Introduction
Beauty of Joseon may not dominate every bathroom shelf yet but among K-beauty insiders its reputation for marrying heritage ingredients with modern formulas is almost folklore. The brand is known for elegant takes on time honored hanbang traditions, so when they dropped something called Ground Rice And Honey Glow Mask my curiosity clocked in early.
The name alone sounds like a breakfast bowl for your face, and the company promises that the upcycled makgeolli lees and rice hull powder inside will buff, brighten and soothe while honey keeps inflammation in check. All of this is supposed to happen in one leisurely 15-minute wash off session.
To see whether that rice-wine-meets-honey fantasy delivers anything more than a sugar rush I used the mask consistently over two full weeks, slotting it into my routine three times a week. Consider this the field report on whether it deserves a spot in your skincare budget.
What is Ground Rice And Honey Glow Mask?
At its core this formula is a wash off mask, meaning you spread it over clean dry skin, wait out the short treatment window then rinse everything away. Unlike leave on products that stay active for hours, wash off masks deliver a quick burst of ingredients that can exfoliate, hydrate or soothe without the risk of lingering residue.
Here the spotlight ingredients are rice byproducts and honey. The brand repurposes makgeolli lees, the sediment left after brewing Korean rice wine, and grinds rice hulls into a fine powder. Together they give a gentle physical polish while claiming to improve tone and texture. Honey steps in for its well documented humectant and anti inflammatory properties so the formula aims to offset any potential dryness from the exfoliation step.
Beauty of Joseon positions the mask as an all in one treatment that brightens, moisturizes, supports elasticity and offers antioxidant protection. The routine is uncomplicated: apply an even layer, let the mixture sit for about a quarter hour then massage with lukewarm water to lift away the softened mask and any dead skin it has loosened.
Did it work?
In the name of science I benched my usual wash off mask for a few days before starting, which felt very lab coat of me even if the only white garment in sight was a towel. Fourteen days struck me as a fair runway for results so I slotted the mask in every other evening, always after a low pH cleanser and before the rest of my nighttime lineup.
First application: the texture spread easily and set without that tight, chalky sensation some clay based formulas bring. After rinsing I noticed the classic post exfoliation glow but also a mild flush on my cheeks that settled within an hour. Skin felt soft though not dramatically plumper or more hydrated than with my regular hydrating serum cocktail.
By the fourth session the physical polish from the rice hulls had become the main event. Tiny rough patches around my nose and chin buffed down noticeably and foundation the next morning sat smoother. The honey component seemed to temper any irritation because I experienced zero flaking or stinging even on nights when retinol followed.
Week two told a mixed story. Tone looked a shade brighter, especially on my forehead where sun speckles usually linger, yet deeper pigmentation around my jaw stayed put. Hydration levels were respectable but not enough to skip moisturizer, and I cannot say my skin felt more elastic than before. The mask’s antioxidant and soothing claims were harder to measure although I did stay free of surprise breakouts during the trial.
So did it deliver? Mostly. It excelled at gentle surface smoothing and a quick radiance boost, and the upcycled ingredient angle is a thoughtful bonus. However the results never crossed into transformative territory which is what would earn a permanent position in my already crowded cabinet. I will happily finish the tub for its spa moment payoff but once it is gone I will likely rotate back to other masks that address pigmentation and firmness more aggressively.
Ground Rice and Honey Glow Mask’s main ingredients explained
The ingredient list looks long yet breaks down into a few functional clusters. First up is the rice cocktail: Oryza sativa hull powder gives the mask its gentle scrub while rice lees extract and rice bran bring amino acids, ferulic acid and niacin in their natural form for mild brightening. Because they are physically ground, the grains stay soft enough to dodge micro-tear territory but still lift dull surface flakes.
Honey appears twice (whole honey and honey extract) acting as both a humectant and a soothing agent thanks to its natural sugars and trace antioxidants. These inclusions mean the formula is not suitable for vegans, though vegetarians usually have no issue with bee products. Glycerin, propanediol and butylene glycol round out the hydration team, pulling water into the outer skin layers so the post-rinse feel is plush rather than stripped.
