If there’s one thing I’ve learned about my quest for glass skin—that ultra-smooth, dewy glow trending all over TikTok—it’s that the best rice toners are essential for success. For centuries, rice has been a staple in many Asian beauty rituals, celebrated for its skin benefits. “Rice brightens skin, hydrates, strengthens the barrier, and provides antioxidant protection,” says board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD. “It soothes irritation and helps with anti-aging by reducing oxidative stress.” The gist: It does a lot of good-for-your-skin functions.
Our Top Rice Toners
- Best Overall: I'm From Rice Toner, $24
- Best for Mature Skin: SK-II Facial Treatment Essence, $99
- Best for Combination Skin: Beauty of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Milk, $20
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Goodal Vegan Rice Milk Moisturizing Toner, $18
- Best for Glass Skin: Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence, $28
- Best for Dry Skin: Tatcha The Essence, $110
- Best for Soft Skin: Peach & Lily Bio Rice Wine Softening Toner, $39
- Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Anua Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner, $22
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the skin-care benefits of rice?
- What are the different types of rice used in skin care?
- Is DIY rice water effective?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
These days, glass skin isn’t just about looking dewy—it can also represent good skin health. With more focus than ever on protecting and strengthening our skin—and the Korean beauty skin-first philosophy (hi, SPF, hydration, and barrier support)—the brighter, plumper, and smoother your complexion is, the closer you are to achieving that glow. I’ve found that rice toners, in particular, take the benefits of rice to the next level by balancing and prepping my skin so that everything else in my routine works better. These formulas dial up the glow, even out tone, and keep my skin bouncy and hydrated. If you’re after that filter-like effect, incorporate one of these rice-infused toners into your routine, stat.
Best Overall: I'm From Rice Toner
Why we love it: The star ingredient in the I’m From Rice Toner is—no surprise—rice extract. Sourced from the brown outer layer of rice, it softens skin and contains antioxidants like vitamin E and ferulic acid, the latter of which not only protects against damage but also stabilizes other ingredients. The rest of the formula holds its own, too—it contains adenosine to support skin repair and barrier health, brightening niacinamide for a more even complexion, and major hydration that lasts all day without feeling heavy or greasy. The gist? It’s an easy pick for most skin types that delivers.
Tester feedback: "A hydrating toner or essence is a non-negotiable step of my daytime and nighttime routines. I'm From Rice Toner instantly plumps my skin, giving it a brighter, refreshed look and prepping it for the serums, moisturizers, and sunscreens to follow," commerce editor Sarah Han. "Now that we're in the office four days a week, I can't be bothered to wear makeup every day—but at least my skin looks nice and glowy."
Additional ingredients: adenosine, niacinamide | Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Mature Skin: SK-II Facial Treatment Essence
Why we love it: Allure editors can’t get enough of the Facial Treatment Essence, and if you’re after brighter, smoother skin, you’ll see why. SK-II’s signature Pitera complex featured in all its products was born after scientists noticed that Japanese sake makers had unusually soft, youthful hands—thanks to constant exposure to fermented rice during the sake-making process. That fermentation process is used to create Pitera, a blend of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that deeply hydrate, even out skin tone, and improve texture. Since mature skin loses moisture and firmness over time, this essence is a no-brainer for keeping it plump and radiant.
Tester feedback: “For me, this essence immediately gets rid of that tight feeling my cleanser leaves behind. I notice that my brown skin looks instantly brighter,” says editor-in-chief Jessica Cruel. This product is like a booster for every product you layer on top. Serums sink in faster. Creams seem to moisturize longer. And it takes the sting out of chemical exfoliants, too. I've combined it with hundreds of products and I've never had a bad reaction. I can honestly say it's one of the only beauty products I'm still using 10 years after I was first introduced to it.”
