Cosmetics · Plant extracts
Rice Bran Extract
米ぬかエキス (Komenuka ekisu)
Also known as: Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
7Japanese suppliers ready to quoteView on the Sourcing platformWhy now · 2022 — ongoing
Rice Bran (Komenuka): Japan's Quiet Cosmetic and Functional Foods Workhorse
Rice bran (komenuka) is Japan's underrated functional ingredient base — feeding cosmetic actives (ferulic acid, gamma-oryzanol), rice bran oil, and traditional bekkou-zuke pickle starters.
Read the trend reportAt a glance
| Category | Cosmetics |
|---|---|
| INCI name | Oryza Sativa Bran Extract↗ |
| Japanese labeling name | コメヌカエキス |
| Common Japanese notations | 米ぬかエキス, コメヌカエキス |
| Origin | Plant-derived (rice milling byproduct) |
| Typical functions | Skin conditioning, Moisturizing, Antioxidant |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Cosmetic ingredient listed in the JSCI (Japanese Cosmetic Industry Association) labeling name dictionary. |
Rice bran — the outer layer of the rice grain removed during milling — has been used in Japanese personal care for centuries. The modern extract form, labeled in Japan as コメヌカエキス, appears on countless drugstore SKUs from cleansers to sheet masks. It carries a cultural association with the traditional practice of washing hands and face with rice-rinsing water (togijiru).
Find OEM manufacturers
Browse Japanese OEM manufacturers that build products in this category. Filter by small lot, certifications, prefecture.
Classification
Tags below link to other ingredients sharing the same attribute, so you can pivot from one ingredient to its peers.
Product applications
Regulatory tags
Origin
Common OEM product categories
Finished-product categories where Japanese OEM manufacturers commonly formulate with this ingredient.
- Facial cleansers
- Toners and lotions
- Body soaps
- Face masks
Ingredient profile
Rice bran extract (Oryza Sativa Bran Extract) is obtained from the pericarp and germ fractions of milled Oryza sativa — the rice grain. The fraction concentrates naturally occurring compounds including gamma-oryzanol, ferulic acid, tocopherols, tocotrienols, phytosterols, and B-vitamins.
Commercial preparation is typically by aqueous, hydro-alcoholic, or glycol extraction of stabilized rice bran, followed by filtration and standardization. The finished ingredient is supplied as a liquid extract or, in powder form, as a spray-dried concentrate.
OEM applications
In Japanese formulations, rice bran extract most often appears in moisturizing toners, cream cleansers, body soaps, sheet masks, and hair conditioners. It pairs frequently with other rice-derived ingredients such as rice ferment filtrate, rice germ oil, and rice protein — an ingredient family that Japanese brands have built a distinctive product narrative around.
Cultural context matters for this ingredient. Rice bran and rice-rinsing water (togijiru, 研ぎ汁) have been used in household skincare for generations, and some Japanese drugstore brands explicitly reference this traditional practice in their marketing. The ingredient therefore carries heritage positioning in addition to functional claims.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Rice bran extract is listed in the Japanese Cosmetic Ingredient Codex (化粧品表示名称) under the name コメヌカエキス and is permitted as a cosmetic ingredient without category-specific restrictions.
The ingredient is not a designated quasi-drug (医薬部外品) active ingredient on its own. Some rice-derived derivatives — for example, specific quasi-drug active ingredients produced via fermentation of rice — have their own separate regulatory status.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Listed in CosIng under the INCI name Oryza Sativa Bran Extract. Permitted as a cosmetic ingredient with no specific restrictions. |
|---|---|
| USA | INCI recognized by the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC). Commonly used in finished cosmetic products. |
| China | Listed in the IECIC (Inventory of Existing Cosmetic Ingredients in China) under its Chinese name for rice bran extract. Permitted for cosmetic use. |
| Korea | Permitted as a cosmetic ingredient under the KFDA / MFDS cosmetic ingredient naming system. |
Market reference formulations
Example finished products will be added after each product's current full ingredient list has been verified against the supplier listing. Our editorial policy is not to list example SKUs without this verification step.
All brand names and product names referenced anywhere on this site are the property of their respective owners. Example entries are provided for informational purposes only and do not imply endorsement.
Seasonality & supply calendar
- Harvest months
- Rice harvest: September – November (Japan)
- Peak supply
- October – December (fresh-milled bran)
- Off-season
- Year-round via continuous milling of stored rice; freshness affects oil-soluble fraction quality
Fresh rice bran is preferred for cosmetic-grade extract due to lower rancidity in the lipid fraction.
Storage requirements
How the receiving OEM facility needs to handle inbound raw material.
- Temperature
- Refrigerated 4°C for fresh bran; finished extract room-temperature stable
- Conditions
- Fresh bran turns rancid within days; finished extract stable in sealed opaque containers
- Shelf life
- Finished extract 24 months sealed; raw bran <1 week
Supply concentration
Where this ingredient comes from — useful for single-source-risk planning.
