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Tina Tanaka Harris
Skincare expert

Tina Tanaka Harris.

Tina Tanaka Harris covers serums, sunscreens, and sleeping masks from the Japanese and Korean beauty market, with a focus on products most English-language channels never review. She combines detailed single-product tests with routine walkthroughs and honest hit-or-miss roundups.

Why Is She A Guru?
A Japanese-Australian creator with 276,000 subscribers, she brings an insider's familiarity with the Japanese beauty market to an English-speaking audience.
38Products
20 yay71% approval rate
8 nayDoesn't pull punches
7 hot takesWhere she breaks from the pack

Tina Tanaka Harris, in short.

What does Tina Tanaka Harris recommend?

Tina Tanaka Harris has reviewed 38 products. Of the ones she gives a clear yes or no to,she approves 71%. The products she rates highest and brings up most are Clavu Nourishing Care Lip Sleeping Pack, Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream and d'Alba White Truffle First Spray Serum.

Which sunscreens does Tina Tanaka Harris recommend?

She has reviewed 6 sunscreens and approved 4 of them. The ones she rates highest are d'Alba Piedmont Waterfall UV Essence SPF 50, Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Gel and Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel SPF 50.

Which serums does Tina Tanaka Harris recommend?

She has reviewed 6 serums and approved 4 of them. The ones she rates highest are d'Alba White Truffle First Spray Serum, VT PDRN Cica Redo Exosome Serum and VT Red Booster Reedle Shot.

Which moisturizers does Tina Tanaka Harris recommend?

She has reviewed 5 moisturizers and approved 4 of them. The ones she rates highest are Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream, Rhode Barrier Restore Cream and Aestura Atobarrier 365 Cream.

What does Tina Tanaka Harris say no to?

She has skipped 8 of the 38 products she has reviewed. The ones she is clearest about are SK-II Facial Treatment Essence, DHC Deep Cleansing Oil, Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk, Naturium Purple Ginseng Cleansing Balm and Peach & Lily Collagen Peptide Cushion Liquid Balm.

What she reviews most.

Tina Tanaka Harris's hot takes.

Products where her take diverges from the rest of the gurus.

Tina Tanaka Harris: Nay vs gurus 77% Yay Sponsored
In my opinion, it wasn't that good. [...] For the average person it is a hard one to recommend, especially when there are similar products out there, like the Neogen essence or the one [...] from Nature, which uses galactomyces too and is a fraction of the price. I just think if the exact same formula came out today without SK-II's name, I doubt it would sell that well.
Tina Tanaka Harris: Nay vs gurus 87% Yay Sponsored
Honestly, it was not my absolute favorite. It is a thicker texture, felt a little heavy, and needed more work to massage evenly across the face. It does remove even really stubborn waterproof eye makeup, but I already use a different product for that, and I don't need something that strong. The other thing is you cannot use it on wet hands and face, which for me is one of the prerequisites of a cleansing oil nowadays.
Tina Tanaka Harris: Nay vs gurus 71% Yay Sponsored
When I finally tried it, I was kind of let down. [...] It is a semi-matte, almost powdery finish, and since I have dry skin now, I want more nourishment and moisture. It also contains fragrance and ethanol, so it can be sensitizing. If you want ultimate protection and something waterproof, especially for a beach day, this is the sunscreen I would wear on my face, but for an everyday sunscreen, not for me.
Tina Tanaka Harris: Nay vs gurus 81% Yay
The Notorium Purple Ginseng Cleansing Balm removes everything off fine, but I do feel like it is a bit filmy and it definitely doesn't wash off quite as easy as some other balm cleansers. So yeah, it's fine, but I probably wouldn't get it again.

Every review.

