Stella Ungphongphan is not your typical wellness entrepreneur. As the founder of Rice Remedy and Oat Remedy, she has carved out a space in the wellness industry that combines ancestral wisdom, modern science, and ritualistic design. With a background as a radiographer and a heritage rooted in Thai, Chinese, and Japanese traditions, Stella’s unique blend of clinical precision and deep cultural influence is creating waves in the wellness space, transforming the way people approach self-care and burnout recovery.
The story of Stella’s transformation from a stressed-out professional to a wellness visionary is one of both personal and professional evolution. Born in Buriram, Thailand, and raised in Sydney, Stella was exposed to a blend of rich cultural traditions from a young age. Her Japanese grandfather, who owned a rice mill, passed down a deep respect for the transformative power of rice, a material that would later become central to her flagship brand, Rice Remedy. Meanwhile, her Thai grandmother imparted the wisdom of generational wellness rituals that would fuel her understanding of the power of self-care beyond surface-level beauty.
Having spent years working in medical imaging, Stella’s career was steeped in science, but it wasn’t until she found herself at the intersection of burnout and deep fatigue that she realized the power of ritual. Chronic stress had taken its toll on Stella, but instead of succumbing to the pressures of modern life, she turned inward and began to reconnect with the practices and ingredients passed down through her ancestors. It was during this period of deep reflection that she began formulating Rice Remedy—a skincare line rooted in the biofermentation of rice, a process inspired by Okinawan rituals and her grandfather’s rice mill.
Rice Remedy is built on the patented Ricesilk biocellulose, a material derived from fermented rice that not only nourishes but also “texturizes” the skin. This revolutionary ingredient, which is at the core of the brand’s skincare offerings, aims to soften and restore the skin’s natural texture rather than just hydrate. Rice Remedy invites customers to experience a sacred, meditative skincare ritual that goes beyond mere moisturization. Instead, it offers a sensory experience that reintroduces softness into the skin and spirit alike.
While Rice Remedy focuses on skincare, Stella’s second venture, Oat Remedy, addresses a different but equally important facet of modern wellness: the nervous system. Born from Stella’s own struggles with burnout and overstimulation, Oat Remedy offers a sensory-rich ecosystem designed to calm and nourish the nervous system. Unlike trend-driven wellness products, Oat Remedy creates what Stella has coined the “Oatasis”—a ritualized sanctuary for those seeking to reset in a fast-paced, chaotic world. Central to Oat Remedy is the use of nervine botanicals like oat straw and milky oats, known for their grounding properties, which help create a sense of stillness and rhythm.
The key to understanding what sets Stella apart in a crowded wellness market is her holistic approach to self-care. Whereas most brands chase trends or focus on performance, Stella’s offerings are grounded in a philosophy of ritual. Her products are not designed to stimulate or energize; instead, they invite a return to softness, rhythm, and space. In a world obsessed with achievement and hustle, Stella offers people permission to pause—to create a moment of calm in the midst of the noise.
This approach has earned Stella recognition as one of NY Weekly’s Top 30 Women Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2025. It has also garnered the attention of the wellness community, with her being awarded a National Innovation Award (NIA) for design. Additionally, her leadership as the former Director of SoGal Sydney, a network for female founders, has further cemented her position as a trailblazer in the wellness industry.
As a visionary entrepreneur, Stella’s work has created a new paradigm in the wellness sector. With Rice Remedy and Oat Remedy, she is not simply selling skincare products or supplements—she is crafting immersive ecosystems that invite customers to reconnect with their bodies and their senses. Her brands provide much more than a consumer experience; they offer a philosophy, a way of life that emphasizes the importance of ritual, rest, and balance.
In addition to her product lines, Stella is also creating a larger movement. Through retreats, sensory experiences, and community-led growth, she is building a wellness ecosystem that transcends traditional business models. Upcoming brand residencies, retail activations, and global collaborations in Southeast Asia and Australia will help spread her message of grounded wellness across the globe. Stella envisions a world where wellness is lived, not performed—a world where people can slow down, reconnect with their rhythms, and experience genuine healing.
Stella’s unique blend of science, heritage, and ritual is creating a new wave of wellness that is not trend-driven, but deeply rooted in both tradition and innovation. Her story is a reminder that true healing doesn’t come from external products alone—it comes from the inner transformation of returning to rhythm, softness, and self.
As Stella says, “In a world obsessed with performance, I’m offering people permission to pause.” With this philosophy at the heart of her brands, she is quietly reshaping the wellness industry, one ritual at a time.
For more information on Stella Ungphongphan’s brands, visit Rice Remedy and Oat Remedy.
Follow Stella on Instagram at @riceremedycom, @oatremedy, and @stellaricegirl.
