Anua Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder for combination skin
Rice Extract
Ceramide Np
Ascorbic Acid
Alpha-Arbutin
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other products fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 and brightening for your combination skin, as papain and protease enzymes gently refine texture and reduce dullness, while citric acid provides mild humectant action.
- The formula includes allantoin and ceramide NP to soothe and support your skin barrier, though it lacks specific ingredients to significantly regulate oil production for your oily shine concerns.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no harsh ingredients and a formulation designed to minimize irritation.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your PM routine once a week. Start 3x/week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the enzyme powder cleanser after your regular cleanser and toner, but before your moisturizer.
- Pour a small amount into wet hands and rub together to create a creamy foam, then massage gently onto the face.
- Apply the enzyme powder cleanser on slightly damp skin to help activate the gentle exfoliating enzymes.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin feels comfortable.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsUsers with sensitive, dry, and combination skin frequently praise this powder for its ability to gently exfoliate without stripping moisture, often noting a "glass skin" effect and improved texture. While many experience immediate softness and a brighter complexion, a small minority report barrier irritation or difficulty rinsing off the unique, elastic consistency.
Highlights
Gentle non-stripping exfoliation Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves my face soft, smooth, and fresh without dryness”
- “gentle and non-stripping”
- “cleans my face without drying”
Brightens dull complexion Often Mentioned
- “helps to get rid of dark spots”
- “skin feels much softer and brighter”
- “even and brighten uneven dull skin tone”
Unique elastic texture Sometimes Noted
- “marshmallow fluff cushiony goodness”
- “feels like stretchy cheese”
- “initial foam is nice and then it turns slimy”
Difficult to rinse Sometimes Noted
- “takes a long time to wash off cause it's very slimy”
- “foam feels sticky and doesn't rinse off easily”
- “requires thorough rinsing due to its unique texture”
Versatile application Rarely Noted
- “use as a wash-off mask for an instant glow-up”
- “can use a bit more of the powder to make a mask”
- “multi-purpose powder cleanser”
Messy dispensing Rarely Noted
- “be careful when you first squeeze it out”
- “gushed out”
- “struggle daily to figure out how much product to use”
Potential for irritation Rarely Noted
- “screwed up my skin barrier”
- “transforms into dry, irritated, and bumpy”
- “stingy when if there is wound on face”
Small quantity/Price Rarely Noted
- “small size, the price is expensive”
- “won't repurchase due to the high price”
- “less product than I thought”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, oliveyoung.com, stylekorean.com, skinsort.com, yesstyle.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Anua Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder work for combination skin?
Anua Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder works moderately well for combination skin because it gently refines texture and brightens with enzymes while soothing with allantoin and ceramide NP, but it lacks specific ingredients to regulate oily shine. A cleanser of this type needs strong cleansing properties to manage oily shine without irritation, along with hydrating and soothing ingredients to maintain skin balance.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2022International Journal of Dermatology, 2008
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
Rice extract, ceramide NP, and enzymes like papain make this cleanser a decent fit by gently smoothing texture, brightening, and supporting the skin barrier. However, a cleanser of this type needs stronger oil-regulating ingredients and hydrating components to truly balance combination skin.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2022International Journal of Dermatology, 2008
What does Rice Extract do for combination skin?
Rice extract helps keep combination skin hydrated, smooth, and balanced while reducing excess oil and dark spots. It is unlikely to cause irritation and offers gentle antioxidant protection that supports a clear and even complexion.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
What do Ceramides do for combination skin?
Ceramides help balance combination skin by supporting the skin barrier in dry areas without feeling heavy on oily zones, keeping the skin smooth and comfortable. They play an essential role in maintaining the outer water barrier, and a moisturizer with ceramides and light hydrators works well for this skin type.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This enzyme powder goes in your weekly routine once a week, used after your makeup remover and cleanser, and before your cleansing mask and hydrating toner. Because this type of cleanser only works moderately for combination skin, it needs added ingredients that actively regulate oil production to better handle oily shine.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, but it is best to use them on different days or times to avoid over-exfoliating your skin. Since this powder gently refines texture with enzymes, using it in your weekly routine rather than the same day as a strong retinol treatment helps keep your skin calm and protected.
How often should I use this cleanser?
Start by using this enzyme powder once a week as part of your routine. If your combination skin tolerates it well and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on combination skin, as it has a safe formulation designed to minimize irritation while gently refining texture. To better care for combination skin, a product of this type needs ingredients that regulate excess oil production in addition to gentle cleansing and barrier support.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A lipid mixture enriched by ceramide NP with fatty acids of diverse chain lengths significantly improved skin barrier recovery rate, stratum corneum integrity, and hydration compared to a vehicle cream in healthy adult male volunteers with corticosteroid-impaired skin.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2022Emulsions containing ceramides 1 and 3 improved skin hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss in sodium lauryl sulfate-irritated skin of fifteen healthy Asian women compared to a control emulsion.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2008A 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, 2023Enzymatic hydrolysis of codfish skin using SM9913 extracellular protease yielded over 66% of collagen oligopeptide-rich hydrolysates with high bioactivity, including moisture-retention, antioxidant activity, and promotion of human dermal fibroblast cell viability, while proving to be nontoxic and nonirritating.
Scientific Reports, 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, 2020The 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, 2016Topical 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, 2025Rice protein hydrolysate and its characteristic peptides Leu-Leu-Lys, Leu-Pro-Lys, and pyroGlu-Lys reduced melanin content, tyrosinase activity, and ROS production in UVB-induced human epidermal melanocyte PIG1 cells by regulating the JNK/Β-Trcp/NFΗB-p65/MITF signaling pathway and lowering TRP-1 and TRP-2 expression.
Food & Function, 2020
Why other products fit combination skin better
Chemical peels with 30% supramolecular salicylic acid effectively treated acne and reduced facial sebum secretion while improving skin hydration and barrier function in 25 patients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Daily treatment with a facial serum containing multiple acids reduced post-inflammatory hyperchromia lesion grade and number by 29.4% at 56 days, and decreased skin oiliness by 30.7% at 7 days in Brazilian patients with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
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, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Rice Extract, 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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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