Tata Harper Travel Sizes

Most pricey skincare lines don't offer trial sizes that last long enough (7+ days) to form much of an opinion on its efficacy. Generally speaking, you'll know early on if there's an ingredient that you're reacting to, but whether a serum is worth its salt? That takes at least week.

Not so with Tata Harper, their webstore is generous with the samples, and they often offer capsule collections to test out their – frankly, expensive – line. I picked up a few, and sprang for their Replenishing Nutrient Complex, a roll on oil that penetrates beautifully, and the most deeply nourishing product I've found yet. Despite it being housed in a glass vial, it travels well, and I keep a miniature version (not in pictures) in my purse to smear a bit on my cheekbones to freshen up in the afternoon.

The takeaway on the remaining products?

• Boosted Contouring Serum  - light texture, had a bit of a tacky feel post application, but didn't blow me away. I suspect it would take a full size bottle to reap any measurable benefit.
• Hydrating Floral Essence -  very hydrating, it mists well (versus the larger bottle with shoots out) with a quickly dissipating, and vaguely floral scent. It's both functional and sensory.
• Rebuilding Moisturizer - intense and jam-packed with a long list of workhorse ingredients. It has a lotion-y consistency but a mildly tacky feel post application (likely due the raw honey in its formula) and ended up being too heavy for my sensitive, reactive skin. I've heard it said that there are too many active ingredients, which is an interesting thought.
• Resurfacing Mask - a staple, especially when traveling. It's a gentle and soothing exfoliation mask and highly recommended for any skin type.
• Beautifying Facial Oil - very light, heavily fragrant and nice in the morning. Especially great for patting over makeup to take things down a notch and restore some glow.

Ingredients:

Replenishing Nutrient Complex: Rosa Canina Seed Extract*, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) seed oil*, Olea europaea (Olive) oil*, Prunus armeniaca (Apricot) kernel oil*, Borago officinalis Leaf Extract *,  Medicago sativa (Alfalfa) leaf Extract*, Sambucus nigra (Elderberry) fruit extract, Calendula officinalis flower Extract*, Arnica montana leaf Extract*, Tilia europaea (Linden) leaf/flower Extract*, Daucus carota sativa (Carrot) root Extract, Aroma**,  Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol, Citronellol, Farnesol, Citral, Benzyl Alcohol

Rebuilding Moisturizer: Aloe barbadensis leaf juice*, Mangifera indica (Mango) seed butter, Carthamus tinctorius (Safflower) oleosomes*, Olea europaea (Olive) oil*, Glycerin, Cetearyl olivate, Oryza sativa (Rice) extract*, Rosa damascena flower water*, Sorbitan olivate, Leuconostoc ferment filtrate (radish root extract), Mel (Honey), Sambucus nigra (Elderberry) fruit extract, Sodium hyaluronate, Menyanthes trifoliata (Buckbean) Leaf Extract, Salix alba (Willow) bark extract*,  Medicago sativa (Alfalfa) leaf Extract*, Borago officinalis Leaf Extract*, Calendula officinalis flower Extract*, Spiraea Ulmaria (meadowsweet) flower Extract*, Tilia europaea (Linden) leaf/flower Extract*, Lavandula stoechas (Spanish Lavender) extract, Arnica montana flower Extract*, Galactoarabinan, Sclerotium gum, Caprylic/Capric, Triglyceride, Cetyl palmitate, Sorbitan palmitate, Soybean peroxidase, Superoxide dismutase, Sodium phytate, Aroma**, Citronellol, Linalool, Citral, Eugenol, Farnesol

Hydrating Floral Essence: Aloe barbadensis leaf juice*, Rosa damascena flower water*, Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) flower water*,  Leuconostoc ferment filtrate (radish root extract), Hamamelis virginiana (Witch Hazel) Distillate, Sodium hyaluronate, Beta vulgaris (Beet) Root,  Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola) extract*, Salix alba (Willow) bark extract*, Oryza sativa (Rice) extract*, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Sodium phytate, Superoxide dismutase*, Soybean peroxidase*, Aroma**, Limonene, Citral, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol, Eugenol, Farnesol

