If you have combination skin like me, having a variety of cleansers on hand is essential. During the summer months, when my skin tends to be more oily, I always reach for a gel cleanser. Recently, I’ve been testing out Tatcha’s The Matcha Cleanse ($40) to see how it measures up to the brand’s popular Rice Wash. A good cleanser is the foundation of any skincare routine, setting the stage for the rest of your products. Here’s my honest review of this gentle gel cleanser.
The Benefits of This Gel Cleanser
While Tatcha claims this clarifying cleanser is suitable for all skin types, I find it works best for those with oily skin. Formulated with antioxidant-rich Japanese kyo-matcha, inspired by traditional Japanese skincare practices, this cleanser is designed to keep oil at bay. It creates a luxurious foamy lather that thoroughly cleanses the skin, removing excess oil. On days when my skin is oilier, it leaves my skin feeling clean and balanced. However, on drier days, it can leave my skin feeling slightly tight, which may not be ideal. Despite being soap-free, it can sometimes give that squeaky-clean sensation. Regardless, I noticed that my pores appeared smaller every time I used it, which I absolutely loved!
Key ingredients like coix seed and willow bark help unclog pores, while Japanese mugwort supports the skin’s barrier. I appreciate that the cleanser is fragrance-free. In a bio-instrumentation study, 100% of participants experienced a reduction in oil production, while a clinical study showed that 90% noticed a visible decrease in pore size. An interesting finding from the clinical study was that this cleanser improved makeup wear for up to eight hours. Not all brands focus on this aspect, but for those with oily skin, makeup longevity can be a struggle, often requiring mattifying primers to control shine. If you practice double-cleansing, this would be the second step after using an oil-based cleanser to remove makeup and sunscreen.
The Bottom Line
If you have oily skin, I highly recommend this gel cleanser, especially for its ability to prolong the wear of makeup. It’s like a cleanser and primer in one, offering added benefits for your skincare routine.