Tatcha The Rice Polish, Gentle for oily skin

Rice Powder
Papain
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Tocopherol
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other products fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 oily skin, as rice powder and papain gently smooth texture and regulate desquamation. However, it lacks specific ingredients to effectively manage oily shine.
- The formula provides general cleansing benefits suitable for oily skin.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your PM routine once a week. You can slowly increase frequency if your skin likes it.
- Apply your enzyme powder exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but always right before your hydrating mask or moisturizer.
- Mix the powder with a little water in your hands to create a paste. Gently massage onto your face without rubbing too hard.
- Apply it on your clean, slightly damp skin for the best exfoliating results. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water afterwards.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a quick patch test before your very first use to stay safe.
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 oily skin?
This product works decently for your oily skin by offering gentle cleansing and moderate smoothing, though it lacks specific ingredients to manage oily shine. Products that fit oily skin better need ingredients like Niacinamide to target oiliness and promote a balanced, clear complexion.
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for oily skin?
Rice Powder and papain make this exfoliant a good fit for oily skin by gently smoothing texture and regulating skin shedding with a very low risk of irritation. Because this exfoliant lacks specific ingredients to manage oily shine, an oily skin type needs a product that includes Niacinamide and other ingredients that target excess oil and promote a balanced complexion.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015Molecules, 2022
What does Rice Powder do for oily skin?
Rice powder helps absorb excess oil and gives skin a smooth, matte finish while keeping it calm. It is unlikely to cause irritation and supports a balanced, clear look for oily skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022International Journal of Toxicology, 2006
What does Papain do for oily skin?
Papain helps clear oily skin by gently lifting away dead cells and surface buildup to leave your face feeling smooth. This ingredient helps reduce clogged pores and flakes, though it may occasionally cause mild irritation if your skin barrier is sensitive.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015Archives of Dermatological Research, 2001
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
Use this once a week in your weekly evening routine, right after cleansing and removing makeup and before your cleansing mask. It is very unlikely to cause irritation for your oily skin, though an oily skin type also needs specific ingredients to manage shine.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliant in your weekly routine, but avoid applying it on the same nights you use retinol to lower the risk of skin discomfort. Oily skin also needs ingredients that effectively manage shine.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
You can start using this exfoliant once a week, and if your skin handles it well and you see good results, you may carefully use it more often. It is very unlikely to cause irritation for your oily skin, though an oily skin type also needs ingredients that manage excess shine.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it has a very safe formula with no harsh ingredients that typically cause irritation. However, because it lacks specific ingredients to manage oily shine, an oily skin type needs oil-absorbing minerals or clay and clarifying acids to truly control excess oil and prevent clogged pores.
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Encapsulation of ferulic acid in phosphorylated rice starch enhanced its stability against heat and light and improved skin lightening, elasticity, smoothness, roughness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to free ferulic acid in 16 volunteers over 1 month.
Molecules, 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
Why other products fit oily skin better
A moisturizing cream containing 2% l-carnitine and 5% EGCG significantly reduced sebum levels and improved skin hydration in ninety subjects with seborrhea over 4 weeks, showing greater anti-sebum efficacy in the combination group compared to the l-carnitine group alone.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
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.