Tatcha Forest Awakening Body Care Review

[unpaid/sample/affiliate/priorad] I’m such a big fan of Tatcha – actually right from the get-go. It’s efficacious, luxurious and interesting so I’m pleased they’ve brought out a body care range (although where is the bath soak – that’s what I need the most!). It’s based around the concept of forest bathing which I am sure I don’t need to explain but bottom line is that nature is good for you.

So far, I’m really enjoying the body oil – there’s an aromatic element to this which is truly awakening but there’s a little twist in that the oils used, sourced from Japanese trees, are antimicrobial just like the forests they come from. Now, in theory, that should give you similar benefits to actually being in a forest. Am I buying this marketing? I don’t know but I do know a beautiful oil when I feel one and I can leave it at that. The key ingredients are Hadasei-3TM which is the signature Tatcha complex of fermented rice, green tea and algae and the essential oil blend of hinoki, hiba and cedar. What I like about the oil is it starts off sharp and fresh and dries in aroma to something more earthy and soothing.

So, my mind has wandered regarding these eggs [part of the press pack] – they’re supposed to be massage tools to use in conjunction with the oil. Please don’t Google Japanese Massage Eggs unless you’ve had your coffee. I think you may need a circus skills certificate to use them properly and they’ll probably just stay as a curious ornament for now.

The Body Milk is just a bit less aromatic but nicely skin softening and not so milky it dribbles – more of a body lotion I’d say. It massages in well and doesn’t leave any residue. It’s extra nice used before (or after) the oil – that is some supple skin by the end of it. The Purify & Polish uses cellulose to give a fine grain exfoliation – I think it’s the last thing of the three I’d buy because it’s gone in a flash whereas the lotion and oil stay on the body and you get more benefits. I’d much rather it had been a bath oil or bath soak of some sort so I could really revel in the fragrance. As you might imagine from a luxury brand, prices are toppy – the Purify & Polish is £35, the Milk is £50 and the Oil is £61. If I was picking out just one thing, I’d go for the oil, but I’ve discovered a set at Space NK where you can get smaller sizes of each product in a set of three for £54 HERE and that’s what I’d head for. You may as well experience the whole ritual for less than the price of a full size oil.