Kaolin and bentonite clays quietly absorb excess sebum which keeps the glow from tipping into oil slick. To keep the creamy texture stable the lab added a classic fatty alcohol blend (cetyl, stearyl and behenyl) plus caprylic/capric triglyceride and isononyl isononanoate. Those richer emollients are silky but land in the mildly comedogenic column, meaning they have a small chance of clogging pores on skin that is already prone to congestion. Luckily this is a rinse-off mask so contact time is short, reducing that risk.
Beyond the headline players, you will see 1,2-hexanediol, ethylhexylglycerin and hydroxyacetophenone as modern, low-irritation preservatives. Polyacrylate-13 and hydrogenated polyisobutene lend slip while xanthan gum and cellulose keep the paste from separating. Menthyl lactate provides a faint cooling finish that makes the mask feel spa-like without the overwhelming mint burn.
No fragrance or essential oils show up on the label which is excellent news for sensitive noses. There are also no retinoids, BHAs or high-percentage exfoliating acids so on paper the formula is pregnancy friendly, yet every obstetrician has their own stance on topicals. If you are expecting, err on the safe side and get a professional thumbs up before slathering.
Overall the ingredient deck balances physical polish with humectant cushioning, though the presence of bee-derived honey knocks it out of the vegan category and a few emollients could cloud the waters for the truly acne-reactive. Still, the absence of fragrance and the upcycled rice waste story are commendable touches that keep the mask feeling more thoughtful than trendy.
What I liked/didn’t like
After two weeks of regular use these are the points that stood out.
What works well:
- Gentle rice powder polish leaves skin noticeably smoother after each rinse
- Honey and humectants cushion the clay base so skin feels comfortable not stripped
- Fragrance free formula keeps the experience calm for reactive noses
- Quick 15 minute routine delivers a healthy looking glow that shows up well under makeup
What to consider:
- Physical scrub particulates may not suit very sensitive or compromised skin
- Results stay short term and incremental rather than dramatic on deeper discoloration
- Mid range price could feel steep for a product that rinses off after one use
My final thoughts
After six dates with Ground Rice And Honey Glow Mask I can say it has earned a respectable place in the “solid but not jaw dropping” corner of my vanity. The gentle rice polish and honey cushion make it a friendly pick for combination or normal skin that wants quick radiance without the risk of post scrub tightness, and its fragrance free stance gives it extra credit for sensitive noses. If your main goal is to keep surface texture smooth and give makeup a better canvas, this mask does the job with minimal fuss. Where it falls short is deeper pigmentation and any promise of long term firmness; those results stayed modest even after a diligent two week run. I would give it a 7/10 overall and I would recommend it to a friend who values a gentle, heritage inspired formula but I would also manage their expectations around life changing improvement.
Choosing a wash off mask is a bit like choosing a workout class: the right one leaves you glowing, the wrong one just leaves you wet. Over the years I’ve tried more clay, enzyme and mud concoctions than I care to admit, so for anyone shopping around here are a few alternatives that have impressed me in real life. Deascal’s Pink Clay Glow Mask is my current all rounder; it exfoliates, clears pores, brightens and somehow still feels kind to dry patches, all at a wallet friendly price. Innisfree’s Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask punches above its weight on oil control and blackhead duty while still rinsing clean. The Ordinary’s Salicylic Acid 2% Masque is great when breakouts loom because the BHA digs into congested spots without leaving skin parched. On days when I want a more techy experience I reach for NIOD’s Flavanone Mud which layers antioxidant science over detox mud for a noticeably clarified finish the next morning.
Before you slather anything new on your face a quick reality check is useful. Masks offer a temporary boost that needs consistent use to maintain and even the gentlest formula can disagree with skin that is already irritated. Please patch test first, yes that makes me sound like an over protective parent but your barrier will thank you. If all looks well, settle in for fifteen quiet minutes and enjoy the glow while it lasts.