All 38 products Tina Tanaka Harris has reviewed, grouped by product type. Click a product to see the full guru consensus.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Against the gurus
Cleansers7 reviews
"The Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil and the Round Lab Dokdo Cleansing Oil are very similar in texture. They're super duper lightweight and watery, so if you don't like a heavy feeling, you will really like these. They do have either essential oils or fragrance, though, and retail for about 20 USD for 200 mils of product."
~Mixed
69%Guru Score
"I haven't used the Manyo Pure Cleansing Oil [...] for quite some time, but it still seems to be one of the most popular standard cleansing oils in Korea. [...] They are known for their 14-herb botanical oil blend. It has a bit more of a luxurious feel compared to the others and retails for about $20 for 200 mils."
~Mixed
86%Guru Score
"The Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil and the Round Lab Dokdo Cleansing Oil are very similar in texture. They're super duper lightweight and watery, so if you don't like a heavy feeling, you will really like these. They do have either essential oils or fragrance, though, and retail for about 20 USD for 200 mils of product."
~Mixed
68%Guru Score
"The Notorium Purple Ginseng Cleansing Balm removes everything off fine, but I do feel like it is a bit filmy and it definitely doesn't wash off quite as easy as some other balm cleansers. So yeah, it's fine, but I probably wouldn't get it again."
✕Nay
81%Guru Score
"I enjoy it slightly more as a mask left on for 3-5 minutes, but it still leaves my skin feeling dry afterward and requires a hydrating follow-up. All those brightening ingredients seem wasted in a product you just wash off, and the texture is not user-friendly. For someone with oily or combination skin you would absolutely love this, but for me it's definitely not something I would purchase again. It's a miss."
✕Nay
62%Guru Score
"Honestly, it was not my absolute favorite. It is a thicker texture, felt a little heavy, and needed more work to massage evenly across the face. It does remove even really stubborn waterproof eye makeup, but I already use a different product for that, and I don't need something that strong. The other thing is you cannot use it on wet hands and face, which for me is one of the prerequisites of a cleansing oil nowadays."
✕Nay
Sponsored
87%Guru Score
"If there is one Japanese cleansing oil that I could recommend to everyone, this is it. It is a truly fuss-free cleansing oil that would suit most people's needs. It is a mineral-based formula that also contains safflower, olive, jojoba, sesame, baobab, and grapeseed oil. It is super lightweight, won't feel greasy while massaging, [...] emulsifies easily, and washes off without any filmy feeling."
✓Yay
Sponsored
90%Guru Score
Serums6 reviews
"The Peach and Lily Collagen Cushion Peptide Lip Balm [...] is very much okay. It's there. It nourishes for a while. Doesn't last that long though. And I would never buy it. I received it, used it, would never buy it."
✕Nay
71%Guru Score
"The Round Lab Mugwort Serum was a nice light hydrating soothing serum, but I guess the whole line was discontinued, so that's that."
~Mixed
63%Guru Score
"This is my all-time favorite mist, the Dalba First Spray Serum. I'm almost finished with this mini size. It [...] makes everything look better and it's what I used on my wedding day."
✓Yay
87%Guru Score
"I genuinely cannot remember if I used it on the day, but this is the one that I usually use."
✓Yay
73%Guru Score
"When I want a bit more of a treatment boost and feel spicy, I use this. I've been using it recently for that purpose."
✓Yay
74%Guru Score
"This is similar to the regular VT essence but supposedly has exosomes in it, though you can't feel a single thing, so I [...] use it for its milky properties. It's [...] popular in Japan and [...] has a lighter texture [...] than the regular VT essences, so it spreads and absorbs quicker. I love the other VT essences, so this is a good alternative."
✓Yay
89%Guru Score
Sunscreen6 reviews
"I actually feel like the gel formula feels more moisturizing and more comfortable on my dry skin compared to the original formula that is alcohol-free. Although it is still very much on the low end of the glowy dewy finish scale. If you want something that takes a little less time to blend out and apply evenly, I would say the gel is definitely easier to work with than the original cream formula. It did also work totally fine underneath makeup."
✓Yay
67%Guru Score
"My first step of actual makeup is an SPF primer, probably my favorite one of all time, the D'alba UV Waterfull Essence Tone Up Sun Cream."
✓Yay
69%Guru Score
"It sits well underneath makeup with no peeling or bunching. [...] The overall vibe of this sunscreen is like a moisturizing K-beauty cream sunscreen, but make it waterproof because [...] a lot of K-beauty sunscreens are not waterproof whereas J-beauty sunscreens are. This one has taken the best aspects of K-beauty and J-beauty sunscreen and put them in one. [...] Personally, it was great for my dry skin, but I feel like combo skin people would absolutely love it."
✓Yay
85%Guru Score
"Even as a makeup primer I [...] felt like it bunched up in some areas. [...] I have not had much success with Japanese tone-up sunscreens, and unfortunately this was no exception. [...] The skincare formula itself is very, very nice, but the tone-up effects are not good enough to deal with the bad user experience, and I would rather just have those skincare benefits to wear every day."
✕Nay
72%Guru Score
"When I finally tried it, I was kind of let down. [...] It is a semi-matte, almost powdery finish, and since I have dry skin now, I want more nourishment and moisture. It also contains fragrance and ethanol, so it can be sensitizing. If you want ultimate protection and something waterproof, especially for a beach day, this is the sunscreen I would wear on my face, but for an everyday sunscreen, not for me."
✕Nay
Sponsored
71%Guru Score
"Whenever I think of one sunscreen that I can recommend to everyone, like no matter what skin type, concern, condition, or climate, she is it. It has SPF 50 with PA 4+ protection and uses a high percentage of Centella, which helps to soothe the skin as well as being packed with antioxidants like green tea, ginkgo, and sprout extract. It contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate and is free from fragrance and ethanol for those who may be sensitive."
