You might know sake, the Japanese rice wine, from your weekly happy hour with the coworkers you actually like, but that same fermented rice has deep roots in East Asian beauty culture. In both Japan and Korea, rice has long been used in skin-care rituals, prized for its ability to soften, brighten, and restore the skin. Per esthetician Emma Jin, in Korea fermented rice water dates back to the Goryeo dynasty, when it was used to improve tone and texture. The reason it works comes down to fermentation, which breaks rice down into smaller, more bioavailable molecules, making its vitamins, amino acids, and minerals easier for the skin to absorb.
Vogue’s Favorite Fermented-Rice Skin-Care Products
“It’s part of Korean tradition to use every part of an ingredient, so it’s no surprise rice water from rinsing would find its way into skin care,” says esthetician Soo-Young Kim Abrams of the ingredient’s cultural importance. Fermentation is just as embedded, from kimchi to soybeans to grains; originally used for preservation, it is now central to Korean wellness. “Using rice water on your skin is one of those things that gets passed down casually. Your mom tells you, her mom told her. It’s less of a formal ritual and more of a kind of everyday wisdom.”
The end goal of all of this is what’s often referred to as glass skin—that smooth, clear, lit-from-within finish that K-beauty is known for. “Fermented-rice ingredients check so many boxes, which is why they’re so closely tied to glass skin,” Abrams explains. “They contain prebiotics that help maintain balance, enzymes and lactic acid that gently exfoliate and brighten, and antioxidants that protect against environmental stress. The kojic acid formed during fermentation helps even out skin tone, while amino acids reinforce the moisture barrier.”
Ahead, our favorite fermented-rice and sake-infused products, from essences to lotions to serums, so you can layer them into your routine or fully commit.
Best Overall: SK-II Aging Skin Facial Treatment Essence
- Why We Love It: Of all the brands here, you’re likely most intimately familiar with SK-II, as it’s the one that put fermented skin care on the US map. The formula contains over 90% Pitera, a proprietary yeast-derived ingredient made of more than 50 micronutrients (including vitamins, minerals, organic acids, and amino acids). All work to support cell turnover, fade dark spots, and strengthen the skin barrier over time. Jin puts it simply: “This is an essence that genuinely earns its cult status.” The texture is notably lightweight, absorbing instantly with no residue and working quietly in the background. “Consistent use stimulates the skin’s natural production of hyaluronic acid and natural moisturizing factors.”
- Editor’s Experience: For me, this was the essence that put essences on my radar. When I started sweeping it over my face each morning, my skin got clearer, softer, and bouncier. With its watery texture, there’s no worry of pilling or heaviness. It’s a classic for a reason! —Kiana Murden, beauty shopping editor
- Key Ingredients: Pitera, butylene glycol
- Size: 75 ml
Best Toner Lotion: Kiku-Masamune Sake Brewing Lotion
- Why We Love It: “The key ingredients in this lotion make it a great prep step for anyone looking to target pigmentation,” Abrams notes. She explained that the sake ferment, which contains kojic acid, and arbutin are both well-studied tyrosinase inhibitors, meaning they help prevent melanin from becoming overactive. “It’s also worth noting that in Asian skin care, lotion refers to a watery, toner-like consistency rather than what we think of as a creamy lotion in the US. A formula like this is designed to layer under other skin care, making it ideal as a hydrating prep step post-cleansing.”
- Key Ingredients: Sake, ceramides, arbutin
- Size: 500 ml
Best Exfoliating Powder: Tatcha The Rice Polish: Deep
- Why We Love It: “Tatcha’s Rice Polish is a genius product because it merges exfoliation with the benefits of fermented rice in one step,” Jin raves. It’s a water-activated exfoliant made of finely ground Japanese rice bran that transforms into a creamy foam. The pH-neutral, amino-acid–based formula cleanses and exfoliates without stripping the skin’s moisture barrier. She explains that the Deep version is specifically formulated for combination-to-oily skin, with papaya enzymes to gently remove dead skin cells and Japanese wild rose to help tighten the appearance of pores and clarify the skin. “It’s truly a ritual product and one of those formulas that works for just about everyone,” she adds.
