I’m a huge fan of Tata Harper Skincare. My favourite products are the Rejuvenating Serum and Repairative Moisturizer, but when I have breakouts I take a break from those products because they can be too rich. Since my mid-30s I pretty much have to juggle between 2 types of skincare routines – one lightweight minimal skincare routine for when I have breakouts; and a richer, more nourishing skin care routine when my skin is clear and I can work on deep moisturizing to prevent fine lines and wrinkles.
When I heard from Tata Harper Skincare that they’ve come out with a new moisturizer for blemish-prone skin, I was really intrigued and excited to see what it would be like. As everyone knows, I’m a huge proponent of using very minimal skincare products and makeup when you have breakouts to heal your skin, and if you need a moisturizer, it’s best to use a facial oil or a lightweight serum instead of heavy creams because it’s less likely to aggravate pimples and breakouts. So I was really excited to see what Tata Harper Clarifying Moisturizer is like, and if this is something you can use to moisturize your skin, even when your skin is irritated and broken out.
Tata Harper Clarifying Moisturizer – The Formula
Before I get into my review and observations of the Clarifying Moisturizer, let’s talk about the formulation and what it’s designed to do.
The big stand out about the product is that it contains probiotics. It’s formulated to calm irritated skin, and it provides lightweight moisture.
I like that.
A lot of skincare products formulated for acne prone skin don’t address the irritation and inflammation, and that’s what’s key if you’re going to use skincare products while you have breakouts. No product will ever heal pimples, but they can help to reduce redness and irritation, and even out your skin tone.
I also like that it’s lightweight. As I said before, you don’t want to use heavy creams and lotions when you have breakouts because they usually contain waxes and butters that can congest and irritate pimples (better to use those types of products when you don’t have blemishes). Tata Harper Clarifying Moisturizer is aloe-based, so you’re getting good hydration without clogging or irritating your pores.
And what about the probiotics? Well, probiotics being added to skin care products is a hot trend right now, and for good reason. Our body inside and out is covered with both good and bad bacteria (it’s not only in your gut, but you’ve got good and bad bacteria all over your body, even all over your skin!). And, the best way to keep the bad bacteria in check isn’t by washing it away, but by feeding and replenishing the good bacteria so it prevents overgrowth of the bad bacteria.
I’ve been working in natural health for many years and I’ve seen the endless ways probiotics have been used to heal all sorts of health conditions. One thing that comes to mind is how some people have treated gum disease and tooth decay by rinsing their mouth out with a probiotic infused water. It makes sense that they repopulate the good bacteria in their mouth to decrease inflammation and infection. If you can use probiotics therapeutically to treat infections and imbalances inside the body, it should work externally as well.
The beauty of probiotics being added to a moisturizer, especially one for acne or blemish-prone skin, is it helps with cell turnover, and keeps the surface of the skin healthy and balanced. In turn, it will speed up healing, and could help prevent future breakouts too.
My observations
The big stand out of Tata Harper Clarifying Moisturizer is how quickly it evens out your skin tone (I notice a difference in my skin in just a few hours after using it the first time, wow!). If you are prone to redness, irritation or blotchy skin, or have very reactive skin, this is a good moisturizer.
I will also say this is a safe moisturizer to use when you have breakouts or active pimples. It will sooth and hydrate your irritated skin. The only exception is if you have really severe painful acne covering most of you face – in this sort of situation I always recommend following my protocol of taking a break from most skincare products and makeup for at least a month to allow your skin to balance out and heal. Once the severe acne is clearing up and your skin appears to be on the road to recovery, then you can certainly add the Clarifying Moisturizer into your skincare routine.
Tata Harper Clarifying Moisturizer is a great moisturizer for younger skin. What I love about Tata Harper Skincare is it’s an anti-aging skincare line, and being in my 40s, I really like their products! But, for those of you in your 20s or even in your early 30s, some of the products are just too rich for your skin. So this is definitely a welcome addition to their skincare line because it’s lightweight making it more suitable for younger women with oily, combination, and blemish-prone skin.
