A colleague’s face said it all. I’d thought I had a few pimples, so I kept adding stronger products. It was rosacea, and what finally helped was doing a lot less. This is the story behind how I formulate Tatawai.
Glass or plastic? Natural or nature-identical? Local or imported? The more I look into sustainability, the less simple it gets. Here’s what I’ve learned about packaging, ingredients and certifications, and the honest compromises I’ve made as a small New Zealand brand.
Why start a skincare brand, and why make it calm? Founder Suzanne talks about studying cosmetic science, choosing EU standards when New Zealand doesn’t require them, the misconceptions around sensitive skin, and her favourite upcycled ingredient.
Skincare routines have become more complicated, and for reactive skin that complexity is often what keeps it from settling. Here’s why I built Tatawai around three steps, cleanse, support and seal, and what each one is really for.
When skin stops being predictable, it’s rarely just “sensitive.” More often it’s accumulation: small pressures that add up until the skin can’t recover. Here’s what overstimulation looks like, and why the answer is usually fewer variables, not more.
If your skin has stopped behaving predictably, the first useful step usually isn’t a new product. It’s taking some pressure off. Here’s what overstimulation looks like, what to pause, and what early improvement actually feels like.
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