- Key Ingredients: Japanese rice bran, Hadasei-3 complex, papain
- Size: 60 grams
Best for Dry Skin: Hanyul Red Rice Hydrating Serum
- Why We Love It: Hanyul is a K-beauty brand whose approach to fermented rice is deeply rooted in hanbang, traditional Korean medicine. Jin explains that the rice used in this formula is double fermented for 360 hours, turning it into red rice and making it a powerhouse ingredient that delivers plumping moisture to dehydrated skin. “The formula is infused with squalane and panthenol (vitamin B5) for added nourishment, and the texture is lightweight and nongreasy. It absorbs beautifully and preps the skin for everything that comes after.”
- Key Ingredients: Fermented-rice extract, ceramides, squalane, panthenol
- Size: 25 ml, 150 ml
Best Face Cream: Shinbi Beauty Rice Cream Moisturizer
- Why We Love It: At $20, this is an accessible entry point into fermented-rice skin care without sacrificing ingredient quality. Jin explains that the formula includes rice-bran oil, Saccharomyces ferment, Lactobacillus ferment, and hyaluronic acid, alongside organic aloe vera, shea butter, and jojoba oil—a thoughtful blend of traditional Japanese fermentation and modern hydration science. The formula is 97% naturally derived and 42% organic, which she notes is impressive at this price point. “The texture is rich but absorbent—not heavy or pore clogging—and works well layered under SPF or as a standalone evening moisturizer for drier skin types,” she adds.
- Key Ingredients: Sake extract, hyaluronic acid, rice-bran oil
- Size: 60 ml
Best for Sensitive Skin: House of Dohwa Rice Makgeolli Serum
- Why We Love It: According to Abrams, the blend of multiple ferments derived from makgeolli (a Korean rice wine) and niacinamide makes this serum effective for both radiance and barrier support. “The fact that it’s free from parabens, silicones, and common allergens also makes it a good option for sensitive or reactive skin,” she adds. A little goes a long way; you only need two to three drops after toner, and it can be used both morning and night.
- Key Ingredients: Saccharomyces, rice-bran extract, niacinamide
- Size: 30 ml
Best Face Serum: I’m From Rice Serum
- Why We Love It: If you’re looking to add a rice serum into your routine without breaking the bank, this one offers a higher concentration of ferments at an approachable price point, making it an easy entry into the category, Abrams notes. “The niacinamide and hyaluronic acid round out the formula for brightening and hydration,” she adds. It’s also straightforward to use: After cleansing and prepping the skin with toner, apply a small amount evenly across the face, then follow with a moisturizer once fully absorbed.
- Key Ingredients: Rice-germ-ferment extract, niacinamide, glycerin, allantoin
- Size: 30 ml
Everything You Need to Know
Is Sake Good for Your Skin?
Yes! Jin says sake is “genuinely impressive” from a clinical standpoint. Sake extract is rich in enzymes that gently exfoliate, helping to lift away dead skin cells and reveal brighter, fresher skin underneath. Beyond that, sake-derived ingredients like galactomyces provide antioxidant protection against environmental stress and support a more even skin tone over time.
“It’s a gentle but effective ingredient,” she adds. “It’s not going to strip or irritate the way harsher actives can, which makes it a great option for consistent, long-term use.” Abrams notes that sake’s naturally occurring kojic acid acts as a tyrosinase inhibitor, helping regulate melanin production and promoting a brighter, more even complexion.
What Are the Benefits of Sake Extract?
In short, the benefits are wide-ranging: gentle exfoliation, brightening, antioxidant protection, hydration, barrier support, and sebum regulation. Abrams adds that products formulated with fermented ingredients tend to be especially barrier supportive, helping soothe sensitive skin while keeping the overall complexion balanced.
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts, from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity estheticians, to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products—ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
For rice-extract skin care, we selected the best products based on the following characteristics: ingredients, texture, packaging, finish, and the skin-care concerns they address. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.
Meet the Experts
- Emma Jin is a board-certified esthetician at Stalle Studios in New York City.
- Soo-Young Kim Abrams is a board-certified esthetician and the founder of SYK Skin in New York City.
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