Last Updated on August 22, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti
Rice water has been used in Asian beauty routines for centuries, so obviously the skincare industry had to bottle it and sell it back to us. Enter Beauty of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Milk, a milky toner that promises to hydrate skin, control excess oil and give you that famous Korean glow. Sounds like the dream, especially if your skin can’t decide whether it wants to be oily or dehydrated. But here’s the thing: rice isn’t actually doing most of the work here. The “boring” hydrating ingredients are. So, is Beauty of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Milk actually worth the hype? Let’s find out.
Key Ingredients In Beauty of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Milk Lightweight Hydration Toner: What Makes It Work?
HUMECTANTS
Let’s start with what actually makes Beauty of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Milk so hydrating: humectants like glycerin, panthenol, and sodium hyaluronate (a form of hyaluronic acid). Basically, they grab water and keep it in your skin, so it feels softer and plumper. Glycerin is one of the best at this. I also really like that there’s panthenol here. It’s vitamin B5 and helps your skin hold onto moisture better. One study found that both 1% and 5% panthenol reduced the amount of water escaping from skin after four weeks.
RICE EXTRACT + RICE AMINO ACIDS
Rice does contain antioxidants and other compounds that may be good for skin. One study found that compounds extracted from rice bran improved hydration, pigmentation, roughness and elasticity after 28 days. BUT (and it’s a pretty big but), that’s not the rice extract used here. That study used specific compounds taken from rice bran and put into a special delivery system. You can’t just say “rice worked in that study, therefore this rice toner does the same thing.”
As for rice amino acids, the evidence is even more meh. I couldn’t find good human studies showing they do anything particularly impressive when you put them on your skin. I’m not saying the rice here does nothing. It may give you some extra antioxidant and moisturising benefits. But even then, they’re fairly down the ingredient list, so don’t expect much indeed.
Performance & Personal Opinion
First things first, this isn’t really what I picture when someone says “milky toner”. It’s super watery. Almost like water, actually. There’s a powdery layer that settles at the bottom, so you need to shake it before every use or you’re not really getting the whole formula.
Once it’s on, it sinks in pretty quickly and doesn’t leave my skin feeling sticky or coated in anything. HUGE plus. There’s no noticeable fragrance either. Personally, I don’t see why a toner needs perfume, so I’m perfectly happy with that.
You can apply it with a cotton pad, but I wouldn’t bother. I just pour some into my hands (be careful, this stuff is so runny, it’s easy to pour out way more than you need) and pat it on. It’s quicker and I’m not watching half my toner disappear into a piece of cotton. If you need more hydration, you can easily do a couple of layers because it’s so lightweight. Or skip the toner and just get a hydrating serum instead.
But let’s get to the important bit:Â does it actually do anything? Yep. Just maybe not what the name makes you think it does. This is really good at giving skin some extra hydration without piling on grease. The “glow” part? Meh. If you’re expecting that juicy, glossy, glass-skin finish, this isn’t really it. It can actually leave skin looking more soft-matte than glowy. And I wouldn’t rely on the rice to fade dark spots or dramatically brighten your skin either.
Who Should Use This?
Let’s get one thing straight: no one needs a toner. A good skincare routine works perfectly well without one. But if you like using toners and want an extra layer of hydration, Beauty of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Milk makes the most sense for oily and combination skin.
Price & Availability
$18.00 at Sephora, SpaceNK, Stylevana, and Yes Style
The Verdict: Should You Buy It?
I like Beauty of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Milk, but I don’t think it’s a must-have. If you have oily or combination skin and want a lightweight toner that gives you a little extra hydration without making you shinier, go for it. It does that job really well. But don’t buy it for the rice or because you’re expecting some crazy glow. It’s a nice toner. Nothing more, nothing less.