Tatcha The Liquid Silk Canvas Primer Review

Tatcha recently unveiled The Liquid Silk Canvas Featherweight Protective Primer, a liquid version of their best-selling solid makeup primer, The Silk Canvas.

It is an oil-free liquid silk makeup primer formulated to protect the skin and prep it for makeup application.

I am a huge fan of the original solid primer from Tatcha, The Silk Canvas, so when I saw that Tatcha was releasing an oil-free liquid version, I jumped at the chance to purchase it at the recent Sephora VIB sale.

While I love the performance of the solid primer, I had a feeling that the liquid primer might be even better because it comes in an easy-to-use pump bottle.

I’ve been testing the new liquid every day with a variety of makeup products, so read on for my thoughts and experience in this Tatcha The Liquid Silk Canvas Primer review.

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The Liquid Silk Canvas – In A Nutshell:

Skin Type: All Skin Types
What It Does: This liquid primer blurs the skin with silk extracts and primes the skin for makeup application with silk powders.
How to Use: Apply 1 pump with your fingers or a flat brush after your skincare and SPF, but before your makeup.
Price: $54.00/1 oz bottle. Available at Tatcha or Sephora.
The Verdict: LOVE IT!

It is formulated to blur the skin with silk extracts and primes the skin for makeup application with silk powder.

Botanicals in the primer create a protective barrier between the skin and makeup. As a result, clogged pores that can lead to breakouts are kept to a minimum.

Natural active ingredients act against pollution and environmental stressors and the skin’s barrier is supported.

Pink and gold pearl help to even skin tone and contribute to a smoothed glowing complexion…the perfect canvas for makeup application

This liquid makeup primer is formulated without parabens, synthetic fragrances, mineral oil, sulfate detergents, phthalates, urea, DEA, or TEA.

Tatcha – The Liquid Silk Canvas – Ingredient Spotlight

The Liquid Silk Canvas contains sericin and fibroin, which are two proteins found in silk. These proteins have a similar structure to amino acids that are in human skin, so these proteins not only hydrate but act like a second skin, giving the skin a weightless healthy glow.

Fibroin, sericin, and silk powder work together to help smooth the skin and allow the skin to retain moisture. The result is a healthy-looking, radiant complexion.

The Liquid Silk Canvas also contains Tatcha’s proprietary Hadasei-3 Complex, which is comprised of three Japanese superfoods.

Uji Green Tea detoxifies and helps reduce the visible signs of aging, while Okinawa mozuku algae helps skin retain water.

Akita rice is high in protein and moisturizes the skin. These superfoods are double fermented and deliver nutrients to the skin.

The Inspiration

The Liquid Silk Canvas is inspired by bintsuke. Bintsuke is the soft wax that geishas melt and apply to their skin as the last step of their skincare rituals.

Bintsuke, in essence, forms a canvas that helps makeup last all day while moisturizing and protecting the skin from makeup products and environmental factors such as pollution.

My Experience with The Liquid Silk Canvas

Let me preface this by saying that I had high expectations for this product since I love products from Tatcha, including the original The Silk Canvas Protective Primer.

Tatcha is one of those luxury skincare lines that does everything well, from the formulations to the visual, to the textures and the performance of their products.

I am happy to say that The Liquid Silk Canvas produced the same results as The Silk Canvas, and I happen to like the liquid even better than the original.

I’ll tell you why, but first, let’s discuss why the original is so good.

I’m not one to spend large sums of money on luxury makeup, as I would rather buy high-end skincare, but when it comes to Tatcha, all bets are off.

I’d heard raving reviews about their makeup primer so when I tried it and fell in love with it, I wasn’t thrilled because who wants to spend $54 on primer?

The Silk Canvas solid makeup primer was a revelation for me. It was so luxurious from the compact to the packaging to the scent to the performance and clearly the expensive price (!).

What it does so well is blur the skin, extend the wear time of makeup, and gently and minimally mattifies skin. All the things that I would hope a luxury primer would do.

So I’ll spend $54 for a primer that does all the things I want it to, but how about taking it to the next level with a liquid version?

If there is one complaint that I have about the solid The Silk Canvas is that it comes with a quarter-sized disc that is used to scoop out the primer, so there are a few steps to getting it on your face. With the liquid, it’s literally one pump and you are done.

Blurs, Smooths, and Extends Makeup Wear

I’ve tried The Liquid Silk Canvas with different types of foundation, from full coverage to sheer foundations. With every type of foundation, it does the same thing: it blurs and smooths my complexion in such an understated natural way.

One thing that really stands out is how well makeup adheres to my skin after using this liquid primer. The coverage of even the sheerest makeup is improved, like CoverGirl Clean Fresh Skin Milk, which, when applied without the primer, sinks in quickly and provides barely-there coverage.

Whether it’s drugstore or high-end makeup, this liquid Tatcha primer extends the wear and provides a smooth-looking complexion even at the end of the day. It really is a “canvas” in a sense, which allows makeup to perform better.

I love that The Liquid Silk Canvas also protects your skin from pollutants while keeping the moisture in. After application, my skin feels super smooth and just like silk, probably because there is actual silk in the formula.

Please note that Tatcha’s signature fragrance is found in this liquid primer. It’s a very pretty, light citrusy scent.

On days that I wear no makeup at all, I like wearing this primer to keep oil at bay throughout the day. In this case, you really do get what you pay for. This is the best makeup primer that I’ve ever used.

The Silk Canvas vs The Liquid Silk Canvas

While both the solid and the liquid transform your skin so that it feels like silk, I’ve used both on each side of my face to compare performance.

The liquid has a thinner consistency and feels lighter on my face than the original putty-like solid formula. The putty feels more like a balm after it is applied.

Both perform similarly and extend makeup wear time and help makeup adhere better to your skin. Blush and concealer wear well when using both primers.

They are both priced at $54. Since the liquid has an easy pump applicator and feels lighter on my skin than the solid, I prefer the liquid over the solid.

Related: Sephora Spring 2023 VIB Sale: Discount Code and My Picks

Final Thoughts on Tatcha The Liquid Silk Canvas

Lately, on days that I think I’m having a good skin day, I have to remind myself that I’m wearing The Liquid Silk Canvas.

With makeup or without, it’s a unique product whose performance I haven’t seen replicated anywhere else.

If you’ve never tried a primer and want to give it a go without the expense that comes along with Tatcha, I tested a drugstore primer from e.l.f. in this post: Tatcha The Silk Canvas Primer Dupe. While nothing is exactly like Tatcha, if you want an affordable effective primer, this one is worth a try.

Do you use Tatcha The Liquid Silk Canvas or The Silk Canvas?

Do you think they’re worth the high price? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for reading!