Rice; fermented, extracted, watered or otherwise is a major component of top Korean beauty products across the entire field. It represents a very well-rounded ingredient that performs a lion’s share of skin protection and cleansing that just can’t be matched by other ingredients. Products that use it well and allow the components within to shine have become some of the top of K-beauty; but what is it? What is so good about it? Let’s explore together! 

There have been a variety of studies in recent years about the many, many components of a single grain of rice that holds beauty benefits. From phenolic acid (which is a brightening antioxidant that repairs and protects cells), to betaine (a natural humectant that hydrates and soothes), to squalene (natural component of moisturizing oils in our skin), to tricin (cancer fighting molecule!), to rice bran (whitening and cleansing to pores). Just from breaking down the ingredients to a single grain – we already are receiving a massive slew of benefits from placing well prepared rice formulas onto our skin.

And that’s before we dive into fermented rice products – which supercharge the antioxidant content, provides friendly probiotics and boosts our natural hydration and collagen. It’s found that carefully fermented rice can reverse effects of aging on our skin cells, reducing harmful environmental molecules and stimulating expression of hyaluronic acids and collagen in our cells. It also inhibits melanin synthesis, meaning the darker pigments that come into our skin overtime are stopped and clear with time. This allows rice ferment to produce brighter, clearer and more uniform skin. 

A few products will use either purified rice extracts or rice powder and others will use fermented rice – but the peak benefits occur when these are placed together. This occurs in Beauty of Joseon’s famous Rice + Probiotics sunscreen: 

This sunscreen is famous for its skincare benefits, producing all of the above in one slim and skin-protecting product. Being incredibly lightweight, it absorbs quickly, leaves no cast and provides SPF+50 protection throughout the day, which melds well with make-up and other beauty products. It is 30% rice extracts which have soft grains mixed with fermented grain, producing a variety of soothing antioxidants and hydrating molecules, but also happy probiotics which cling to your skin, grow and protect you from harmful bacteria and parasites.  

It brings great balance to a skin biome, whilst also protecting from UVA and UVB rays throughout the day. Complete with a high balance of Vitamins (B, C and E) and strengthening amino acids – this sunscreen is the jewel of Beauty of Joseon for a reason. 

Another famous rice product is Beauty of Joseon’s Glow Replenishing Rice Milk. This is a deeply soothing milky toner which combines rice water extracts with kaolin clay, to bind excess oils on the skin and provide skin cells with rejuvenating vitamins and proteins to repair and hydrate. This toner is famous for the deep glow it produces throughout the day and the balance it brings to both dry and oily skin types, allowing them to meet in the middle for once. 

And Beauty of Joseon also displays their talent in their most famous serum, Glow Deep Serum: Rice and Alpha Arbutin. Unsurprisingly, this soothing serum also features rice bran extract (a massive 68.6%) and is carefully mixed with natural alpha arbutin (a powerful whitening and skin brightening agent). These work in tandem to provide all the benefits of fermented rice to deep skin cells, whilst also smoothing and evening skin tone to create a soft, glowing complexion.  

And how could we not finish up with the Beauty of Joseon Ground Rice and Honey Glow Mask? As the above has used pure rice extract (in sunscreen), used rice water (in toner) and fermented rice bran (in serum) - Beauty of Joseon round off their expertise with this exfoliating, brightening mask made of ground rice. This mask gently removes dead skin cells and excess sebum with natural rice hull powder (the stronger husk of rice), mixed with purifying kaolin clay (to rest on your skin and cleanse pores). This is mixed with 5% honey, which provides deep healing of skin cells, soothes wrinkles, reduces bacteria and balances pH of natural skin.  

If you've noted our love for Beauty of Joseon products - and want a further deep dive into them, read our blog here!

In summary, rice is delightfully good for your skin. Turns out if an ancient practice sticks around for a few centuries, there is something in it! Modern science has distinctly proven how perfect rice products are for caring and reviving our skin and if you are struggling with dullness, fine lines or just want something to brighten your day – you should add a calming rice product to your daily routine.