I also have to say what I love most about Tata Harper Clarifying Moisturizer is it leaves your skin soft and smooth, and absorbs beautifully. It is so light weight, you don’t even feel it. I also love the matte finish, which if you’re like me with oily skin, having a moisturizer than balances out the shine instead of emphasizing it, is always welcome!
And lastly, the scent. If you’ve used Tata Harper products before, you know that each product has it’s own unique scent due to the formulation, extracts and oils used in each product. The scent of the Clarifying Moisturizer is a light, calming Blue Cypress, which I find to be fresh and non-intrusive.
Conclusion
Tata Harper Clarifying Moisturizer is definitely a must-try if you’re prone to breakouts, acne, and skin irritation. It’s such a calming lightweight moisturizer that I find it especially good for those of you who are in your 20s and early 30s with oily and combination skin.
Being in my 40s with both acne-prone and maturing skin – I’ve been experimenting using a facial oil in conjunction with Tata Harper Clarifying Moisturizer as an overnight moisturizing treatment, which I’m really loving! Pretty much I’ve been wearing the Clarifying Moisturizer on it’s own during the day, and at night after I apply the Clarifying Moisturizer on my face, and then I apply 1 or 2 drops of a facial oil over it. This is great way to seal in moisture for extra hydration, and I would recommend this if you have blemish-prone skin that is maturing or tends to get dry or dehydrated.
6 Responses
Great Review!
What do you use for crow’s feet?
Thanks!
Great question! I use an eye cream (I like Living Libations All Seeing Eye Creme), and as an overnight treatment, I dab a tiny drop of castor oil over the eye cream just in the area where my crows feet are (NEVER on the full area under your eye, just dab a tiny amount on the outside corners where the deep wrinkles/crows feet are). The castor oil helps to seal in moisture, so it’s good as an overnight treatment in conjunction with an eye cream.
Hi, Natashs,
I am such a big fan of your blog! I have a question for you about the clarifying moisturizer. I am 30 years old and have very sensitive, fair, reactive and currently hormonal acne going on. I would love to try this moisturizer but am TERRIFIED to put anything on my skin. The lady at the counter at nordstrom said it would be very irritating on skin like mine because of how potent the ingredients are, but then I read your blog and feel conflicted cause you highly recommend it for acne-prone skin. I don’t have acne all over my face, but the acne I do have is pretty active and irritated, around my mouth and lower cheek area.
What would you suggest in terms of the moisturizer? And should I follow up with the resurfacing mask for more detoxification of the skin, or is that too many products?
Thanks! I am really looking forward to your answer!
Hi Sarah,
I agree with the lady at Nordstrom, if your skin is inflamed and really irritated right now, the Clarifying Moisturizer could make it worse. This is a great moisturizer if your skin is prone to breakouts, but not in the throes of really painful irritated breakouts (you can use this when you don’t have breakouts, and when you do, switch to a simpler/gentler product for moisturizing).
When you’re in the middle of breakouts, I recommend simplifying your skincare routine by using very gentle products. I recommend washing your face with the gentlest cleanser you can find (I like a smooth raw honey, or oil cleansing), and if you really need to moisturize your skin, use a few drops of a plain oil like jojoba oil, or a gentle oil blend (I like Living Libations Soothsayer Serum or Rose Glow Serum, both are very gentle for acne prone skin. The Soothsayer Serum in particular is formulated to sooth the skin and help heal breakouts and prevent/fade any marks or discolouration from breakouts and pimples).
As for Tata Harper’s Resurfacing Mask, it’s a gentle mask, but because you have sensitive skin, you might want to be cautious using it. Perhaps patch test it on your neck to see how your skin responds. Also, I believe Nordstrom gives samples of everything, so ask them for a sample!
Hope this helps 🙂
Would this be OK for sensitive/cystic acne skin type?
Hi Hope,
Is there any way you can get a sample of it to try first? It’s a good moisturizer for oily and acne prone skin (it’s hydrating but not oily, so it won’t clog pores). I’m just concerned that you have sensitive skin. Tata Harper products have a lot of extracts, botanicals and plant ingredients which can be irritating for sensitized skin. If your skin is currently red, inflamed, or irritated, I wouldn’t recommend it. If your skin skin has some cystic breakouts, but not irritated or inflamed, you can try it.
Hope this helps!