How Rice Water Gives Us Glass Lips

Written by Alix Ha

In ancient Korea, rice water (called Mi) wasn’t bottled; it was brewed in kitchens, poured from clay bowls, and patted gently onto skin. Legend traces the practice back to Queen Heo Hwang Ok, who brought rice cultivation and the art of rice water cleansing to Korea over a thousand years ago.

For generations, this elixir was used to brighten the complexion, tighten pores, and soothe irritation after long days in the sun. Today, in a world of actives and acids, the simplicity of rice water feels radical.

Rice water comes from Oryza sativa, harvested across river valleys and terraced hills, then coaxed into a pearly infusion by soak or gentle ferment. The liquid holds starches, amino acids, inositol, and trace minerals that read as composure on skin. Think a micro-thin film that cushions, a quiet hydration that does not shout, a subtle brightness that feels like morning light through paper screens.

Ceremony is in the steps. Grains tipped into a bowl, water added, palms circling slow. The first pour clears dust. The second is kept, rested, sometimes left to lightly ferment for a softer pH and a silkier slip. In old manuals, rice water sat beside honey, ground beans, and teas, a pantry of care where beauty was practical and patient. Not perfection, presence.

Skin and Lip Benefits:

Hydration and barrier: Lowers transepidermal water loss (TEWL, the rate water leaves your skin) so moisture stays in and the surface feels calm. (Source)
Firmness and smoothness: Supports ceramides (lipids that seal moisture between skin cells) and inositol (a rice molecule linked to bounce) for a softer, more even look. (Source)
Brightening: Slows tyrosinase (the enzyme that makes dark pigment) to help tone look more even. (Source)
Antioxidant support: Adds gamma-oryzanol (an antioxidant mix from rice bran) to help neutralize free radicals from UV and pollution. (Source)
Fast comfort with ferment: Uses fermentation to create skin-ready compounds that soothe quickly and drop the rate water leaves your skin soon after application. (Source)

Skin and lip benefits carry that same steadiness. The starches and inositol help water stay put on the surface, which supports a more comfortable barrier. Amino acids and sugars lend a conditioned feel, a smoother glide for color. Antioxidant compounds concentrated in bran can be captured in extracts and distillates, then paired with humectants to soften the look of roughness and calm visible fatigue. On lips, rice water-inspired extracts act like a featherweight primer, blurring flakes, easing drag, helping sheer tints read more even and alive.

In our Mi Lip & Cheek Oil, rice-derived waters and extracts meet modern formulation, so the ritual can travel. We pair them with soothing botanicals and biomimetic oils, tuning pH and weight until the finish feels like clean glass.

✨ Stronger than doubt, brighter than fear, you were always UNcommon.
Experience the Lip & Cheek Oil that heals as it shines.