Tatcha The Rice Polish: Deep for skin with dark spots
Rice Enzyme Powder
Papain
Rosa Multiflora Fruit Extract
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Microcrystalline CelluloseHigh
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for skin with dark spots; a few products fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. 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 papain and rice powder gently resurface and promote desquamation regulation, aiding in the reduction of pigmentation.
- The formulation is well-suited for normal skin types, with papain and rice powder providing mild enzymatic and physical exfoliation respectively.
- This product is safe for your normal skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your PM routine once a week. Always remember to wear SPF in the morning.
- Use as the third step in your weekly routine, after cleansing and before your hydrating toner. Apply only when following the weekly routine.
- Mix the enzyme powder exfoliant with a little water in your hands to create a paste. Gently pat onto your face and avoid rubbing.
- Apply the enzyme powder exfoliant on slightly damp skin for the best results. Clean skin helps the product work on your pigmentation.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before first use. Do not combine this product with strong acids or retinoids in the same routine.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 2.9k+ reviewsUsers with oily, combination, and congestion-prone skin consistently praise this water-activated exfoliant for delivering a "glass-like" smoothness without the harshness of physical scrubs. While the Japanese wild rose and leopard lily formula is celebrated for visibly tightening pores and reducing breakouts, a minority of users find the "squeaky clean" finish slightly drying if not immediately followed by a moisturizer. This summary is based on a very large amount of data and should definitely be taken into account.
Highlights
Gentle yet effective exfoliation Mostly Mentioned
- “Leaves my skin baby soft and perfectly clean.”
- “Non-abrasive but gets all the dead skin off.”
- “My face feels polished but not raw like other scrubs.”
Pore refinement & clarity Often Mentioned
- “Snatches the grime out of your pores.”
- “Visibly tightens pores after just one use.”
- “Helps keep my blackheads and breakouts at bay.”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “It hurts my wallet every time I buy it.”
- “Amazing product but way too expensive.”
- “Hard to justify the price for a face wash.”
Balanced deep clean Sometimes Noted
- “Deep cleans without leaving my face tight.”
- “Removes excess oil but keeps skin soft.”
- “Perfect balance for my combination skin.”
Luxurious foam texture Sometimes Noted
- “Turns into a cloud-like foam that feels amazing.”
- “The lather is so rich and creamy.”
- “Feels like a mini spa ritual every morning.”
Packaging design flaws Sometimes Noted
- “Glass jar is terrifyingly slippery in the shower.”
- “The dispensing hole gets clogged with water.”
- “Hate that the new jar is opaque; can't see what's left.”
Potential for dryness Rarely Noted
- “Left my skin feeling a bit too squeaky and tight.”
- “Can be drying if I use it every single day.”
- “Caused some dry patches around my nose.”
Scent preferences Rarely Noted
- “Has a weird, earthy rice smell I don't love.”
- “Smells a bit like hamster food.”
- “The scent is unappealing but fades quickly.”
Sources: lovi.care, kohls.com, ulta.com, sephora.com, tatcha.com, mecca.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Tatcha The Rice Polish: Deep a great fit for skin with dark spots?
This product is a great fit because papain and rice powder gently resurface your skin to help fade dark spots. Its safe formula is also unlikely to cause irritation.
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for skin with dark spots?
Papain and rice powder make this exfoliant a great fit for skin with dark spots because they gently resurface your skin to help fade discoloration. These ingredients provide mild enzymatic and physical exfoliation that smooths your skin without harsh irritation.
What does Rice Enzyme Powder do for skin with dark spots?
Rice Enzyme Powder helps fade dark spots and brightens your skin tone. Rice-derived ingredients are known to safely calm the skin and reduce dark patches while keeping your skin smooth.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Pharmaceutical Biology, 2012
What does Papain do for skin with dark spots?
Papain helps smooth the skin by gently removing dead surface cells, which may improve overall texture over time. This type of ingredient works best for dark spots when combined with brightening agents and daily sun protection.
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This exfoliant goes in your weekly routine after your cleanser and before a nourishing mask and moisturizer. You should start using it just once a week, and if your skin tolerates it well and you see good results, you may carefully use it more often.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliant with retinol by using them on different days or times to avoid making your skin too sensitive. Since both help renew the skin, alternating them keeps your face smooth without causing irritation.
How often should I use it?
Start by using it once a week, and if your skin feels comfortable and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often. This gentle approach helps prevent irritation while supporting the reduction of dark spots.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for your skin, and the risk of dryness is low. The gentle papain and rice powder formula resurfaces your skin safely without harsh ingredients that typically trigger irritation.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol).
What the research says
Daily 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, 2020Topical application of a mixture of extracts of Kochia scoparia and Rosa multiflora recovered dermal thickness and dermal fibroblasts, increased procollagen 1 and TGF-beta expression, and decreased MMP-13 expression in photoirradiated hairless mouse skin compared with vehicle control.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2016Quercetin phospholipids 1% cream significantly reduced UV-, histamine-, and chemical-induced skin erythema (-10.05%) and mean wheal diameter in 30 healthy human volunteers, showing comparable efficacy to 1% dexchlorpheniramine cream.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2016Quercetin-loaded niosomes formulated with Span60-RH40 at a 9:11 mass ratio improved quercetin solubility, photostability, sustained release, and transdermal penetration, yielding a skin retention 2.95 times higher than quercetin solution.
Molecules, 2019Optimized rutin-loaded glycerosomes formulated into a nanosunscreen gel demonstrated sustained drug release, greater skin permeation, good antioxidant activity, and better epidermal retention compared to the dermis, indicating high safety, stability, and sun protection factor values for topical administration.
Gels, 2023Nanofibrillar cellulose dressing provides efficient wound healing comparable to polylactide-based copolymer dressings at skin graft donor sites in 24 patients, with significant improvements in observer scar thickness and vascularity and skin elasticity.
Advances in Wound Care, 2020Bacterial cellulose membranes with and without glycerin showed good skin compatibility and no barrier disruption in human subjects compared to a negative control, with glycerin-containing membranes additionally providing a statistically significant skin moisturizing effect (p=0.044).
European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2014AgNP-BC exhibited over 99% reduction in Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with no cytotoxicity, allowing epidermal cell attachment and growth compared to unmodified bacterial cellulose.
Carbohydrate Polymers, 2014
Ingredients
Microcrystalline Cellulose, Rice Powder, Sodium Lauryl Phosphate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Lauryl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Methylaminopropionate, Saccharomyces Camellia Sinensis Cladosiphon Okamuranus Rice Leaf Ferment Filtrate, Papain, Rosa Multiflora Fruit Extract, Belamcanda Chinensis Root Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Rice Bran Extract, Propanediol, Dextrin, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phytosteryl Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Phenoxyethanol, Silica, Iron Oxides Ci 77492, Ultramarines, Tocopherol, Alcohol, Water
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?
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