Tatcha Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 35 Review & Swatches

It’s been awhile since I was this excited about a sunscreen! I know I’ve been testing so many different ones lately but I have to say the Tatcha Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen really stood out from the rest! How so? Let me show you! :)

Given the sunscreen restrictions in the US, it’s difficult to find a good sunscreen that’s quick to absorb and doesn’t leave a white cast while being lightweight and not containing controversial UV filters. I was about to give up on all US sunscreens until I received an email from Tatcha one morning about their first-ever sunscreen release. Knowing and having my trust in the brand, I decided to give it a try. I bought a mini version just to test it out. Little did I know, it has now become one of my most favorite US-based sunscreens!

I applaud Tatcha for not skimping on the packaging even when it’s just a travel-sized version. It still has the same beautiful dusty blue squeeze tube with the brand’s logo etched in gold. The full-sized tube retails for US$68 for 60 ml (2 fl. oz.) while the travel-sized tube retails for US$13 for 10 ml (0.34 fl. oz.). The genius thing about this sunscreen is that it is not just a (really good) sunscreen but it is also a (really good) face primer, too!

Main ingredients

Active ingredients:

• a physical filter Zinc Oxide 15% to protect against UVA1, UVA2, and UVB rays
• a chemical filter Octisalate 5% to protect against UVB

Other skin-loving ingredients:

• blending Japanese Wild Rose, Licorice, Silk, and Loquat Leaf extracts for anti-aging and pore-minimizing benefits
• Tatcha’s proprietary HADASEI-3^TM Bioactive Complex (a mixture of Okinawa Red Algae, Japanese Rice Bran, and Green Tea Complete DNA extracts) for additional antioxidant benefits

Additionally, the formula is non-comedogenic and does not contain mineral oil, synthetic colors and fragrances, sulfate detergents, parabens, PEGs, PPGs, Urea, DEA, TEA, Phthalates, aminobenzoic acid, homosalate, oxybenzone or octinoxate! It does have a soft and soothing floral scent, though. I really, really love it and wish it would last a little longer post application! :)

You’d think that with such a high percentage of Zinc Oxide, the formula would be thick, greasy, and leaves a white cast. Well, not the case with the Tatcha Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen! Despite the seemingly thick and white consistency, this sunscreen actually applies and glides on very easily on the skin. It sinks in instantly leaving only an invisible protective shield; no white cast, no greasiness, no stickiness, nothing but a luxury touch of the softest, silkiest matte finish.

I am completely amazed at the weightless formula; it literally feels like nothing on the skin! It also makes sure that all my visible pores are tightened and blurred out to a near poreless finish. So not only is it a great and effective sunscreen, it is also a great and effective mattifying and pore-minimizing primer. It has the ability to prep the skin really well to ensure a smoother application of my makeup. I’ve never noticed any peeling or balling up of my base product be it foundation, tinted moisturizer, or BB/CC cream. This lovely sunscreen just makes everything go on much more beautifully! :)

To me, the Tatcha Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen feels more like a primer with SPF rather than a sunscreen with face-priming benefits due to the smoothing matte finish it leaves behind. It is fairly moisturizing, too, so occasionally I will use it as 3-in-1 moisturizer, sunscreen, and primer product! Just make sure that you apply it at least 15 minutes before sun exposure. It hasn’t caused any breakout or irritation on my skin so far and I highly doubt it ever will. Fingers crossed! :)

If these aren’t convincing enough, how about I tell you that it also controls oil like a champ? With this sunscreen on, I don’t have to blot my T-zone midday anymore. Sometimes I’ll even go on about my day without blotting at all! :)

And if you don’t already know, every full-sized product purchase, Tatcha will fund one day of school for a girl’s education through the Room to Read program (details). As of June 2015, they have already funded 385,091 days of education!

I’ll conclude my review by saying that the Tatcha Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 35 is truly a wonderful product that will make you look good and feel good. It is a gentle yet effective sunscreen with anti-aging, pore-minimizing, and skin-loving benefits that doubles as an excellent face primer. The high price tag is probably a little hard to stomach but it isn’t too outrageous in my opinion considering that I would probably be paying more if I were to purchase a face sunscreen and primer separately. I love it so much that by the time you’re reading this, I have already placed my order for 2 full-sized tubes! One for me, and one for my best friend. :)

Have you tried any Tatcha products? Are you looking forward to trying this sunscreen?

Purchase