Over the past couple of years, we've seen the rise of various beauty trends that have taken TikTok by storm. One of the most notable has been glass skin, which is achieved with the use of an ingredient that may seem like a recent discovery but has roots that extend back thousands of years in East Asian beauty practices. The buzzy ingredient is rice water, the starchy residue that remains after rice has been boiled or soaked.
Wondering why so many skincare brands and content creators can't stop talking about it? We reached out to Nichelle Temple, a leading esthetician and founder of Inderma Studio, to help us take a closer look at the recent popularity of pure rice water and rice water infused products.
What is rice water?
Of all the minimalistic, social media led beauty trends I've witnessed during my time as a beauty editor, rice water has had the biggest influence. While many rice-water enthusiasts hopped on the skincare trend after seeing a spike in the number of products that tout it as an ingredient, there's so much more behind what meets the eye. Korean and Japanese skincare practices used the powers of rice water long before #SkinTok caught wind of it.
Rice water can be kept in its liquid form but can also be ground into a fine powder and combined with a number of other naturally derived ingredients such as aloe vera and honey to promote a healthy skin barrier. "Rice water is often revered as an easy DIY skin and haircare option," says Temple. "[It's] popular for those who like a 'less is more' or natural and simple beauty routine." It's no wonder so many major skincare brands have hopped on the ingredient in hopes of capturing a newly interested fan base.
Why should I consider using rice water?
According to Temple, there are a number of transformative benefits offered by rice water. "Rice water is rich in antioxidants and contains vitamins such as vitamin E and B3 along with minerals that can help to sooth the skin and improve texture," she tells us. Rice water can also protect the complexion from free radical damage and oxidative stress as well as brighten the skin, soothe sunburns, reduce inflammation, and deliver major hydration. It's generally mild and suitable for all skin types and textures.
As with any skincare ingredient, you should figure out how your skin reacts to the ingredient before you add it to your product rotation. "Sensitive skin types may want to perform a 24-hour patch test before applying to the full face," Temple says. She also recommends refrigerating DIY rice water and throwing it away after a few days, as improper storage can lead to harmful bacteria growth that shouldn't be making contact with your skin.
How to Use Rice Water in Your Skincare Routine
According to Temple, there are several ways to effectively incorporate rice water derived products into your skincare routine, whether you're aiming to flood your skin with moisture, smooth its texture, or turn up its brightness. We've shared a few of her favorite ways to encourage healthy-looking skin below.
- As a DIY face mask: Rice water combines well with aloe vera and honey, which can be applied as a paste to boost moisture levels.
- As an essence: Follow your toner of choice with rice water for an extra layer of hydration.
- As a face mist: Pour rice water into a spray bottle and use it as a refreshing antioxidant mist.
- As a sheet mask: Try soaking cotton pads in rice water and laying them on the skin to create a sheet mask.
- Frozen into cubes: To treat sunburns, freeze some rice water into cubes and brush against the skin to jump-start the healing process.
Now that you've learned the history, benefits, and recommended ways to incorporate rice water into your skincare routine, keep scrolling to discover the rice water infused moisturizers, toners, and masks that deserve a permanent place on your shopping list from brands such as Tatcha, Beauty of Joseon, and Shinbi Beauty.
The Best Rice-Water Skincare Products
1. Tatcha
Skin of all types and textures will love this gentle, nonstripping cleanser. It works by washing away daily buildup with a blend of hyaluronic acid, red algae, a pH-neutral amino acid base, and Japanese rice powder. It leaves the complexion soft, luminous, and clean.
Customer Review: "This is my new holy grail cleanser. I have combo/sensitive skin and this cleanser leaves my skin feeling fresh but not dry. A little goes a long way!"
Tatcha's best-selling moisturizer combines the benefits of hyaluronic acid, red algae, and squalane with Japanese purple rice for a fast-acting formula that drenches the skin with hydration while pumping the breaks on signs of aging. A week of use will reveal a plump, vibrant, and dewy complexion.
Customer Review: "I've gone through countless jars of this moisturizing cream. The cream is a gorgeous lilac color and feels luxurious on my skin. My skin is always left dewy and hydrated."
2. Skinfood
In addition to loving Tatcha's Dewy Skin Cream, Temple swears by Skinfood's Rice Mask Wash Off. She opts to use it during facials for people who like slight grit since it provides exfoliation using Cheorwon Odae rice particles without irritating the skin barrier.
Customer Review: "I love this product. If your face is dry this product will leave your face moisturized and baby soft. This product is fragrance free, so if you have sensitive skin like me, please try it! Definitely recommend."
Using a rice-based cleansing foam means setting your skin up for a brighter tone and the gentle removal of dead skin cells. Like the brand's wash-off mask, the Rice Daily Cleansing Foam is formulated with Cheorwon Odae rice bran water for a fresh and glowy complexion.
Customer Review: "My face is smoother and clearer. I have combination skin with hormonal breakouts, this along with their other products like the Peach Sake Toner work wonders for me."
3. Beauty of Joseon
If you have sensitive skin that struggles to lock in moisture, the Ground Rice and Honey Glow Mask should be added to your product rotation. It uses rice-hull powder to gently remove dead skin cells and impurities, and honey delivers moisture for better texture and tone.
Customer Review: "Makes my skin feel soft afterwards. Also leaves a bit of a glow or brightening effect after washing it off. The scent is natural and not overbearing. I like using this mask whenever I want to wind down and add moisture back into my skin. Lovely mask!"
Suitable for oily, sensitive, and combination skin, Beauty of Joseon's rice milk toner is rich in amino acids as well as vitamins B and D. Use it to boost your skin's moisture barrier—protecting it from bacteria, dryness, and UV rays—and for much-needed antioxidants.
