Japanese geishas have been putting rice powder on their faces since the 16th century to give their skin that signature porcelain glow. Talk about making the most out of one simple grain! This age-old ingredient has skin soothing and smoothing enzymes and is rich in antioxidants. If you have sensitive skin like I do, it’s a great alternative to the some of the harsher liquid exfoliators out there that leave your skin looking like you just got a sunburn. Major geisha faux-pax.

Rice powder exfoliators are actually so gentle that you can use it everyday and it leaves your skin looking perfectly polished and fresh. I also love that you can control the amount of exfoliant you want by adding more or less water to the mixture. It also doubles as a super luxurious mask when you’re in need of some deep cleaning. Mix a few tablespoons of the powder with water until it’s a thick but smooth consistency and leave it on your face for 20 minutes. Repeat this 2 days a week. Easy enough, right? I’ve been using rice powder exfoliants on and off since high school, and I kind of forgot about them for a while, but I’ve recently gotten back on the bandwagon for good. Here are some of my favorites!

Tatcha Polished Rice Enzyme Powder: Not only is the packaging absolutely gorgeous, but I have to give credit to this product for single-handedly getting me back into powder exfoliator game. I’m currently obsessing over this product and this amazing Japanese brand in general. It feels so luxurious and refreshing on the skin, and to be honest, I really like showing it off on my bathroom counter (even if it’s just for me to admire!)

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant: This was the first rice powder exfoliant I ever tried back in high school. It’s so good I remember keeping this in my locker to use after gym class and getting all the girls hooked! One of my friend’s just told me they still use it to this day. It’s a classic.

BareMinerals Exfoliating Treatment Cleanser: With rice as a component in their signature ActiveSoil Complex, this exfoliator will give you a younger-looking complexion both instantly and over time.

Boscia Tsubaki Oil-Infused Exfoliating Powder: I love Boscia’s version because not only does it exfoliate for perfectly clean skin, the rice beads are also coated in Tsubaki (or Camellia) oil so once it’s mixed with water, the oil is released, leaving your skin super hydrated and baby-soft.