I'm From Rice Toner and the Brand That Answers Where Its Plants Grow

I like a brand with a name that explains itself, and I'm From does. DermApproved describes it as an answer to a simple question, where is this ingredient from, so mugwort points to Ganghwa and the famous toner points to rice grown in Yeoju, South Korea. Third-party sources date the brand to 2014, though the company attribution varies, so I will leave the origin story at that.

The I'm From rice toner is the product most people meet first. The brand's own site lists it as a milky toner made with 77.78% Korean rice, and British Vogue names the heart of it as Goami rice extract from Yeoju. Allure ties it to Korea's rice-water tradition. Vogue also lists rice bran, purslane, Japanese elm bark and Amaranthus caudatus seed as supporting extracts.

One practical detail: it has a two-layer formula of water and emulsion, so you shake it before each use. Skip that and you get the thin layer only. Once it is mixed it goes on as a cloudy, cushiony liquid, and the brand describes it as a softening, hydrating step. I find it leaves skin softer-feeling and glowier-looking, which is a modest promise and the honest one.

In this first group you get the Rice Toner Mini in the 1.01 oz size, which is how I would try it before committing to a bigger bottle. Next to it sit the I'm From Rice Serum, the Rice Mask and the Rice Glow Peel off Mask. Patch test anything new on your jaw for a day or two before it goes on your whole face.

The catalog is organized by plant, and I find that oddly calming when I am standing in front of a crowded shelf and cannot decide where to begin. The catalog is sorted into Mugwort, Rice, Honey, Ginseng and Fig lines, and the Fig line is anchored by the Fig Boosting Essence and the Fig Cleansing Balm. You can pick a plant the way you would pick a tea.

Mugwort is the one I would explore after rice. The Mugwort Cream is the richer step here, made for the end of a routine when you want something cushiony on top. The Mugwort Essence Mini in the 1.01 oz size is the light, watery layer that goes on right after cleansing, and a mini is a sensible way to see if the herbal scent suits you. If you prefer a ritual, the Mugwort Beauty Sheet Mask, 5 Sheets, is a calm ten minutes on the sofa.

Honey takes the cozier role without turning heavy. The I'm From Honey Beauty Mask is a mask for the evenings when skin feels dull and a little tight, and the label is where I would check the suggested time on skin. I use masks on clean, dry nights, never on a day when my face feels raw.

A simple pairing idea: rice toner first, then the mugwort essence as a second layer, then the cream. Three steps, one brand, and you will quickly learn which one your skin responds to. Add one product a week so you can tell them apart.

Milky toners have become their own little category, and I like comparing them side by side. Each of these is a different take on the same soft, cushiony idea, so think of them as neighbors to the rice bottle rather than replacements.

Beauty of Joseon's Glow Replenishing Rice Milk Toner is the closest cousin, with a pale, gentle feel and a rice story of its own. innisfree's Green Tea Ceramide Korean Milk Toner swaps in a green tea and ceramide angle, which suits anyone who wants a barrier-minded name on the label. Bubble Skincare's Cosmic Silk Hydrating Milky Toner is the playful one, easy to reach for in the morning.

OLEHENRIKSEN's Barrier Booster Vitamin C Milky Toner Essence adds vitamin C to the milky format. Eadem's Cashmere Peel Milky Exfoliant & Hydrating Essence is named as an exfoliant, so read its label for how often to use it and do not treat it like a plain hydrating toner. Fenty Beauty's Fat Water Hydrating Milky Toner Essence is the plush, fuller-feeling choice for dry days.

What I would skip: layering an exfoliating milky toner on the same night as other strong exfoliants, and adding two or three new bottles in one week. If anything stings or turns red, rinse it off and stop. Wear sunscreen in the morning, especially after anything that exfoliates, and keep the new bottles a week apart so you can tell which one you actually like.

Here is how I would actually work this in. Cleanse, shake the Rice Toner, pour a little into clean palms and press it in while skin is still slightly damp. Follow with a serum if you like one, then a cream, then sunscreen in the morning.

Give a new product two weeks before you decide. You are looking for skin that feels softer and looks a bit glowier, nothing more dramatic than that. Keep notes if you tend to forget what you changed, and shake the bottle every single time, since the two layers settle apart again between uses.

If irritation sticks around, see a doctor and ask rather than adding more steps. The best shelf is a short one that you reach for every day, with a few favorite steps and room to change your mind later. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together The Best Facial Cleansers, From Cold Cream to the Rice Wash.

If you want to try the milky step itself, I explained rice toner and where the idea came from.