Customer Review: "I use this every morning after I clean my face! This Korean skincare line is fantastic. This product is gentle on my skin and gets all excess 'gunk' off my face. You do have to shake the bottle before using. It's AMAZING and my skin feels so clean after using it. I will be buying it again. I love it."
4. DamDam
Inspired by geishas and Kabuki actors who used rice-bran oil to support skin health under heavy stage makeup, the weightless Rice Drops Balancing Oil Serum absorbs into the skin for intense hydration without clogging pores. Its formula also helps your skin build a strong defense barrier.
Customer Review: "I was gifted this serum, and I've been using it for a week now. I haven't seen any drastic changes but it's really soothing on my skin. I've been using it daily and really like the way it blends into my skin."
It's time to retire your makeup wipes and replace them with this must-have cleansing oil. Essential for any double-cleanse ritual, DamDam's Silk Rice Makeup-Removing Cleansing Oil helps purify the skin using rice-bran oil to prevent pore buildup and sunflower-seed oil to help retain moisture.
Customer Review: "I have been an oil-cleansing girly for years now, and this will always be my go-to [choice]! It does exactly what you want it to without stripping your skin barrier and keeping your skin hydrated while using!"
5. Anua
Looking for a way to create TikTok's viral glass skin? Add a hydrating barrier serum like this one by Anua. It brightens, soothes, and hydrates the skin using a blend of rice, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, honey extract, and more to support the skin barrier.
Customer Review: "This serum dispenses by pump, and feels and looks viscous like a snail mucin product. It has virtually no scent, and absorbs very quickly. It does not feel heavy, sticky or tacky. It didn't irritate my sensitive skin, or bother my makeup in any way. I have used it for a month now, and my skin looks a little firmer and plump."
Formulated with rice water and niacinamide, this lightweight moisturizing milk hydrates the skin while also pumping up the brightness and balance. It's gentle enough to be used every day and night by all skin types to achieve the glass skin look.
Customer Review: "This moisturizer pairs so beautifully with the rice toner from the same brand. Makes skin silky and supple. I just ended up incorporating this into my nighttime routine because the moisturizer layers so nicely as a first layer under my tretinoin and niacinamide (prescription strength)."
6. Shinbi Beauty
Shinbi Beauty's Rice Water Toner uses an ultra-nourishing formula of rice water, sake extract, Japanese green tea, and hyaluronic acid to cleanse, gently exfoliate, and even out the complexion. It also attracts and holds water to reduce fine lines and give a natural-looking plumpness to the complexion.
Customer Review: "I love K-beauty I found that this has made a huge different in my skin and leaves my skin feels so hydrated. This feels so good on my skin and is a great way to start my skin care routine. I use this for my day and night skin care routine and would definitely be repurchasing!"
The Rice Cream Melting Mask eliminates dry skin, leaving your skin radiant and smooth thanks to a powerful combination of sake extract, rice ferment, and hyaluronic acid. It's also worth noting that this antioxidant-filled formula is also 97% naturally derived and 42% organic.
Customer Review: "Refreshing way to clarify and moisturize skin. Use the facial mask a few times per week to refine complexion. Not harsh or irritating."
7. HaruHaru Wonder
Crafted with fermented black rice, bamboo-shoot bark, and lavender oil, the HaruHaru Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner helps fortify the skin against elements by locking in moisture and restoring skin elasticity. It's also nonsticky, absorbs quickly, and leaves the skin feeling refreshed.
Customer Review: "Definitely did not disappoint. I love the feeling of this product on my skin. I did not use cotton pads, I applied a small amount with palms of my hand and gently pressing all over my face. Hydrates my skin and feel refreshing."
Formulated with naturally derived surfactant extracted from coconut and black rice extract, this cleansing gel delivers moisture and cleanses the skin of dead cells using a soft foam texture that minimizes irritation. If that weren't already enough, the gel also helps unclog and disguise the appearance of pores.
Customer Review: "So after a lot of research, I finally found the face wash for my dry skin! The bottle has a sleek appearance. It gets foamy and sudsy! It has a good thickness. I like the quality and find that it is very comforting of my skin!"
8. The Face Shop
This mild face scrub by The Face Shop has a formula that features rice-bran powder, rice-bran oil, and silica to effectively remove traces of makeup and other impurities from the skin. The cleanser is perfect for use on sensitive skin since it's crafted without synthetic fragrances, mineral oils, or sulfates.
Customer Review: "I love this face wash. It's gentle in my skin, and it is a good price for the size. You don't have to use a lot of it to get the product working! The [scent] is also very nice, not very strong, and smells good."
You can never have too many cleansing-oil options, especially when they're supercharged with jojoba oil and rice-water extract. This one visibly brightens the skin, minimizes the look of pores, and combats blackheads by removing traces of makeup and dirt.
Customer Review: "I have never used a cleansing oil because I have oily skin, but this product works great for me. Doesn't leave an oily residue but does effectively remove the make up and dirt from my face."
Shop More Rice Water Infused Skincare
Customer Review: "I was hesitant about buying this, thinking it may be just a trend, but it's a fabulous product! It made a difference in my skin the first use. It's so silky and hydrating on my dry skin that I'll always have this in my routine."
Customer Review: "Great cleanser, leaves me feeling clean without my skin feeling stripped. I have struggled for years to find one that leaves me feeling clean without overdrying!"
Customer Review: "My makeup goes on so smoothly after using this, though I've been wearing less foundation recently because the quality of my skin has been improving since I started using this. It's been remaining hydrated and more radiant longer without getting oily. Love this product!"
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