Anua Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder for sensitive skin
Rice Extract
Ceramide Np
Ascorbic Acid
Alpha-Arbutin
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Average
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for sensitive skin; other products fit it 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, as papain and protease gently refine texture and brighten, while rice powder and rice lees extract provide mild soothing effects beneficial for redness.
- Allantoin and rice bran water offer additional hydration and calming properties, supporting overall skin balance.
- The product is safe for your sensitive skin, containing no harsh or irritating ingredients.
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
★4.7Overall 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 the Anua Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder work for sensitive skin?
This cleanser is an average fit for sensitive skin, gently smoothing texture and calming redness while safely cleansing without harsh ingredients. Enzyme powder cleansers for this skin need exceptional soothing ingredients that target redness and irritation without any risk, alongside gentle exfoliators and hydrators for a balanced, comfortable wash.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for sensitive skin?
Rice powder, rice lees extract, allantoin, and rice bran water help calm redness and soothe sensitive skin. This type of cleanser for sensitive skin needs gentle exfoliating enzymes alongside calming extracts and hydrating ingredients to refine texture without irritation.
What does Rice Extract do for sensitive skin?
Rice extract helps calm and protect sensitive skin while reducing redness and irritation. It also provides strong antioxidant support and helps keep skin moisturized and smooth.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2018
What do Ceramides do for sensitive skin?
Ceramides help calm sensitive skin by strengthening the protective barrier, which may reduce discomfort and sensitivity over time. This type of product works best when it contains properly dissolved ceramides combined with soothing ingredients to support the skin without causing irritation.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2018Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2026
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This enzyme powder cleanser goes in your weekly routine as an exfoliating step used once a week. Because this type of product can be a bit strong, sensitive skin needs gentle enzymes like papain or protease for light smoothing, alongside calming ingredients like rice extract and allantoin to keep the skin calm and comfortable.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine alongside retinol, but limit it to once a week as an extra step to avoid irritation. Since this is an average fit for your sensitive skin, a product of this type needs gentle exfoliating enzymes paired with soothing ingredients like ceramides and allantoin to keep skin calm and smooth.
How often should I use this cleanser?
Use this exfoliating cleanser once a week to see how your sensitive skin handles it, and if it feels calm and smooth, you can carefully use it a bit more often. To fit this skin better, a product of this type needs extra soothing and hydrating ingredients to keep the face comfortable.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for sensitive skin because it contains no harsh or irritating ingredients. However, because sensitive skin sometimes needs extra care, a product of this type works best when it includes soothing agents like ceramides and gentle plant extracts to keep skin calm and balanced.
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, 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, 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
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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