tatcha aburatorigami japanese beauty papers

I love gold. When I found out that the Tatcha Aburatorigami Japanese Beauty Papers (30 sheets, $15 cdn) had whisper thin gold flakes incorporated into the papers, I was intrigued. I can’t help but sing Iggy Azalea's song “Fancy” in my head whenever I blot my face with these beauty sheets. Is that weird? Doesn’t matter. Like everything else from Tatcha (here and here), the amount of care that goes into their packaging shines through. Whether it was the gold flakes and adorable packaging or the hope that these things might help control my oily t-zone, I decided to pick a pack up after I ran out of my Boscia Blotting Linens.

These beauty papers claim to be a “soft, absorbing paper made of 100% natural abaca leaf and gold flakes to help absorb excess oil without disturbing makeup. These sheets are cruelty-free, biodegradable and handmade in Japan”.

Packaging

The packaging is much more luxurious than any other blotting paper I’ve used. The packaging style is a standard flip top (envelope style) but in the shape of a square and with a much larger size (3.75 inches all around). This differs from the generic rectangular shape that is almost a third less in size. It’s super compact and fits in all my purses and clutches with ease. The package is not waterproof.

Product

These fragrance and powder free sheets are one of the best blotting papers on the market. At first, I was a bit thrown off by the size, but quickly realized how much more area I could cover with just one sheet. These papers are quite thin but they do not tear easily. The blotting sheet is ultra soft and super flexible, making it easy to press against your skin. With one paper (using both sides), I am able to create a completely matte finish without drying my skin or displacing makeup.

I started using blotting papers throughout the day to reduce the amount of powder I would apply to my skin. For those days when I’m super oily, I will use a blotting paper first then apply a setting powder overtop. Lately, I haven’t been touching up as much as I normally do as these sheets are doing a pretty good job keeping me oil-free.

Verdict

These papers come everywhere with me. Having them in a slim envelope makes them compact and easy to throw into any type of bag. These papers have an incredible ability to remove the oils and keep my skin matte while leaving my makeup in place, making it an absolute winner in my books. From the packaging to the product itself, it just works. The only thing I need to do is use them more! They're so nice to look at that I don't ever want to ruin the package! "I'm so fancy, you already know...".

Repurchase?

I am already on my second pack and will keep repurchasing. Looking forward to the Sephora sale this November!!

blotterazzi by beauty blender

The beauty blender is my all time favourite tool to use when applying my foundation. The first time I read about the beauty blender and saw the price I was taken aback. How could a single sponge cost so much? During one of the bi-annual sales Sephora stores generally have, I caved and picked one up. The first time I applied my foundation with the beauty blender I wondered how I ever lived without one. Eventually, I picked up other blenders by different companies but the application just wasn’t the same. I have been a loyal fan of beauty blenders for quite some time now and have disregarded any foundation brush I own. I also get a little too excited when there is a launch of a new beauty blender colour (hello, nude!) or product in general.

Last year, beauty blender launched the Blotterazzi ($28 cdn) by Beauty Blender. I couldn’t wait to try this product out. I picked mine up at IMATS Toronto 2015 but they are still available at Sephora.

The Blotterazzi is made with the same material as regular beauty blenders but the primary purpose is to “absorb excess oil without disturbing makeup so that skin stays looking radiant. With the compact’s vented back and clear, hygienic separator, it ensures that the sponges keep their freshness.”

Packaging

The packaging is actually very cute. This is probably my favourite thing about this product. The hard case is sleek and sturdy. It has a pretty pearlescent plastic material and opens the same way a book would open. Inside there is a mirror and two slim beauty sponges. A plastic film to prevent cross contamination separates the sponges and a vent on the back allows breathability.

Product

As much as I love the beauty blenders, I’m not enthralled with this product. The concept is great, but the sponges don’t work well for my oily t-zone. It removes a bit of the excess oil, but not enough for me to use this on the daily. I patted and dabbed the sponge on my skin and my makeup remained in place and unmoved. However, when I did a swiping motion, my makeup came off with it. You could see the visible change of colour on the sponge. The sponge looks and feels like a slimmed down, flat version of the original beauty blender. I do like that this is reusable and I can clean the sponges the same way I clean my beauty blenders.

Verdict

Perhaps my expectations were too high on this one. I really wanted to love the blotterazzi as much as I love the beauty blenders but I can’t justify it this time around. The concept is great but the end result is extremely underwhelming.

Repurchase?

Unfortunately, I would recommend saving your money and picking up blotting papers instead. Alternatively, if you haven’t tried an original beauty blender, I would definitely recommend trying it out. I’m not kidding when I say I literally use the beauty blender every time I put makeup on. It’s really that good.

Have you tried anything from the beauty blender range?