Tatcha quietly swapped purified water for fermented rice water in The Rice Wash. The texture completely changed — and nobody warned us.
This isn’t a minor tweak. The old version had that bouncy, almost soufflé-like foam. Now it’s denser. Creamier. Less dramatic lather. That first pump genuinely confused me.
It’s still a cream cleanser — $40 for 130g. The claim: “softens and smooths with Japanese rice.” The old one felt like a gentle scrub. This one feels like a lotion that cleanses.
Fermented Rice Water Base
Replaces purified water — sounds fancy, actually changes how the product sits on skin
No SLS/SLES
Still sulfate-free. Doesn’t strip. But you won’t get that squeaky clean feeling
Smoother Pump Action
New formula is thicker — you’ll need less product per wash
They swapped the star ingredients but kept the philosophy: gentle, hydrating, rice-based. The hero shift is subtle but real.
- Fermented Rice Water: Gently exfoliates without acids — softens over time
- Rice Bran Oil: Moisture barrier support, not just slip
- Sake Extract: Brightening effect on dull skin — mild but noticeable
- Glycerin: Keeps it from drying out dry types
First wash: weird. It doesn’t foam like before — more like a thick milky gel. Rinses clean but leaves a film if you’re oily. Skin felt plump, not tight.
Week 3: I miss the old foam for my oily zones. But my cheeks aren’t angry. One weird win: no more tight feeling around my nose after double cleansing.
Texture improved slightly — less rough patches. Didn’t break me out. But my oily T-zone wanted more foam. My dry cheeks thanked me.
The reformulation is better for dry skin, worse for oily. If you loved the old one for its bubbly texture, you’ll be disappointed. If you wanted something gentler, this is it.