If you haven’t already, it’s time to incorporate rice toner into your skincare routine. A few weeks ago, I wrote about milky toners, their benefits and why they’ve become one of my favourite formulas.
Now, it’s time to talk about rice toner – a product somewhere between traditional toner and milky toner – that, to nobody’s surprise, comes directly from South Korea. The first time I heard about rice toner was through TikTok where there are plenty of videos and tips on how to prepare and apply rice water for porcelain skin and radiant complexion that have been viewed millions of times.
Of course, the use of rice water in beauty is not a new phenomenon. In fact, this ancient ingredient has been a longtime staple in Asia skin and hair care. It’s said that women in China, Korea and Japan have used rice water to achieve lush hair and glowing skin for 2000 years, if not more.
Want to know how to incorporate rice toner into your routine? Keep reading.
What is rice toner?
Out of all the social media-driven beauty trends I’ve seen during my time as a beauty editor, rice water has been one of the most influential. There’s a lot more to this ingredient than first meets the eye.
Rice toner is a formula derived from rice water, which is obtained by soaking rice in water and filtering or straining the resulting liquid. Rice water contains multiple compounds that are beneficial for the skin, including antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. As a result, it’s believed that these ingredients can help to soothe irritated skin, reduce inflammation, provide hydration and improve overall skin tone.
While it might sound unbelievable that all of this can come from simple rice water, there is scientific analysis to back it up. A recent study found that isolated rice ingredients have great potential for use in cosmetic and skincare products. The report, which summarises various published research, notes that individual rice components include phenolic compounds, betaine, squalene, tricin and rice bran. “These rice-derived ingredients have been found to have anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, whitening, photoprotective and moisturising properties,”
In my experience, rice toner is gentle and suitable for all skin types – especially those that are drier and more sensitive – but as with any skincare ingredient, be observant of how your skin reacts to it before integrating it into your skincare routine.
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When should I use rice toner?
Although the process to make handmade rice water is not complicated, if, like me, you’re not into doing all the work yourself, there are lots of rice toners on the market to test the benefits of rice water. You’ll find that most formulas also contain other skin-loving ingredients like niacinamide and more.
When it comes to applying rice toner, it should be applied like any other toner, after cleansing and before serums. You can apply rice toner by soaking a cotton pad and dabbing it all over your face, or if you prefer, you can apply it directly with your hands – my favourite method for applying toner. Most rice toners are light in texture, but if yours is more dense, like a milky toner, it’s better to apply it after your serum to make sure it’s absorbed properly.
Which rice toner is best?
There are many options for rice toners, so choosing the best one for you comes down to personal preference. We advise looking at the ingredients and testing the formula if possible, to make sure that you’re happy with the texture. Some of my favourites are Tatcha The Essence, Beauty of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Milk and Anua Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner.
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A version of this article originally appeared on Glamour Spain.
