica particles to add subtle glow. I don’t really like the “baked” feel on my own skin so I was searching for a setting powder that would give me a radiant, natural finish while keeping the makeup in place, and I think this formula has just that. I got the initial jar from Tatcha as a PR sample, and have since repurchased the powder twice on my own, because it just agrees with my combination skin so well. It feels silky and lightweight, and helps reduce shine and excess oil throughout the day. I used it in extremely humid environments – summer in Japan is brutal!! – and it prevented my makeup from melting every time.
Unfortunately, this powder doesn’t come with a brush so you would need to get your own, or any other applicator you prefer. I use it with just a regular fluffy powder brush, but I’ve also seen beauty influencers use powder puffs and beautyblenders, too. Another con is the packaging itself. It doesn’t look or feel particularly luxurious, and the plastic cap scratches and peels easily which can make this almost $50 product look worse than its drugstore counterparts. Considering that part of the cost of luxury beauty products is the packaging, I’m somewhat disappointed. It can also get a bit dusty inside, because you don’t have the option to close the sifter.
On the plus side, this is one of the most finely-milled powders I’ve tried to date, right up there with Rodial and Hourglass. It looks virtually invisible on my face and doesn’t emphasize enlarged pores. Also, with all the controversy around talc these days, it’s nice to have a talc-free option for those who want to avoid it in their cosmetic powder products.
This last thing is a love-it or hate-it. The formula contains ultra fine light-reflecting mica powder to add a subtle radiant effect. For those who prefer ultra-matte coverage this might be off-putting, but I think it actually looks super flattering and gives the skin a hint of glow from within without the glitter.
You will LOVE it if:
- You avoid talc in your powder products.
- You have normal, combination, or oily skin type.
- You prefer natural, radiant, and skin-like finish.
- You avoid added fragrance in makeup.
- You enjoy splurging on beauty products.
- You support CF brands. Tatcha confirmed that they don’t test their ingredients or finished products on animals anywhere in the world, even in China.
SKIP it if:
- You have dry skin.
- You are looking for ultra-matte baking powder.
- You don’t like messy packaging.
- You avoid mica for moral reasons.
- You like solid compact setting powders.
- You don’t want to buy a separate applicator.
- You want your beauty products to have a pleasant fragrance.
- You are on a budget. You can always find more affordable loose setting powders on the market.
- You are allergic or sensitive to any of the ingredients.
Ingredients: Silica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Serica/Silk Powder/Poudre De Soie, Hydrolyzed Silk, Sericin, Saccharomyces/Camellia Sinensis Leaf/Cladosiphon Okamuranus/Rice Ferment Filtrate*, Nacre Powder, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Titanium Dioxide, Magnesium Myristate, Propanediol, Methicone, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Cerium Oxide, Aluminum Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Aqua/Water/Eau, Phenoxyethanol, [+/-] Mica (Ci 77019) , Zinc Oxide (Ci 77947), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide (Ci 77861), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499).
BOTTOM LINE:
Despite the negatives, this Tatcha The Silk Powder became my HG and I pretty much use it exclusively to set my makeup. It doesn’t settle into enlarged pores, looks natural on the skin, and works well even in high humidity to control oil and protect your makeup from melting. If Tatcha could just put this product in a different packaging that isn’t as messy and doesn’t scratch easily, they would give the customers a much more satisfying experience.
What’s your favorite setting powder?
