Tool Thursday: Tatcha Aburatorigami Japanese Beauty Papers Duo Review

Tatcha Aburatorigami Japanese Beauty Papers Duo

Having heard so many rave reviews on these Tatcha blotting papers, I finally gave in and bought my first duo set that includes the Original and the Evening Aburatorigami Japanese Beauty Papers. I have an oily T-zone and live in a tropical climate so I love exploring different kinds of blotting sheets. I normally prefer plastic films over the paper ones because they don’t create that paper crinkly sound during use (more discreet). They are also more durable and generally more effective at removing excess oil. But knowing Tatcha, which none of their products has yet to disappoint me, I knew these papers had to be special, and they had to be good. I set my expectations quite high (who wouldn’t considering the price!) so let’s see if they are as good as everyone’s making them out to be! :)

Tatcha Original Aburatorigami Japanese Beauty Papers

The Original Aburatorigami measures 9.5 cm x 9.5 cm (3.74 in x 3.74 in) and contains 30 sheets in a pack that retails for US$12. So for each sheet, it will cost you 40 cents to blot! I have a pretty normal oily T-zone and I can get by with blotting only once a day. However, for those with excessive oily skin, this could prove quite a bit pricey if you had to use more than one sheet at a time. Good thing it comes in a generous size and I find that on normal days, one sheet is more than enough to blot my entire face. You can also use both sides of each sheet to blot.

The cardboard packaging, while compact and exquisite to look at, is actually slightly large and awkward to use since you have to flip to the back to unhook the closure. Once unfolded, there isn’t a sticker that helps lift the sheet up one at a time (a feature I’m used to with most plastic films from other brands). Good thing the paper has just enough thickness that makes it easy to grab only one at a time. It’s also slippery enough that you can simply slide the first paper up with your thumb.

The papers themselves are soft and gentle on the skin and are made of 100% abaca leaf. The most special thing about them is they contain real gold flakes scattered throughout! How fancy is that?! Can’t say I’ve used any face product with real gold in it! :) But no worries, the gold won’t transfer to your skin during use. The papers are said to be all-natural and free of powder, fragrance, and pulp. They are handmade in Japan and biodegradable (something I can’t say about the plastic types!).

They are surprisingly very absorbent and I’ve never encountered the oil being soaked through to my fingers or the paper being torn apart during use (common to many cheap blotting papers). Performance-wise, they are just as effective at removing excess oil and shine from the skin as my trusty Gatsby plastic films, all while leaving my makeup undisturbed. They are non-powdered so they never leave your face caked or powdery or overly matte. I find them to remove only the excess oil and not strip your skin of moisture which can sometimes result in your skin overcompensating to produce more oil. The effect lasts for several hours, too!

Tatcha Evening Aburatorigami Japanese Beauty Papers

For an extra US$7, you can buy the duo set that includes the Evening Aburatorigami. The Evening Aburatorigami papers are made of the same materials as the Original Aburatorigami papers except they are black in color rather than beige. Each sheet measures 6.7 cm x 6.7 cm (2.6 in x 2.6 in) so it’s about two thirds the size of the Original one. The smaller size was designed so that you can fit the smaller packet in your evening clutch. Each packet contains 40 sheets and if we calculate the price based on the US$7 extra, we are paying about 17.5 cents per sheet. I did not notice any difference between the two versions in terms of performance so I’m going to go ahead and say they work the same way, except one is different color and smaller size.

Overall, I think the Tatcha Aburatorigami blotting papers are excellent and possibly best in class when it comes to a “paper” blotting type. I thoroughly enjoy using them but as much as I want to use and repurchase them on a regular basis, I know I can’t due to the high price tag. For everyday usage, I’ll probably stick with my Gatsby films (readily available where I live for much cheaper) and only keep the Tatcha papers as an occasional treat when I want to feel a little extra fancy! :)

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