A rice serum is a care step that comes after toner and before moisturiser and focuses on a radiant, even-looking tone. When you add it to your routine, the real question is the order: morning or evening, at the same time as a rice toner, on the same evening as a dark spot serum?
In short: Apply 3–4 drops of a rice serum after cleansing and toner and before moisturiser; it can be used in the morning or the evening. Rice You Up contains 5% niacinamide and 5% rice extract. With the Rice Rice Baby toner, it goes on in the same routine, after the toner; if you use Hit The Spot, keep that serum for the evening and move Rice You Up to the morning. The serum is not a peel; when you use it in the morning, follow with sunscreen.
What does a rice serum do?
A rice serum is used to help the skin look more radiant and even-toned and to support its moisture balance. In Rice You Up, two key actives carry this aim: 5% niacinamide and 5% rice extract (Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract).
- Rice extract: a review of rice-derived ingredients summarises that components such as phenolic compounds, betaine and rice bran have been studied for moisture-supporting and brightening properties and have broad potential for use in skincare. We discuss the limits of the evidence in our review of rice extract.
- Niacinamide: a form of vitamin B3 that has been reported to be well tolerated by the skin. How it works is covered in detail in our guide to the role of niacinamide in skincare.
This information concerns the ingredients themselves; it is not the result of a study carried out with Rice You Up.
How to use a rice serum, step by step
Apply 3–4 drops of rice serum to clean skin, after toner and before moisturiser.
- Cleanse. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser and pat it dry; if you use a toner, apply it now.
- Take 3–4 drops. Spread the serum over your face and neck, keeping it away from the eye area.
- Press it in. Gently work it into the skin and wait for it to absorb.
- Moisturise. Finish with your moisturiser.
- In the morning, protect. If you used it in the morning, the last step is sunscreen.
Should you use a rice serum in the morning or the evening?
Either works: Rice You Up can be used in the morning or the evening; the other products in your routine decide which time you choose.
| Your routine | When to use Rice You Up | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Rice You Up only | Morning or evening | Follow with sunscreen when used in the morning |
| With Rice Rice Baby | In the same routine, after the toner | If sensitivity appears, use one of them every other day |
| If you also use Hit The Spot | Morning | Hit The Spot in the evening |
| If your focus is the look of dark spots | Morning or evening | Daytime sunscreen is part of the routine |
How to use a rice toner and a rice serum together
Toner first, then serum: Rice Rice Baby Brightening Rice Toner comes straight after cleansing, followed by Rice You Up. The toner contains no AHA or BHA for exfoliation, its pH is in the 5.5–6.5 range and it can be used morning and evening, so the two products sit one after the other in the same routine. We describe how to use the rice toner on its own in our rice toner guide.
| Step | Morning | Evening |
|---|---|---|
| Cleanse | Gentle cleanser | Gentle cleanser |
| Toner | Rice Rice Baby | Rice Rice Baby |
| Serum | Rice You Up | Rice You Up or Hit The Spot |
| Hydration | Moisturiser | Moisturiser |
| Protection | Sunscreen | – |
Both products contain niacinamide and tranexamic acid. If your skin becomes sensitive while you use them together, use either the toner or the serum every other day.
Can it be used on the same evening as Hit The Spot?
Rather than layering them on the same evening, separate the two: Hit The Spot Tranexamic Acid and Alpha Arbutin Dark Spot Serum in the evening, Rice You Up in the morning. Hit The Spot is a dark spot serum intended primarily for the evening and contains 2% tranexamic acid and 2% alpha arbutin; because Rice You Up also contains tranexamic acid, giving each serum its own time of day makes for a more orderly routine. With this arrangement, the morning routine ends with Rice You Up and sunscreen, and the evening routine with Hit The Spot and moisturiser.
Rice You Up: what's in the formula?
The key actives of Rice You Up Brightening Serum with Niacinamide and Rice Extract are 5% niacinamide and 5% rice extract; the other ingredients are supporting components with no stated concentration. Together with the toner and the peel-off mask, it is part of the rice range.
| Feature | Rice You Up |
|---|---|
| Key actives | 5% niacinamide + 5% rice extract |
| Supporting ingredients | Tranexamic acid, panthenol, Centella asiatica, sodium PCA, rice bran oil, tocopherol, gluconolactone, allantoin, hyaluronic acid derivatives |
| Skin type | Combination, normal |
| Concern | Radiance, uneven tone, the look of dark spots |
| Volume | 30 ml |
In the ingredient list (INCI), Niacinamide is second, straight after water (Aqua), and Tranexamic Acid is fourth, after glycerin. Tranexamic acid is a synthetic derivative of the amino acid lysine; it is used in formulas aimed at the look of dark spots and uneven tone. The last part of the list contains different forms of hyaluronic acid; the full list is on the product page and the packaging.
Gluconolactone is a polyhydroxy acid (PHA). It is 19th in the Rice You Up list, after the preservatives Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate, and is a supporting ingredient with no stated concentration in the formula; the serum is not an exfoliating product. The article gluconolactone and other PHAs explains what PHAs are.
What Rice You Up does not do
- It will not make the look of dark spots disappear on its own, and it does not replace sunscreen.
- It does not replace a peel or an acid toner; rough-looking texture needs a separate acid product.
- It does not correct the look of pitted scars.
Who should take care?
- Sensitive skin: Before first use, do a patch test on the inner forearm. Start with a low frequency. Rice You Up is not a peel; if redness or itching develops after you apply it, wash the serum off and, as the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) advises, do not use it again.
- Dry skin: Rice You Up is intended for combination and normal skin; on dry skin, do not skip the moisturiser step.
- Irritated skin: do not apply the serum to irritated skin.
- Eye area: do not let the product come into contact with the eyes.
Frequently asked questions
Can a rice serum be used on oily skin?
The skin types recommended on the label of Rice You Up are combination and normal skin; oily skin is not among them. If your focus is the look of pores and sebum, Hi Girls Bye Pores, with 10% niacinamide and oily skin among the skin types on its label, is aimed at this need.
Are Rice You Up and homemade rice water the same thing?
No. Rice You Up is a formula that contains rice extract together with niacinamide at defined concentrations and has a known ingredient list. We discuss how it differs from homemade rice water in the rice extract review linked above.
Can Rice You Up be used during pregnancy?
The key actives of Rice You Up are 5% niacinamide and 5% rice extract; the formula also contains tranexamic acid. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a skin condition, consult your doctor before use. Take the ingredient list to the appointment; if you take medication regularly, mention this too.
Does Rice You Up also hydrate, or do you still need a moisturiser?
The formula contains glycerin, panthenol, sodium PCA and hyaluronic acid derivatives, which support the skin's moisture balance. Even so, Rice You Up is a serum, and moisturiser still comes after it in your routine; do not skip this step, especially on dry skin.
Sources
- Zamil DH et al. Dermatological uses of rice products: Trend or true?. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022.
- Bissett DL et al. Niacinamide: A B vitamin that improves aging facial skin appearance. Dermatol Surg. 2005.
- Gaćina K et al. The use of tranexamic acid in dermatology. Acta Clin Croat. 2023.
- American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). How to test skin care products.
This content is for information only and does not replace medical advice. s'hevec products are cosmetic products and are not intended for medical treatment. It was prepared by the s'hevec Team on the basis of the s'hevec product data library and the sources listed above.
