Anua Rice + Ceramide Cleansing Powder for skin with dark spots
Rice
Ceramide
Papain
Ascorbic Acid
Alpha-ArbutinHigh
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for skin with dark spots; a few products fit it even better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. 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 pigmentation and normal skin, as papain and protease work to enzymatically cleanse and refine texture, while rice powder and glycerin provide emollient and humectant benefits respectively.
- The inclusion of alpha-arbutin and ascorbic acid further supports the brightening effects for pigmentation concerns.
- The product is safe for your normal skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your enzyme powder cleanser in the PM routine once a week to start. Gradually increase frequency if your skin feels fine.
- Place this step right after your regular cleanser and before your toner. Skip your usual serum on the nights you use this.
- Mix the powder with a little water in your hands to create a soft foam, then gently massage onto your face. Avoid scrubbing too hard.
- Apply the foam to slightly damp skin for the best exfoliating effect. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water afterwards.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Do not use strong acids or retinoids on the same night.
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 skin with dark spots?
Anua Rice + Ceramide Cleansing Powder is a great fit for skin with dark spots because it uses papain and protease to gently refine texture alongside brightening ingredients like alpha-arbutin and ascorbic acid. Rice powder and glycerin also help keep skin soft and hydrated without causing irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser is a great fit because alpha-arbutin, ascorbic acid, and rice powder help brighten dark spots while papain gently smooths your texture. It is unlikely to irritate normal skin, and glycerin keeps your face soft.
What does Rice do for skin with dark spots?
Rice helps make skin with dark spots clearer and more even by lowering melanin production. It is unlikely to irritate dry or sensitive skin while gently brightening your complexion.
What do Ceramides do for skin with dark spots?
Ceramides help keep the skin barrier strong and hold in moisture, which supports healthy skin overall. When dealing with dark spots, a product of this type needs added ingredients like niacinamide or vitamin C to actively fade discoloration and brighten the skin.
Scientific Reports, 2022Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2023
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This enzyme powder cleanser is used once a week in your weekly routine for skin with dark spots, and it can be used more often if your skin tolerates it well. It gently refines your texture and brightens dark spots with papain, rice powder, alpha-arbutin, and ascorbic acid while keeping your skin calm.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this cleanser with retinol by applying the cleanser first and following with your retinol treatment afterwards. This product is unlikely to cause irritation and gently cleanses while helping brighten dark spots.
How often should I use this cleanser?
Start by using this enzyme powder cleanser once a week as part of your routine. If your skin tolerates it well and you see good results, you may carefully use it more often.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
Anua Rice + Ceramide Cleansing Powder is unlikely to clog pores, cause breakouts, or lead to purging on skin with dark spots. It is considered a great fit for your skin, featuring brightening ingredients like alpha-arbutin and ascorbic acid alongside gentle enzymes that refine texture without harshness.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Daily 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, 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, 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, 2020Combining 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, 2025Polyvinyl pyrrolidone-K90/Eudragit RL100 dissolving microneedle patches loaded with alpha-arbutin and resveratrol enhanced intradermal delivery by approximately 2.6 times compared to cream and slightly decreased the melanin index in human participants without causing skin irritation.
Biomaterials Science, 2023
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.