Tatcha The Rice Polish, Gentle for acne-prone skin
Rice Powder
Papain
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Tocopherol
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other products fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 combination skin, as papain and rice powder gently smooth texture and regulate desquamation. Dipotassium glycyrrhizate and tocopherol provide soothing benefits, though the formula lacks targeted ingredients to address your primary concerns of acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is safe for your acne-prone skin, with no risk of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of calming components.
- Overall, it provides general cleansing and soothing effects suitable for combination skin.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your weekly routine. Start by using the enzyme powder exfoliant once a week and increase only if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the enzyme powder exfoliant after cleansing and before using a hydrating toner or your mask. This ensures the product works effectively on clean skin.
- Mix the enzyme powder exfoliant with a little water in your hands to create a gentle foam . Gently massage it onto your face while avoiding any harsh rubbing.
- Apply the enzyme powder exfoliant on slightly damp skin to help with gentle activation and even distribution. Make sure to rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water afterwards.
- Always avoid the delicate eye area when applying the enzyme powder exfoliant. Do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.
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 The Rice Polish, Gentle work for acne-prone skin?
Tatcha The Rice Polish, Gentle works decently for acne-prone skin by offering gentle smoothing and soothing effects without causing irritation, though it lacks targeted ingredients for breakouts. To fit acne-prone skin best, an exfoliant of this type needs soothing and hydrating ingredients that clear blemishes and control oil without causing irritation.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015Acta Biomaterialia, 2022
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Papain and rice powder make this exfoliant a good fit because they gently smooth texture, while dipotassium glycyrrhizate and tocopherol help calm the skin. However, an exfoliant of this type needs targeted ingredients like niacinamide and licorice root extract to truly address breakouts and blemishes on acne-prone skin.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
What does Rice Powder do for acne-prone skin?
Rice Powder helps absorb excess oil and calms dry, irritated areas while being very unlikely to irritate acne-prone skin. It supports a smooth, clear look by keeping shine under control without clogging pores.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022International Journal of Toxicology, 2006
What does Papain do for acne-prone skin?
Papain helps clear acne-prone skin by gently removing dead cells and targeting blemishes as part of a targeted treatment gel used daily. However, it may cause mild redness or irritation, and since it can disrupt the skin barrier, acne-prone skin also needs soothing, barrier-repairing ingredients to stay calm and protected.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2015
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
Use this once a week in your weekly evening routine after removing makeup and cleansing, before your cleansing mask and other steps. An exfoliant for acne-prone skin also needs targeted ingredients to help address breakouts and blemishes.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this enzyme powder exfoliant with retinol, but to prevent irritation use them on separate nights or use the exfoliant in your weekly routine rather than the same day as your retinol treatment. It is unlikely to cause irritation for your acne-prone skin because it lacks harsh ingredients and includes calming components.
How often should I use it?
Start by using this exfoliant once a week, and if your skin handles it well and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often. It helps smooth texture and calm skin safely, though acne-prone skin needs targeted blemish-fighting ingredients to really clear breakouts.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on acne-prone skin, as it contains calming ingredients and lacks harsh components that typically trigger irritation. However, because it lacks targeted ingredients to actively address blemishes and breakouts, acne-prone skin needs a product with specialized blemish-fighting ingredients to properly clear pores and prevent pimples.
Is it 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, 2026Dipotassium glycyrrhizinate-loaded hydroxypropyl chitosan and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels applied to wounds in a mouse full-thickness skin defect model resulted in rapid wound closure, efficient tissue remolding, collagen deposition, and decreased inflammation compared to commercial Tegaderm film and 3M dressing controls.
Acta Biomaterialia, 2022A 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, 2015Daily 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, 2016Reflux 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, 2020Carica papaya leaf extracts obtained via supercritical fluid and conventional methods demonstrated antioxidant and cytoprotective effects on skin fibroblasts against oxidative stress, driven by their respective lipophilic and hydrophilic constituents.
Molecules, 2021Combining 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
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