- Primary regions
- Distributed nationally — every rice-milling region produces bran. Niigata, Hokkaido, Akita lead by milling volume
- Import dependence
- 100% domestic for Japanese rice bran; commodity rice bran imports for industrial / non-cosmetic use
農林水産省 米穀統計
Certifications commonly available
Certification schemes commonly obtainable for this raw material. Always confirm the specific supplier's current certificate before contracting.
| Scheme | Availability | |
|---|---|---|
| Organic JAS | On-request | Organic rice → organic bran → organic extract chain |
| COSMOS | Common | Cosmetic-grade rice bran extract widely COSMOS-Approved |
| Halal | On-request | |
| Kosher | On-request | |
| Vegan | Inherent |
Alternative ingredients
Related ingredients commonly evaluated as substitutes.
Quick answers
- What is Rice Bran Extract?
- Rice bran — the outer layer of the rice grain removed during milling — has been used in Japanese personal care for centuries. The modern extract form, labeled in Japan as コメヌカエキス, appears on countless drugstore SKUs from cleansers to sheet masks. It carries a cultural association with the traditional practice of washing hands and face with rice-rinsing water (togijiru).
- What is the regulatory status of Rice Bran Extract in Japan?
- Cosmetic ingredient listed in the JSCI (Japanese Cosmetic Industry Association) labeling name dictionary.
- What products typically use Rice Bran Extract?
- Facial cleansers / Toners and lotions / Body soaps / Face masks
- Where does Rice Bran Extract come from?
- Plant-derived (rice milling byproduct)
- What is the INCI / JSCI labeling name for Rice Bran Extract?
- INCI: Oryza Sativa Bran Extract / JSCI: コメヌカエキス
Explore related ingredients
Used in similar product applications
Other ingredients commonly used in the same finished-product families.
Sharing similar functions
Ingredients that overlap on functional benefit tags.
Apple Ceramide
MoisturizingSkin barrier supportAntioxidant
Porphyra Yezoensis Extract
MoisturizingAntioxidantSkin barrier support
Saccharina Japonica Extract
MoisturizingAntioxidantSkin barrier support
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
MoisturizingAntioxidantSkin barrier support
Brown Rice Ferment Extract
MoisturizingAntioxidant
From the same origin
Other ingredients that share an origin classification.
Regulatory guidance
Take the next step
FAQ for OEM buyers
Q. What active compounds are concentrated in rice bran extract?
Rice bran concentrates γ-oryzanol (a complex of ferulic acid esters of phytosterols and triterpene alcohols, present in rice bran oil at roughly 1–2%), ferulic acid, tocopherols and tocotrienols, phytosterols, and B-vitamins. The 10 documented γ-oryzanol components include cycloartenyl ferulate, 24-methylenecycloartanyl ferulate, and campesteryl ferulate as the principal fractions, all carrying the antioxidant ferulic acid moiety.
Q. What is the JSCI labeling name and INCI name for rice bran extract?
JSCI labeling name: コメヌカエキス. INCI name: Oryza Sativa Bran Extract. Both names refer to the same ingredient category — an extract of the pericarp and germ fractions removed during rice milling. The closely related rice bran oil is a separate ingredient (INCI: Oryza Sativa Bran Oil; JSCI: コメヌカ油).
Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Q. Is rice bran extract subject to any special regulatory restrictions?
Rice bran extract is permitted as a general cosmetic ingredient under JSCI in Japan, in CosIng in the EU, by PCPC INCI in the US, and is listed in the IECIC for the China market — none of these include category-specific restrictions for the basic extract. It is not on its own a designated quasi-drug (医薬部外品) active ingredient in Japan, though some rice-derived ferment products have separate quasi-drug status.
Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Use cases
Moisturizing toner / lotion
- Positioning
- Heritage Japanese skincare — references to togijiru (rice-rinsing water) household tradition; rice bran extract paired with rice ferment filtrate for a multi-component rice-derived narrative.
- Typical usage level
- 0.5–5% in finished toner / lotion formulations
Sources
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Cream cleanser and bar soap
- Positioning
- Functional + heritage — the nukabukuro (rice-bran poultice) tradition supports a 'gentle cleansing with traditional Japanese ingredient' angle for both Japanese-domestic and export markets.
- Typical usage level
- 1–10% in cream cleanser; lower in superfatted bar soap
Sources
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Sheet mask essence
- Positioning
- Antioxidant + brightening positioning — γ-oryzanol and ferulic acid carry well-documented antioxidant activity, making rice bran extract a natural fit for mask essences positioned around 'brightening' and 'radiance' (within local advertising-claim constraints).
- Typical usage level
- 1–5% in essence loading
Sources
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Search the academic literature
Pre-filled queries for the major research databases. Opens in a new tab.
Official regulatory databases
External links to public Japanese / international regulatory authorities. We are not affiliated.
References
- Japanese Cosmetic Industry Association (JSCI) labeling name directory
- EU CosIng database entry: Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Last updated: 2026-04-22. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.