Key ingredient: Pitera | Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Combination Skin: Beauty of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Milk
Why we love it: Beauty of Joseon’s Glow Replenishing Rice Milk is a standout for combination skin. Its blend of rice extract and rice amino acids hydrates, softens, and brightens the skin, while kaolin clay helps absorb excess oil in the T-zone, keeping the rest of the face balanced. This toner is also incredibly versatile—apply in layers for extra moisture, use a cotton pad to gently exfoliate and control oil, or turn it into a soothing mask by leaving toner-soaked cotton pads on your face for up to 10 minutes. It’s the perfect choice for skin that needs both hydration and sebum control.
Tester feedback: "I think of this dual-layer formula like a hydrating essence and balancing toner in one bottle. The milky sebum-absorbing powder layer is under (not over) the translucent moisture layer, so I shake them up to combine before pouring the mixture on my palms and pressing it into my face," says contributor Sarah Y. Wu. "I have combination skin, so this is the ideal daytime essence step for me; it keeps my T-zone from getting overly greasy but still feels so nice and hydrating on the rest of my face. Plus, I love the finish it leaves: a smooth, gentle glow that looks amazing under makeup."
Additional ingredients: squalane, glycerin, vitamin E | Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Sensitive Skin: Goodal Vegan Rice Milk Moisturizing Toner
Why we love it: As someone with particularly hyper-reactive skin, I’m always cautious about the products I put on my face. But with the Goodal Vegan Rice Milk Moisturizing Toner, there’s no second-guessing, thanks to its gentle, barrier-soothing ingredients. Mixed with a slew of humectants like panthenol, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, and biosaccharide gum-1 (a sugar-derived hydrator that also soothes), it keeps skin soft and moisturized, while rice bran extract adds an extra boost of hydration. The result? A super-gentle, plumping toner that you can feel safe applying to your skin.
Additional ingredients: panthenol, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate | Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Glass Skin: Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence
Why we love it: Most K-beauty toners lean heavily on humectants for hydration but the Haruharu Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence sets itself apart with emollients like sunflower seed oil and meadowfoam seed oil. These relatively lightweight oils absorb quickly without that usual greasy feeling and reinforce the skin barrier while preventing moisture loss. While it still contains hydrating ingredients, that extra dose of moisture—combined with fermented rice for brighter, smoother skin and antioxidant-rich rice extract—helps this toner deliver on the glass-skin promise.
Tester feedback: "My skin is obsessed with this milky makgeolli goodness. I'm prone to hormonal breakouts but this essence's nourishing-yet-gently-exfoliating combo of ceramides, fermented black rice, and acne-friendly oils helps keep my skin crystal clear and under control whenever my period comes around," says contributor Devon Abelman. "Honestly, I get excited to put this on because I know it truly works. Sometimes, I just wash my face, put this on, and then slather on moisturizer because it's so supercharged with benefits that I don't always need a serum, too."
Additional ingredients: sunflower seed oil, meadowfoam seed oil, ceramides | Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Dry Skin: Tatcha The Essence
Why we love it: Tatcha’s The Essence is the ultimate rice toner for dry skin, packed with ingredients that hydrate and result in a plump, healthy glow. It blends green tea, rice, and algae to lock in moisture and keep skin balanced. The star ingredient, though, is the fermented yeast extract, which boosts cell turnover thanks to its natural lactic acid. This process helps smooth the complexion while also increasing moisture retention. With its combination of hydration and barrier-supporting benefits, this essence is an ideal choice for the thirstiest of skin.
Tester feedback: “As soon as you pour The Essence into your hands, you immediately notice how lightweight and barely-there it feels,” says Han. “Besides the fact that The Essence is housed in a luxurious bottle that makes me feel oh-so-fancy, the physical act of patting and pressing it into my skin is extremely calming, and the liquid is completely absorbed just a few seconds later. All I need is a few drops for my entire face and neck, which the ‘spout’ dispenses perfectly, so you never accidentally pour out too much.”
