Tatcha The Rice Polish, Gentle for sensitive skin
Rice Powder
Papain
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Tocopherol
Average
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for sensitive skin; other products fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate exfoliation for your normal skin, as rice powder and papain gently smooth texture while dipotassium glycyrrhizate provides anti-inflammatory action to support redness and irritation.
- The formulation includes Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate to offer general soothing benefits, aligning with your primary goal of addressing redness and irritation.
- The product is safe for your sensitive skin, containing no harsh ingredients and featuring soothing components like dipotassium glycyrrhizate and Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate.
How to apply
- Use your enzyme powder exfoliant as part of your PM routine. Start once a week and increase slowly if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this product after cleansing and before your hydrating toner. Follow the weekly routine order provided by Lovi.
- Mix the enzyme powder exfoliant with a little water in your hands to create a paste. Gently pat the mixture onto your face and avoid harsh rubbing.
- Apply this product on clean skin. Since your skin is sensitive, this helps you get the best tolerance.
- Always do a patch test before your first use. Avoid the eye area and do not combine this with strong acids or retinoids.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 1.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with dry, sensitive, and mature skin frequently report that this enzyme powder effectively refines texture and dullness, leaving skin feeling exceptionally soft and smooth without irritation or tightness. The formula is noted for being non-stripping and maintaining moisture. Some users find the price point to be high for a daily cleanser.
Highlights
Extremely gentle Mostly Mentioned
- “non-abrasive and soothing”
- “doesn't sting sensitive skin”
- “gentle enough for daily use”
Softens and smooths Mostly Mentioned
- “skin feels baby soft”
- “leaves face smooth as silk”
- “texture is significantly refined”
Long-lasting value Often Mentioned
- “a little goes a long way”
- “jar lasts for months”
- “only need a half-teaspoon”
Non-stripping, hydrating Often Mentioned
- “doesn't strip natural oils”
- “no tight feeling afterwards”
- “feels moisturizing while cleansing”
Expensive cleanser Often Mentioned
- “very expensive for a cleanser”
- “luxury splurge, not necessity”
- “pricey but worth it”
Luxurious experience Sometimes Noted
- “creates a creamy, cloud-like foam”
- “feels like a spa ritual”
- “fun to mix with water”
Packaging issues Sometimes Noted
- “water can get inside jar”
- “dispensing can be messy”
- “hard to get last bit out”
Not exfoliating enough Rarely Noted
- “didn't feel exfoliated enough”
- “prefer a grittier scrub”
- “underwhelming results for the cost”
Scent not for all Rarely Noted
- “weird earthy/brownie smell”
- “smells like rice water”
- “wish it was fragrance-free”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, influenster.com, mecca.com, tatcha.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Tatcha Gentle Rice Polish work for sensitive skin?
This exfoliant works moderately well for sensitive skin, gently smoothing texture while helping calm redness and irritation. To fit this skin type as well as the top-rated options, an exfoliant needs soothing ingredients that completely avoid irritation risk while thoroughly cleansing and gently smoothing the skin.
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for sensitive skin?
Rice powder and papain gently smooth your skin, while dipotassium glycyrrhizate helps calm redness and irritation. An exfoliant for sensitive skin also needs soothing ingredients like allantoin and extra hydrating agents to protect the skin barrier.
What does Rice Powder do for sensitive skin?
Rice Powder helps calm and soothe sensitive skin while supporting the skin barrier. It has a very safe profile and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022International Journal of Toxicology, 2006
What does Papain do for sensitive skin?
Papain is not a good fit for sensitive skin because it can disrupt the skin barrier, cause inflammation, and act as a strong allergen. Sensitive skin needs gentle, soothing, and repairing ingredients that protect the outer layer rather than break it down.
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This exfoliant goes in your weekly routine once a week, and sensitive skin needs products that offer gentle smoothing alongside calming and soothing ingredients like rice powder, papain, and dipotassium glycyrrhizate.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this enzyme powder exfoliant in your weekly routine, but it should be used on a different night than your retinol treatment to protect sensitive skin. When you do exfoliate, use it after your cleanser and follow up with a nourishing mask and moisturizer to keep your skin calm and smooth.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start by using this exfoliant once a week, and carefully use it more often only if your sensitive skin tolerates it well and shows good results. An exfoliant for this skin type needs gentle smoothing ingredients combined with calming and soothing components to prevent redness and irritation.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This gentle exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on sensitive skin because it uses soft rice powder and papain to smooth texture without heavy oils. However, since this product is an average fit for your skin, a better choice for sensitive skin would be a leave-on hydrator containing soothing ingredients like niacinamide or panthenol to keep pores clear while calming redness.
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A topical formulation containing panthenol, niacinamide, and dipotassium glycyrrhizate increased skin hydration by 74.1% and reduced transepidermal water loss by 13.5% at 28 days compared to baseline and untreated control in 35 individuals with xerosis.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Application of Galactomyces ferment filtrate skin care formula significantly reduced the net values and daily fluctuation of facial pore area, roughness, and redness in young Japanese women.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021Daily application of a cream containing niosomes loaded with purple glutinous rice extract in 20 human volunteers for 28 days resulted in a significant decrease in melanin index and skin roughness by -14.05% and -9.95%, and increases in skin hydration and elastic recovery by +48.73% and +35.98% compared to initial values.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020The iontophoretic delivery of hyaluronic acid nanogel-loaded Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate significantly reduced advanced glycation end products and mitigated skin stiffening in an ex vivo skin tissue glycation model.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2025Red rice extract suppressed UVB-induced inflammation and skin aging in human skin fibroblasts by inhibiting the MAPK signaling pathway, leading to decreased NF-kappa B and AP-1 activation, reduced ECM degradation, and increased ECM synthesis compared to UVB-irradiated controls.
Natural Product Communications, 2016Topical papain treatment may slightly decrease pain within 30 minutes in humans stung by Chrysaora chinensis compared to placebo.
Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 2016A fixed combination of hydroxypinacolone retinoate, retinol glycospheres, and papain glycospheres in aqueous gel applied once daily for 12 weeks achieved a 41% mean reduction in GAGS score and a 40.8% mean reduction in total lesions, with 15.3% of patients experiencing mild to moderate local side effects, in 94 evaluable patients with comedonal-papular, mild to moderate acne of the face.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015Reflux extraction of Carica papaya leaves yielded higher antioxidant capacity and superior in vitro wound-healing activities including fibroblast proliferation, cell migration, and collagen synthesis in human skin fibroblasts compared to ultrasonic-assisted extraction and agitation.
Molecules, 2020Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Phenoxyethanol, Rice Powder, Papain, Rice Bran, Propanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sodium Lauryl Phosphate, Sodium Palmoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Lauryl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Methylaminopropionate, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Dextrin, Phytosteryl Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopherol, Mica, Iron Oxides Ci 77491, Ultramarines, Hadasei-3
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.