Anua Rice + Ceramide Cleansing Powder for sensitive skin
Rice
Ceramide
Papain
Ascorbic Acid
Alpha-ArbutinHigh
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for sensitive skin; a few products fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate exfoliation for your normal skin due to the enzymatic action of papain and protease, which gently remove impurities and support skin barrier repair with allantoin and rice extract.
- While the allantoin and rice extract provide general soothing benefits, they are not specifically targeted to address your redness and irritation concerns.
- The formula is safe for your sensitive skin, containing no harsh or prohibited ingredients that could cause irritation.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your PM routine once a week. Start slowly and increase usage only if your skin feels comfortable.
- Apply this enzyme powder cleanser after your regular cleanser, and before your hydrating toner and moisturizer.
- Pour a small amount into wet hands, lather into a foam, and gently massage onto your face without harsh rubbing.
- For sensitive skin, apply this product on slightly damp skin to ensure better tolerance and comfort.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your very first use to prevent irritation.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsUsers with dry, sensitive, and textured skin consistently report that this powder cleanser effectively brightens and smooths the complexion without stripping natural moisture. While the vast majority experience a gentle, hydrating cleanse that improves skin clarity, a small minority with compromised barriers report mild irritation or dislike the product's unique, slimy texture during rinsing.
Highlights
Gentle exfoliation Mostly Mentioned
- “skin feels very clean and refresh”
- “smooths my skin & feels gentle”
- “gentle enzyme powder with marshmallow effect”
- “mild exfoliation without irritation”
Brightening & glow Often Mentioned
- “brighter skin complexion”
- “helps with uneven skin tone”
- “luminous effect”
- “skin looks more radiant”
Non-stripping hydration Often Mentioned
- “doesn't strip skin”
- “keeps skin hydrated after cleansing”
- “face feels soft”
- “moisturizing finish”
Versatility Sometimes Noted
- “use as a wash-off mask”
- “multi-purpose cleanser”
- “doubles as a mask”
- “great for travel”
Messy packaging Sometimes Noted
- “gushed out”
- “be careful when you first squeeze”
- “hard to control amount”
- “messy dispensing”
Slimy texture Sometimes Noted
- “very slimy”
- “stringy texture”
- “takes a long time to wash off”
- “feels like stretchy cheese”
Potential irritation Rarely Noted
- “tingling sensation”
- “redness”
- “bumpy rash”
- “stingy on wounds”
Price vs. size Rarely Noted
- “small size”
- “price is expensive”
- “wish it was bigger”
- “expensive for the amount”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, anua.us, skinsort.com, ulta.com, maquibeauty.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Anua Rice + Ceramide Cleansing Powder a great fit for sensitive skin?
This cleansing powder is a great fit for sensitive skin because it gently removes impurities with mild enzymes while supporting your skin barrier with allantoin and rice extract. The formula is safe for sensitive skin and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for sensitive skin?
Rice extract, allantoin, and ceramide NP make this cleanser a great fit by supporting skin barrier repair and providing gentle soothing benefits. Its safe formula contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients that could cause irritation.
What does Rice do for sensitive skin?
Rice helps calm sensitive skin by soothing irritation and easing redness, while keeping moisture locked in. Rice extracts and oils contain natural compounds that may reduce inflammation and support the skin barrier, making skin feel soft and comfortable with a low risk of irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2011
What do Ceramides do for sensitive skin?
Ceramides help calm and strengthen sensitive skin by improving moisture barriers and reducing discomfort. Topical use is well tolerated and may significantly increase skin hydration while easing stinging or sensitive sensations.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2018Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2026
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This cleanser is designed to be used in your morning and evening routines, and you can start using it once a week as an exfoliating step if you have sensitive skin. It gently removes impurities and supports your skin barrier while being safe to use without harsh or irritating ingredients.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this enzyme powder cleanser alongside retinol, but because both exfoliate and renew the skin, use them on separate nights or use the powder just once a week to avoid irritation. Follow the cleanser with your retinol treatment and a good moisturizer to keep your skin calm and smooth.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This enzyme powder is a great fit for your sensitive skin and starts at once a week as part of your routine. People who tolerate it well and see good results may carefully use it more often.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on sensitive skin. The formula is safe for sensitive skin and contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients that typically trigger irritation or breakouts.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020Daily application of a cream containing niosomes loaded with purple glutinous rice extract in 20 human volunteers for 28 days resulted in a significant decrease in melanin index and skin roughness by -14.05% and -9.95%, and increases in skin hydration and elastic recovery by +48.73% and +35.98% compared to initial values.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020A topical xanthan gum nanogel containing gamma-oryzanol-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers and nanosized TiO2 and MBBT filters demonstrated high photoprotection with an SPF of 34 and no skin irritation or sensitization in a rat model.
Pharmaceuticals, 2023The iontophoretic delivery of hyaluronic acid nanogel-loaded Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate significantly reduced advanced glycation end products and mitigated skin stiffening in an ex vivo skin tissue glycation model.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2025Red rice extract suppressed UVB-induced inflammation and skin aging in human skin fibroblasts by inhibiting the MAPK signaling pathway, leading to decreased NF-kappa B and AP-1 activation, reduced ECM degradation, and increased ECM synthesis compared to UVB-irradiated controls.
Natural Product Communications, 2016Aspergillus oryzae-fermented broken rice and brewers' rice water extracts inhibit photoaging in UV-irradiated human fibroblasts and co-cultured keratinocytes by downregulating MMP-1, inhibiting elastase, enhancing collagen formation, upregulating elastin gene expression, and lowering pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Cellular and Molecular Biology, 2023Topical papain treatment may slightly decrease pain within 30 minutes in humans stung by Chrysaora chinensis compared to placebo.
Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 2016A fixed combination of hydroxypinacolone retinoate, retinol glycospheres, and papain glycospheres in aqueous gel applied once daily for 12 weeks achieved a 41% mean reduction in GAGS score and a 40.8% mean reduction in total lesions, with 15.3% of patients experiencing mild to moderate local side effects, in 94 evaluable patients with comedonal-papular, mild to moderate acne of the face.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015Reflux extraction of Carica papaya leaves yielded higher antioxidant capacity and superior in vitro wound-healing activities including fibroblast proliferation, cell migration, and collagen synthesis in human skin fibroblasts compared to ultrasonic-assisted extraction and agitation.
Molecules, 2020Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022A non-hydroquinone topical formulation (SKNB19) improved hyperpigmentation by 28.5% in patient self-assessment and 27% in independent reviewer assessment compared with 4% hydroquinone in 18 adult subjects, while showing significantly less irritation and better tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Encapsulation of alpha arbutin in an optimized ethosomal gel significantly improved skin melanin reduction, moisture content, and elasticity in human volunteers compared to conventional formulations.
Heliyon, 2023Combining a home-based radiofrequency device and arbutin cream reduced mMASI scores by 25.6% and melanin index by 22.8% at 8 weeks compared to baseline in 38 participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
Ingredients
Zea Mays Starch, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Diglycerin, Allantoin, Maltodextrin, Papain, Kaolin, Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Water, Rice Powder, Rice Lees Extract, Rice Bran Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Rice Extract, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Rice Seed Protein, Ceramide Np, Ascorbic Acid, Alpha-Arbutin, Protease, Caprylyl Glycol, Glucose, Glycerin, Tartaric Acid, Lactic Acid
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.