Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture 5.5 Soft Cleansing Gel for oily acne-prone skin
Black Rice Extract
Glycerin
Coco-Betaine
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Beta-GlucanAverage
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 suitability for oily skin as glycerin and trehalose provide humectant action, though it lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control to address your concerns with oiliness and breakouts.
- The presence of coco-betaine and potassium cocoyl glycinate effectively cleanse pores, supporting your goal for clearer skin, but the formula does not contain specialized ingredients to target acne and blemishes.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it daily to help clear your breakouts.
- Apply this cleanser as the first step in the morning and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow it with your toner and moisturizer.
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help clean deeply and remove excess oil. This works best for oily skin types.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 900+ reviewsThis gel cleanser is highly regarded for its gentle, non-stripping formula that effectively cleanses while maintaining skin moisture, making it suitable for sensitive and dry skin types. The unscented nature is frequently appreciated. A small number of users reported dryness or texture issues, and some noted an unpleasant taste if the product accidentally contacts the mouth.
Highlights
Gentle & non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “gentlest cleanser I own”
- “face feels clean but not tight”
- “doesn't strip my skin”
- “leaves skin calm”
Unscented formula Often Mentioned
- “great for sensitive skin”
- “completely fragrance-free”
- “no overpowering scent”
- “inoffensive”
Effective cleansing Sometimes Noted
- “removes my sunscreen”
- “cleans effectively”
- “gets the job done”
- “removes light makeup”
Pleasant texture Sometimes Noted
- “creates soft bubbles”
- “smooth gel texture”
- “lathers well”
- “feels silky on skin”
Drying for some Rarely Noted
- “left my face dry”
- “felt a bit tight”
- “stripped my skin”
- “need moisturizer immediately”
Skin reaction Rarely Noted
- “gave me bumps”
- “caused texture”
- “slight irritation”
Small packaging Rarely Noted
- “wish tube was larger”
- “finished too quickly”
- “small size”
- “want a pump bottle”
Unpleasant taste Rarely Noted
- “tastes terrible”
- “weird soapy taste”
- “don't get it in your mouth”
- “bad taste lingers”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, skinsort.com, gopicky.com, oliveyoung.com, sokoglam.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Haruharu Wonder Soft Cleansing Gel work for oily acne-prone skin?
Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture 5.5 Soft Cleansing Gel works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin, as it cleanses pores and provides hydration, but it lacks specific ingredients to control excess oil and target breakouts. Cleansers that fit this skin type better need soothing and balancing ingredients like Niacinamide, ceramides, probiotics, or salicylic acid to manage oil and maintain clarity without causing irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser works for your oily acne-prone skin because glycerin and trehalose add moisture while coco-betaine and potassium cocoyl glycinate wash out pores. Because it lacks stronger ingredients for oil and breakouts, a cleanser for this skin needs soothing and balancing ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, probiotics, or salicylic acid.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Skin Research and Technology, 2024
What does Black Rice Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Black rice extract is not an ideal match for oily, acne-prone skin because it generally lacks the lightweight hydration, oil-balancing agents, and clarifying ingredients that this skin type needs.
What does Glycerin do for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily acne-prone skin hydrated without feeling heavy. It draws moisture into the skin while supporting the skin barrier so it stays soft and balanced.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine as the first cleansing step, or the second step at night if you wear makeup. It washes away oil and clears pores safely without irritation, but because it lacks specialized blemish-fighting ingredients, oily and acne-prone skin needs a cleanser that also targets breakouts with dedicated active ingredients.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this cleanser with retinol by washing your face with it before applying your retinol treatment. This cleanser is safe for your oily skin and unlikely to cause irritation, but to fully care for oily, acne-prone skin, a cleanser of this type needs added ingredients for oil control and blemish targeting.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. It washes your skin safely without causing irritation, though oily acne-prone skin needs extra oil control and specialized ingredients to manage breakouts.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is safe for oily skin and unlikely to cause irritation or breakouts, as it thoroughly cleans pores without harsh ingredients. However, because it lacks specialized ingredients to target acne and blemishes, an average fit for this skin needs oil-controlling ingredients and targeted blemish-fighting components.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is safe for use on the body and around the eyes, but an oily acne-prone skin needs a product of this type to include targeted ingredients for oil control and blemishes.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Sodium trehalose sulfate decreased transepidermal water loss and increased stratum corneum water content in participants with low stratum corneum water content when applied for 4 weeks compared to placebo.
Skin Research and Technology, 2024A 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, 2017Black rice extract treatment downregulated MMP-1 and MMP-3 expression, increased type I procollagen expression, and reduced reactive oxygen species production in ultraviolet-irradiated HaCaT and human dermal fibroblast skin cells.
International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2018Black rice hydrolyzed peptides induce a dose-dependent increase in hyaluronan synthase 2 gene expression and effectively increase hyaluronan production in HaCaT keratinocytes.
Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2007The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012The cytotoxic effect of sodium lauryl sulphate on normal human keratinocytes was significantly decreased when combined with cocamidopropyl betaine, Tween 20, and Tween 80 at concentrations well below the critical micelle concentration.
Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2003Enzyme-modified ginseng extract cream significantly reduced the global photo-damage score and various roughness measures including total roughness, smoothness depth, and arithmetic roughness average compared to placebo in 23 human subjects.
Rejuvenation Research, 2015A red ginseng hydrogel formulation with 1,2-hexanediol promoted selective growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis and decreased Cutibacterium acnes in 20 female subjects.
Journal of Ginseng Research, 2022A 1% fermented black ginseng cream significantly reduced eye wrinkles and brightened skin color in twenty-three human subjects compared to control cream and baseline.
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part A, 2020Skin care regimens containing beta-glucan improved hemoglobin index, skin hydration, and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in 20 patients undergoing fractional laser therapy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Treatment with topical formulations containing beta-glucan combined with nanofractional radiofrequency plus magnetic nanofractional radiofrequency showed the best efficacy and was tolerable and effective in Chinese women with abdominal stretch marks compared to control groups.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2023Topical beta-glucan mildly improved striae gravidarum, 1565-nm non-ablative fractional laser showed better results than topical beta-glucan, and the combined strategy further improved striae gravidarum atrophy compared to single treatment.
The Journal of Dermatology, 2022
Why other cleansers fit oily acne-prone skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical application of Lactobacillus plantarum-GMNL6 enhanced collagen synthesis and SPTSSA gene expression while reducing melanin synthesis, Staphylococcus aureus biofilm, and Cutibacterium acnes proliferation, leading to clinical improvements in skin moisture, color, spots, wrinkles, UV spots, and porphyrins in human volunteers.
International Journal of Medical Sciences, 2021A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Coco-Betaine, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Potassium Cocoate, Rice Extract, Phyllostachys Pubescens Shoot Bark Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Aspergillus Extract Ferment Filtrate, Beta-Glucan, Butylene Glycol, Trehalose, Citric Acid, Cyclodextrin, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Usnea Barbata Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin
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
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