The treatment would change her life: during the visit, she was introduced to gentle products, such as rice-based cleansers, and techniques like the use of blotting papers to pat away oil-which was inspired by the abaca-leaf papers traditionally used by geishas. "It was a moment that my skin started to transform," she says. "I was amazed and wanted to find out more." By 2009, Tsai had left her job as a corporate strategist for Starbucks to create Tatcha, a skin-care line that incorporates Japanese wellness practices. The brand has since developed a cult following and is beloved by celebrities including Jennifer Aniston and Meghan Markle.
For Tsai, it all goes back to the city that healed her skin. "The level of care, service, and hospitality-what the Japanese refer to as omotenashi-has stayed with me," she says. Read on for Tsai's picks for finding serenity in and around Kyoto.
RYOSOKU-IN TEMPLE
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