Index / The Ordinary / Rice Lipids + Ectoin Micro Emulsion
The Ordinary

Rice Lipids + Ectoin Micro Emulsion.

The Ordinary Rice Lipids + Ectoin Micro Emulsion
Moisturizers

About this product

A lightweight emulsion from The Ordinary combining rice lipids and ectoin, formulated to hydrate and support the skin barrier in a fast-absorbing texture.

Best for

Dry skinSensitive skin
Moisturizers

The Guru Index verdict

79%

Approved

Approved · 79%
3Reviewers
3Approved
0Mixed
0Skip

What the gurus are saying

Gurus consistently praise this as an effective, affordable hydrator that works best as a layering product or for warm seasons. It excels at repairing barrier function, smoothing texture, and preventing water loss without heaviness or stickiness, making it ideal for oily and acne-prone skin. The main limitation is that most agree it needs a thicker moisturizer on top during winter or for very dry skin, though some find it sufficiently hydrating on its own in milder months.
Synthesized from 3 expert reviews

Key actives & flags

Hyaluronic acidVitamin EFragrance-freeAlcohol-free

Full ingredients

Aqua/​Water/​Eau, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Lipids, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Ectoin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Propanediol, Glycerin, Rhus Succedanea Fruit Wax, Glyceryl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Urea, Serine, Alanine, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Threonine, Arginine, Proline, Pca, Sodium PCA, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Fructose, Glucose, Maltose, Trehalose, Betaine, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tocopherol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Isoceteth-20, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Every take, in full

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Approved only Skip only Mixed only Hide sponsored
Approved
"I've been using this after my serums, but before the application of a thicker moisturizer, and my skin has been loving it. It really helps to repair the skin. It deeply hydrates the skin. It helps with texture. It really helps to reduce the look of facial redness. This is amazing. It's very lightweight. It's not sticky. This doesn't break me out. This is good for acne prone skin as well, oily skin. If you're using serums and products beforehand, you need less drops of this because it just spreads across the skin a little bit better. But if you're just using this on its own right after cleansing, you might need to be more generous with the amount that you apply. This is exceptional. This is 10 out of 10."
All 2 takes from Sincerely Miss Ash
10 NEW ORDINARY PRODUCTS RANKED - SOME ACTUALLY SURPRISED ME | NEWEST LAUNCHES EXPLAINED & REVIEWED
"I've been using this after my serums, but before the application of a thicker moisturizer, and my skin has been loving it. It really helps to repair the skin. It deeply hydrates the skin. It helps with texture. It really helps to reduce the look of facial redness. This is amazing. It's very lightweight. It's not sticky. This doesn't break me out. This is good for acne prone skin as well, oily skin. If you're using serums and products beforehand, you need less drops of this because it just spreads across the skin a little bit better. But if you're just using this on its own right after cleansing, you might need to be more generous with the amount that you apply. This is exceptional. This is 10 out of 10."
THE ORDINARY RICE LIPIDS + ECTOIN REVIEW | I TESTED THIS FOR 3 WEEKS AND HERE'S THE TRUTH!
"This on its own actually was quite nice, but it's not enough for me, especially during the winter months. I could see this being suited best used on its own come spring and definitely summer. But I wouldn't just use this on its own. This actually might be a great product to resort to for that lightweight moisturizer during the summer months, but for the winter, in my opinion, it's just not enough. I would rather put a thicker moisturizer on top of this to lock in the moisture from this, provide my skin with more moisture, and when I do that, my skin just feels so much better. Rice lipids helps to retain skin hydration. It really helps to prevent transepidermal water loss. So it helps to keep that skin nice and plump in those deeper layers. Ectoin helps to smooth out the skin. So if you have any type of texture, I feel like ectoin can do a really good job to wipe that out, giving that softer, smoother look and feel to the skin. Jojoba oil is going to nourish the skin and the natural moisturizing factors in here will help to maintain skin hydration."
Approved
"I was having some issues with my barrier earlier in January. It did address those. I got my skin back on track. Using this product, it kind of helped to keep that progress going. It kept my skin progress up. So, I was really impressed with performance, with the feel, with the texture. I really enjoy using it. I just found that I had less dehydration in my skin overall. It's maybe 5% less hydrating overall than Polish Choice, but it's also a fraction of the cost."
All 2 takes from Kelly Driscoll
Save $$$ | Expensive Skincare DUPES (Paula's Choice Edition)
"I was having some issues with my barrier earlier in January. It did address those. I got my skin back on track. Using this product, it kind of helped to keep that progress going. It kept my skin progress up. So, I was really impressed with performance, with the feel, with the texture. I really enjoy using it. I just found that I had less dehydration in my skin overall. It's maybe 5% less hydrating overall than Polish Choice, but it's also a fraction of the cost."
Testing NEW Skincare Releases | Laneige, Dr. Althea, The Ordinary, Then I Met You
"It's light but mighty. It does have a creamy emulsion hydrating moisturizing texture. While it's maybe not a one for one total replacement for Polish Choice Actin Booster, it's pretty darn close. For saving that much cash, I could get a whole another skincare product for that savings. It's actually a really good option. It's definitely helped my skin hold up in some of this more chilly weather. I've been surprised at how hydrating, long lasting, dehydration busting this particular product has been. That's really what it aims to do and that's what it does. It really is just about hydrating and balancing the skin. That's exactly what it does."
Approved
"You've got your ectoin where you need it. You've got your rice lipids for hydration. And this is a really nice option for people that are looking for a lightweight finish. Lots of ectoin products come in rich creams, which are going to be great if you've got dry skin, but for a lot of other people, we don't want a thick, heavy moisturizer. We want something super lightweight. This way, you can get your ectoin in a gorgeous, beautiful emulsion that disappears without a trace, works as a moisturizer and a hydrating serum all in one and yeah is just stunning. This I think is a great option if you want a super affordable ectoin product to put in your skincare routine and if you want something that isn't in a cream, you want something lightweight, this is the one that I would go for."
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