✓Yay
Sponsored
87%Guru Score
Moisturizers5 reviews
"The Road Barrier Restore Cream [...] is a really nice PM moisturizer for me. It is similar to the Midnight Blue in the sense of it being kind of more silky feeling, but it does nourish very well without feeling too heavy on the skin. Thoroughly enjoyed that one, too."
✓Yay
72%Guru Score
"The Clairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream is another absolute holy grail. I've been through so many of these. It is [...] absolutely a great soothing, comforting, sealing, protective night moisturizer."
✓Yay
89%Guru Score
"This is the old formula. I [...] bulk bought when I found out the formula was changing. The new one is fine, but I definitely preferred the older one. I'm on my last bit of it and love that formula, though it expires soon so I need to use it up."
✓Yay
90%Guru Score
"When it comes to hydration, this is it. Hada Labo and I have been best buds for almost 20 years. [...] It is all about intense hydration using eight layers of hyaluronic acid, and it has a viscous texture that is almost more like a serum. Think of it as a hyaluronic acid hydrating serum at the price you can get it for, which is hard to beat. Although, if I am completely honest, this is the one from the full range of Hada Labo lotions [...] that I have used the least."
~Mixed
Sponsored
83%Guru Score
"I've never not had it in my collection since I discovered it maybe two years ago. They market it as a post-acne cream, but honestly, I think it's just a cover-all basis cream, and that is why so many people love using it as their everyday moisturizer."
✓Yay
Sponsored
69%Guru Score
Masks & Peels4 reviews
"The Laneige Water Sleeping Mask, I remember absolutely loving it back in the day. I felt like it really created that hydrating layer overnight, but maybe my skin's just too dry now and I want something a bit more oil based or a bit more nourishing, whereas this is obviously still like a gel cream kind of texture. Logan loved it though because he used it up."
~Mixed
65%Guru Score
"The Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask [...] is a very nourishing, rich moisturizer. [...] Yes, it's very very nice. I just use it as a PM moisturizer. Bang for buck, obviously, it's 28 gram, pretty small. And I feel like you can get a similar effect with a lot of other moisturizers."
~Mixed
68%Guru Score
"The VT PDRN Hydrogel Mask, yes, for a hydrogel mask. I've only used it once, but I feel like it actually kept my skin moisturized and plump."
✓Yay
89%Guru Score
"The Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask is a no. Even compared to other collagen gel masks, this one seems to just suck up all of my product and leave my skin dry rather than moisturized."
✕Nay
56%Guru Score
Mists & Essences4 reviews
"The Curel Deep Moisture Spray, I think these appear in pretty much every single one of my empties now. I emptied a big one at home and then the small one I had with me while traveling. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes."
✓Yay
92%Guru Score
"This is a jewel-layered toner with a pretty pink color. It's okay and good enough to empty, but definitely not one I'll rush to repurchase. I think there are nicer milky toners out there. It seems very nourishing [...] when you first apply it, [...] but it doesn't actually leave your skin nourished for a very long time, so it's almost like a fake nourish."
~Mixed
80%Guru Score
"In my opinion, it wasn't that good. [...] For the average person it is a hard one to recommend, especially when there are similar products out there, like the Neogen essence or the one [...] from Nature, which uses galactomyces too and is a fraction of the price. I just think if the exact same formula came out today without SK-II's name, I doubt it would sell that well."
✕Nay
Sponsored
77%Guru Score
"Is it the best vitamin C formulation? Honestly, no. It still has that typical oiliness, can leave your skin a little tacky, and contains fragrance. But is it the best vitamin C formulation for this price? I think [...] yes. Pure vitamin C serums are hard to come by in Japan at this drugstore price, and getting one in suitable packaging for 10 to 15 bucks [...] is honestly hard to beat."
~Mixed
Sponsored
74%Guru Score
Blush & Bronzer1 review
"I use the House of Hur Every Blush. I mixed two shades together to get the perfect shade. These actually last longer throughout the day, which is why I chose this one."
✓Yay
82%Guru Score
Eye Care1 review
"This may officially be the most used eye product in our household, meaning Logan and I. I think literally in a year or a year and a half, I've been through more of this eye product than any other eye product in my entire lifetime. I think we've been through like five tubes."
✓Yay
Sponsored
83%Guru Score
Foundation1 review
"I love the finish and coverage of the Missha BB, but with my dress's open décolletage, it looked too ashy in color. So I mixed it with a more yellow-based foundation and then added moisture back."
~Mixed
87%Guru Score
Haircare1 review
"It is very much a silicone conditioning mask, and [...] it has that very premium Japanese salon scent. Having tried it more recently on healthier hair, I get the hype. The biggest difference is the immediate shine afterwards. My hair, honestly, right after was like shining, shimmering, splendid. It really does soften and smooth the surface. They claim that it transforms your hair so you can't stop running your fingers through your hair."
✓Yay
Sponsored
78%Guru Score
Lip1 review
"The Clavu Nourishing Care Lip Sleeping Pack is my absolute go-to favorite at nighttime. I use the pot at my bedside table, but when I'm traveling, I take these little guys and it's just so good, so easy, so convenient."
✓Yay
90%Guru Score
Toners1 review
"The Isentry Ultra Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Toner is absolutely lovely, deeply hydrating, light textured hyaluronic acid based toner. It was my absolute go-to in the mornings for the last few months."
✓Yay
83%Guru Score

Tina Tanaka Harris is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, The Guru Index. Every quote on this page comes from her public YouTube videos, linked at the timestamp. Verdicts and approval stats are our editorial read of what she said. "Guru" is a title we award, not a sign of any affiliation.