i’ve been eyeing Tatcha for a while now, and i’m so glad they finally revamped their discovery kit.  i forget what the complete set had before, but it included a full size of their blotting paper, (which i don’t really use) and a complete sampling of their famous Polished Rice Enzyme Powder.  it now offers a more reasonable cross sampling of their products.  the kit is $59 and includes deluxe sample sizes of their Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil (25ml), Polished Rice Enzyme Powder in packets (14x1g), Radiant Deep Brightening Serum (10ml), and a facial cream.  there are four different boxes for different skin types: Oily, Combination, Dry, and Gentle.  the difference between the boxes will be how rough the Polished Rice Enzyme Powder is and what kind of facial cream you get.  all the boxes have the Supple Moisture Rich Silk Cream, except the Dry kit which has Ageless Enriching Renewal Cream.  Both the Gentle and Dry kits also have the the Polished Rice Enzyme Powder in gentle.  Shipping is complimentary both ways via USPS Priority.

Tatcha arrived in an simple but aesthetically pleasing package.  i appreciate that all the different skin type kits are the same price despite the fact there is a price difference in the full size creams.

Tatcha Ritual Discovery Kit in Dry

although the website states that the usual 3 complimentary samples were not available with Ritual Discovery Kit, i was able to add them to my order along with a code for a free travel size sample of their cleansing oil, which you can get by signing up for emails.  the travel size is slightly smaller than the deluxe in packaging and lighter in weight but actually contains 5ml more in product (30ml vs 25ml)

the Ritual Discovery Kit comes with a booklet giving you product information and usage instructions, and the samples come with their own information cards.  again, everything is beautifully presented, and while i appreciate the aesthetics, the environmentalist in me cringes at the paper wastage.  (instructions on packet?)

i will offer a more full length review once i’ve had plenty of time to test out these goodies, but here are some first impressions.  Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil has a wonderful floral scent but doesn’t seem to emulsify well.  this leads to difficulty in removing the makeup completely.  a couple of times i still had dark circles under my eyes after i rinsed off Pure One Step Camellia Oil.  Radiant Deep Brightening Serum is a very thin liquid but seems to offer good hydration.  Ageless Enriching Renewal Cream is a thick cream that doesn’t feel greasy but takes a long time to fully absorb.

lastly, my kit came with a welcome letter with a handwritten note at the bottom thanking me for my order and offering me a 10% off code for my full size purchase, to be used within 3 weeks (actually just a little under).  normally, i’d feel this is a pressure sales tactic, but since Tatcha offers free return shipping and no set time for returns, i’m not put off by the promotional code’s limited time frame .

Readers, what do you think?  have you had your eye on Tatcha?  what brands are on your radar to try?