OUR STORY
KEEPING A DYING CULTURE ALIVE THROUGH THANAKA SKINCARE
Tanaka Skin was inspired by our love for our Burmese Heritage. Our founder, Emma Wealthy, felt disconnected to her Burmese Heritage growing up in the UK with her Burmese Mother and British Father. Her travels to Burma became sacred childhood memories. Using Thanaka powder regularly in the UK helped Emma to feel more connected to Burmese culture as well as her mother, who taught all of her children how to grow, make and use Thanaka.
IT'S IN OUR BLOOD
THE IMPORTANCE OF THANAKA IN BURMESE CULTURE
For over 2,000 years, Thanaka Powder has been used for both skincare and makeup needs for all members of Burmese society. Thanaka applied on the cheeks is one of the most identifiable aspects of Burmese culture, with it being used for daily sun protection and applied in more intricate patterns for special ceremonies. Despite the proven benefits of Thanaka, modern beauty trends have penetrated the country and the practise of applying Thanaka to the skin in the traditional method are being replaced by products from a more Eurocentric beauty market.
Despite the boom of selfcare from the Covid pandemic, there was still a gap in the market. No one was talking about Thanaka within the beauty community. That's when we realised that the worlds best kept beauty secret needed to be shared. We began developing Tanaka Skin in the peak of the Covid pandemic and spent over a year and a half perfecting our first formula.
THE START OF SOMETHING NEW
Our first product, the Thanaka Infused Face Mask, was formulated to be a gentle treatment with ingredients that complemented the benefits of Thanaka extract whilst being gentle and universal for all skin types across the world.
MAKING OUR THANAKA INFUSED FACE MASK
THE BENEFITS OF THANAKA
Thanaka possesses many traits of an ideal natural skincare ingredient. Rich in antioxidants and possessing antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, Thanaka powder can help to brighten, calm and protect the skin.
SOURCING OUR THANAKA
We formulate our products with Thanaka Powder and Thanaka Extracts that are sourced from Burma. This helps to ensure that the demand for Thanaka continues within Burma and that Burmese workers are supported through our supply chain.
SHARING OUR SKINCARE WITH THE WORLD
Tanaka Skin is born. We launched with our Thanaka Infused Face Mask - a nutrient rich wash off face mask formulated to nourish the skin with the innovative benefits of Thanaka.
OUR MISSION
SKINCARE, PEOPLE, CULTURE
Tanaka Skin was inspired by our love for our Burmese heritage and fuelled by our passion for sharing the innovative benefits of Thanaka Infused Skincare. What keeps us going is the support you help us to provide for the most vulnerable in Burma.
​
Our ventures as a brand focus on providing products that are universal and friendly for all skin types, whilst continuing to support the Burmese people and their culture. We donate 5% of our profits to charities who help to provide education, healthcare and safer housing for the most vulnerable within the Burmese community. We want to ensure that us, as a brand, and you, as a consumer, are giving back to those whose cultures you utilise. It's good Karma all round!