🔬 **The Rice Powder Shake-Up**
Everyone’s asking if the new Tatcha The Rice Polish (Classic) still slaps. Short answer: it’s gentler. Long answer: that comes with a trade-off. The old version felt like a tiny scrub tornado—this one is more like a polite breeze. Loyalists are pissed. Newbies might actually prefer it.
🧴 **Wait, What Changed?**
It’s still a powder-to-foam exfoliant. $68 for 2.1 oz. The claim: “polishes without stripping.” I tried it because the old formula was *aggressively* good at smoothing. Now it’s been reformulated to be “cleaner”—but “cleaner” often means weaker. Here’s what you get:
1. **Rice Powder Base** – Still the star. Gently buffs without scratching.
2. **Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate** – Fancy soap. Creates a creamy foam, not a lather.
3. **Squalane** – Added for moisture. Makes it feel less stripping—but also less scrubby.
⚖️ **What’s Inside vs. What’s Missing**
The old formula had papaya enzymes and a higher concentration of rice bran. The new one swaps enzymes for squalane and a lower pH. It’s milder, yes. But it also lacks that instant “my face is a new surface” feeling. Hero ingredients now:
– **Rice Bran**: Gentle physical exfoliation
– **Squalane**: Hydration buffer
– **Sodium PCA**: Humectant for plumpness
– **Glycerin**: Keeps foam from drying you out
📊 **First Touch vs. Week Three**
First use: the powder dissolves faster—10 seconds vs. the old 15. The foam is creamier, almost lotion-like. Less grit. My skin felt soft, not raw. Week three: pores look slightly smaller. Texture is smoother, but not dramatically. The surprise? My cheeks didn’t get red after—old version sometimes left a flush. So it’s gentler, but I miss that “just-sanded” result.
💡 *One Thing*: Use it on damp skin, not wet. Too much water kills the friction. Two pea-sized scoops max.
💬 **The Real Talk**
Measurable change: fewer rough patches. No flakes. But my blackheads? Same as before. This won’t nuke texture—it maintains it.
– **Buy if**: You have dry or sensitive skin that hates harsh scrubs
– **Skip if**: You want deep pore-clearing or have oily congestion
– **Worth it?**: $68 is steep for maintenance. Fine if you love the ritual, but drugstore rice powders do 80% of the job.
✅ **Final Call**
The reformulation is a trade—less oomph, less irritation. It’s a good daily polish, not a transformation.
⭐ **7.5/10** — Gentler but less effective. Fine for maintenance.
💡 *Where to Buy*: Get it at Sephora or Tatcha’s site. Try the mini ($22) first—the full size lasts 4 months but you might not want to commit.