Beautifying Facial Oil: Squalane (Plant),  Jojoba Esters, Olea europea (Olive) Oil*, Argania spinosa (Argan) Kernel oil*, Plukenetia Volubilis, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Medicago sativa (Alfalfa) Extract*, Arnica montana (Arnica) Leaves and flowers*, Calendula officinalis (Calendula) Flower Extract*, Symphytum officinale (Comfrey) Leaves*, Borago officinalis (Borage) Leaf Extract*, Spiraea Ulmaria (Meadowsweet) flower Extract*, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Aroma**, Algae extract, Linalool, Limonene

Boosted Contouring Serum: Aloe barbadensis leaf juice *, Rosa damascena flower water*, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Mangifera indica (Mango) seed butter, Silybum marianum (Milk Thistle) ethyl ester, Hydroxystearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Glycerin, Punica granatum , Glyceryl undecylenate, Cetearyl alcohol, Olea europaea (Olive) oil*,  Leuconostoc ferment filtrate (radish root extract), Algae extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Extract (pomegranate) extract,  Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola) extract*, Lavandula stoechas (Spanish Lavender) extract, Narcissus tazetta (Daffodil) bulb extract*, Phoenix dactylifera (Date) seed extract, Sodium hyaluronate, Sambucus nigra (Elderberry) fruit extract, Menyanthes trifoliata (Buckbean) Flower Extract, Daucus carota sativa (Carrot) root Extract, Salix alba (Willow) bark extract*, Borago officinalis Leaf Extract*, Arnica montana flower Extract*, Calendula officinalis flower Extract*, Spiraea Ulmaria (meadowsweet) leaf Extract *, Tilia europaea (Linden) leaf/flower Extract*,  Medicago sativa (Alfalfa) leaf Extract*, Rosa Canina Seed Extract*, Hydrolyzed Rhizobian Gum, Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) Seed wax, Ornithine, Solidago virgaurea (Goldenrod) extract*, Oryza sativa (Rice) extract*, Kaolin (clay minerals), Sclerotium gum, Montmorillonite (clay minerals), Illite (clay minerals), Phospholipids, Glycolipids, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Coco-glucoside, Cetearyl olivate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sorbitan olivate, Superoxide dismutase, Soybean peroxidase, Hydroxystearyl Glucoside, Aroma**, Citral, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Benzyl Benzoate

*Ingredients from Organic farming

** Clinical grade essential oils blend

Price range $11-45 /  Tata Harper

Dr. Haushka Rose Day Cream

I was first introduced to the Dr. Hauschka line—strangely enough—in a Sephora fourteen years ago. The salesperson was baffled by its at stringent and out-there manufacturing standards. "All the employees have to pray before they start work," she explained, wide-eyed. "They go out to this rose garden and pick rose petals and bless the bowls they mix their formulas in with a ceremonial feather." I kid you not. I have no idea of knowing whether this was an apocryphal rumor started by an overzealous brand rep or if they indeed go that far.

What I do know is that the ingredients are top notch, and that Germans have a heritage of bathing, spas, and clean simple skincare. This cream by Dr. Hauschka is akin to Weleda's Skin Food in how relentlessly nourishing it is, it's thick and white and takes a bit of effort to work into the skin. But put it on in the morning and you'll still be feeling dewy by the afternoon. It's rich, but not oily. And the rose scent is really special.

Because there's no SPF in it, I use something else in the mornings, but stash a tube of this in my handbag during winter months. I love this cream for traveling and cocooning my face against dry airplane cabin air, and for touch ups during the day—particularly when I was pregnant and would get incredibly dry in the afternoon. I love dabbing this on the cheekbones to impart a little glow, or to take down my makeup down a notch if I'm feeling too done up. (Kind of like that Chanel adage, where you look in the mirror and take off one accessory before heading out the door.)

What's in it? Rose hips and rose petals. And not from your average roses, but Ethiopia's famed Damask roses (apparently, the quality of roses there is on par with Bulgaria and Turkey). The hydrating ingredients are shea butter, avocado oil and rose petal wax. Plus, holistic ingredients like St. John's wort and marshmallow extracts to calm inflammation and soothe.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Alcohol, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Anthyllis Vulneraria Extract, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Bentonite, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Lysolecithin, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Bran Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Fragrance (Parfum), Citronellol*, Geraniol*, Linalool*, Limonene*, Citral*, Farnesol*, Eugenol*, Xanthan Gum, Rosa Damascena Flower Wax.

$42.95 / Pharmaca