Additional ingredients: green tea, algae | Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Soft Skin: Peach & Lily Bio Rice Wine Softening Toner
Why we love it: Every review I read, every editor I talk to, and every time I apply this toner on myself, it leads to the same conclusion: Peach & Lily Bio Rice Wine Softening Toner leaves skin as soft as a baby’s butt. Seriously, though, this milky toner combines a fermented rice complex and rice bran extract for maximum skin benefits. The fermented complex breaks down ingredients into smaller molecules, helping the skin absorb them more effectively, while the rice bran extract—packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants—supports a healthy, radiant complexion. Together, they hydrate, protect, and leave skin incredibly soft.
Editor's tip: Skullcap root comes from a plant native to China, where it’s been used in medicine for more than 200 years as a mild relaxant, as well as for anxiety.
Additional ingredients: urea, willow bark extract, skullcap root | Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Anua Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner
Why we love it: Calling all acne-prone skin types, trust Anua’s Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner to keep your skin in check, thanks to its super effective ingredients that help regulate sebum and calm inflammation associated with breakouts. First up, a special lipid called phytosphingosine combats acne-causing bacteria and reduces inflammation, helping keep acne at bay. Then there’s niacinamide, a skin MVP that balances oil, soothes irritation, and calms problem skin. And finally, hydrolyzed rice protein, packed with antioxidants and amino acids, helps keep your skin hydrated and smooth while evening it out. Together, these ingredients are a great addition to an acne skin-care routine, leaving your skin more radiant with each application.
Editor's tip: Using a cotton pad to apply toner can help to remove any leftover makeup, oil, or SPF your cleanser left behind.
Additional ingredients: niacinamide, vitamin C, panthenol | Fragrance-free: yes
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the skin-care benefits of rice?
Studies show that rice provides a range of skin-care benefits thanks to its proteins and extractable nutrients. It is rich in antioxidants like ferulic acid and vitamin E, which help neutralize free radicals and protect the skin from environmental stress. Rice also contains skin-repair-supporting amino acids and moisture-retaining compounds that help maintain your skin's hydration levels.
As cosmetic chemist Kelly Dobos explains, “Most rice-based ingredients used in cosmetics have been processed or chemically modified to unlock real benefits.” These processes, which break rice down into smaller proteins, help enhance the skin’s ability to absorb its nutrients. As a result, rice helps deliver its anti-aging, hydrating, brightening, and protecting benefits more effectively, Dr. Gohara says.
What are the different types of rice used in skin care?
Rice is used in skin care in various forms, each with its own benefits. As we touched on before, Dobos says that to unlock these benefits, rice-based ingredients are often processed through methods like hydrolysis and fermentation. These processes break rice down into smaller, more effective components. Fermentation, for example, turns complex rice proteins and starches into simpler sugar molecules, which makes them more potent and, thus, more effective at hydrating and soothing the skin. Hydrolyzed rice protein, on the other hand, is broken into smaller pieces, making it easier to penetrate the skin more effectively and provide deeper hydration, explains Dobos.
Is DIY rice water effective?
DIY rice water may seem like a relatively inexpensive and easy way to achieve glowing skin, but Dobos and Dr. Gohara say it may not be all it’s cracked up to be. Dr. Gohara explains that while rice water does contain amino acids, vitamins, and antioxidants, homemade versions lack controlled fermentation, reducing their effectiveness, while Dobos says that even after cooking, very few nutrients and proteins make it into the water. Ultimately, this means soaking rice will most likely result in plain old starchy water, with few benefits for your skin. Another caveat? Both experts warn that without preservatives, DIY rice water can easily grow bacteria, so if you decide to try it, they say to use it quickly.
Meet the experts
- Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist board-certified dermatologist and former chief resident at Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, CT.
- Kelly Dobos, MSc, a cosmetic chemist and professor of cosmetic science at the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, OH.
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best rice toners, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from the vanilla fans on our staff. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
More skin-care formulas we love for healthier, more radiant skin:
- Korean Skin Care Is Still That Girl—and These Products Are Proof
- Damaged Barrier? You Need a Moisture-Locking Ceramide Cream
- 13 Best Korean Serums for Impossibly Hydrated Skin
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