Our Thoughts On Tatcha's Indigo Cleansing Balm
Inspired by ancient Japanese traditions and powered by Japanese botanicals, Tatcha’s luscious formulas are a favourite not only amongst Space NK customers, but also at our Space NK offices. So, when we heard that there was a new Tatcha product on the horizon, our interest naturally peaked.
Enter The Indigo Cleansing Balm – a buttery soft texture designed to remove heavy makeup (including waterproof mascara), SPF and daily impurities. Following on from The Indigo Night Repair and enriched with Japanese indigo extract, cleansing lipids and Tatcha’s signature Hadasei-3 complex, this cleanser’s unique blue shade is a reference to Japan’s Edo period, when samurai wore a layer of indigo-dyed cotton underneath their armour to help heal injuries.
The Indigo Cleansing Balm is designed to cleanse effortlessly and, like its Indigo Night Repair predecessor, restore the skin’s moisture barrier and soothe any sensitive and sensitised complexions. Sounds like a dream, right?
As this is Tatcha’s first ever balm cleanser, there’s been a lot of excitement at Space NK HQ. We asked three colleagues to test it for a few weeks and give us their honest opinions – keep scrolling to see find out what they thought, and if The Indigo Cleansing Balm is yet another Tatcha win.
THE TOPLINE ON TATCHA THE INDIGO CLEANSING BALM
• Made with Japanese indigo extract, cleansing lipids and Hadasei-3
• Removes makeup, waterproof mascara and daily buildup
• Soothes sensitive, sensitised and irritated skin
• Restores skin's moisture barrier
KIRSTEN’S TATCHA INDIGO CLEANSING BALM REVIEW
• Skin type: Normal, sometimes dehydrated
• The product: Tatcha The Indigo Cleansing Balm, £40.00
If there’s one thing I love about Tatcha, it’s the textures – and I was very excited about the brand launching a cleansing balm. Sometimes I find oil-based cleansers too rich for my skin, so I was keen to give this a go.
Firstly, I love that this cleanser comes with a spatula. I have long nails which often pick up product, so I liked how this spatula made the cleansing ritual easier. As for the texture, I found it really light and just the right level of oily. My makeup melted off super quickly, there was zero stinging and my mascara was gone in a flash. It was so effective!
Some cleansers can make my skin feel quite tight, and luckily this balm had a balancing effect. I did go in with a second cleanse as this is just a staple part of my routine to ensure my skin feels really clean. If a double cleanse wasn’t so instilled in me however, I would be happy after one cleanse with this product. Also, I feel like I haven't had as many breakouts since I started using it! Big statement, but I think this might be my new favourite cleanser.
REBZ’S TATCHA INDIGO CLEANSING BALM REVIEW
• Skin type: Combination
• The product: Tatcha The Indigo Cleansing Balm, £40.00
As someone who’s tried various balm cleansers – I’m a big fan of Eve Lom Cleanser, £48.00 and Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, £13.50 feels like a mini spa treatment – I was curious about this new product. And really, I was pleasantly surprised. Some cleansing balms can be a little grainy and take a bit of work to melt into skin, but this felt so smooth and melty, it was just so easy to use!
When it comes to removing my makeup, I use a cloth as I don’t think using just my hands is enough, but I loved seeing how my makeup was coming off as I massaged the product into my face (much more so than with my current cleanser!). When I used the cloth it pretty much all came off with one wipe – I didn’t need to scrub my eyes at all. My skin definitely felt clean after using it – I didn’t get that horrible squeaky feel, nor did I feel any sort of film or residue that would make me want to cleanse again.
The spatula worked well for picking up the product, but I definitely prefer to use my fingers when working the product into my face. Going forward, I will probably just dive straight into the tub with my fingertips – it’s a fairly light balm so there’s no need to scrape and dig. I did feel like I needed to use a moisturiser afterwards, as I always experience tightness around my mouth – but when I touched my skin it felt really soft and smooth. Plus, there was no stinging – and my skin does have its sensitivities. All in all, I think I’ve hit the jackpot with this cleansing balm, it’s a dream!
SAMIRA’S TATCHA INDIGO CLEANSING BALM REVIEW
• Skin type: Normal-combination
• The product: Tatcha The Indigo Cleansing Balm, £40.00
I’m a self-confessed Tatcha fan – the Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream, £24.00 and Tatcha The Essence, £102.00 take up honourable spots in my skincare routine. And prior to The Indigo Cleansing Balm, I’d actually never used a cleansing balm before. I normally use a gel cleanser for my morning cleanse and an oil cleanser in the evening when I've been wearing makeup. So I think it’s fair to say that testing this cleanser was twice as exciting for me…
The packaging is gorgeous, and I like how the spatula included has a handy line on it to guide you on how much product to use. Having said that, I found the suggested amount was more than enough and I actually used slightly less the next few times.
I also liked the fact that you could put it directly onto dry skin to get your makeup off. The texture was buttery smooth and nourishing, perhaps a bit oilier than I was expecting but not too thick.
I used a wet flannel to remove the balm and didn't notice any residue after using this. However, I used the balm after wearing a full face of makeup and full-coverage foundation, and I did need a double cleanse to feel like my skin was completely free of makeup. Still, it left my skin feeling hydrated, fresh and clean.
I can confirm I’ve enjoyed my first experience with a cleansing balm, I’m pleased with this product! Compared to an oil cleanser, I found it gentler, and I definitely needed a second cleanse to get all my makeup off. I will definitely continue to use it, but in tandem with another cleanser.
THE VERDICT ON TATCHA INDIGO CLEANSING BALM
Tatcha’s new cleanser went down a treat with our Space NK colleagues, with all three of them finding the texture gentle, nourishing, and overall efficient at removing makeup. In short – it’s looking like another Tatcha win that’s bound to be loved by many...
The Pros: Kirsten, Rebz and Samira agree that The Indigo Cleansing Balm is probably great for sensitive skin. “It wasn’t abrasive or stripping in the slightest,” says Samira.
The Cons: Kirsten would love for it to come in a bigger size – “just because I love it so much!”, she says. Additionally, alongside feeling like a second cleanse was essential, Samira questions whether the price point is justified. “It's a lovely product,” she says, “but perhaps a little expensive when there are cheaper cleansers that do a similar job.”
MORE FROM TATCHA
The Indigo Cleansing Balm joins Tatcha’s family of cleansers – Tatcha The Camellia Cleansing Oil, £48.00, Tatcha Matcha Cleanse, £42.00 and Tatcha The Rice Wash, £41.00. Now, more than ever, the skincare brand has got your cleansing needs and skin concerns covered.
If your barrier is compromised and needs all the T.L.C. it can get, this new cleanser will of course team beautifully with the Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair, £86.00. For a good dose of plumpness and hydration, there’s the Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream, £24.00. And for the ultimate repair? Team the Indigo duo with Tatcha The Essence, £102.00 and Tatcha The Kissu Lip Mask, £27.00.
Read More
• Our Review Of The Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream• Our Review Of The Tatcha Water Cream • Best Tatcha Skincare Products
• Our Review Of The Tatcha Matcha Cleanse • Review Of The Tatcha Silk Serum
• Our Review Of Tatcha's The Silk Sunscreen
