Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence for acne-prone skin
Rice Extract
Lactobacillus Ferment
GlycerinAverage
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 benefits for your combination skin, as Lactobacillus Ferment and Glycerin support barrier repair and hydration, which are generally helpful for acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- While Allantoin and Panthenol provide soothing effects, the formula lacks targeted ingredients to directly address your specific concerns.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your moisturizer twice a day in your AM and PM routines. Apply it daily to help keep breakouts under control.
- Apply after your cleanser and toner, and make sure to use your SPF right after in the morning.
- Gently spread a small amount of moisturizer over your face using soft motions. Let it absorb into the skin for a minute before getting dressed or applying makeup.
- Apply on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture. This keeps your combination skin balanced without feeling heavy.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Stop using if you feel any irritation.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 1.6k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this essence is highly recommended for dry and dehydrated skin, providing deep nourishment and a radiant glow without feeling heavy. It is also frequently noted for its soothing and barrier-repairing properties. However, a moderate number of users with acne-prone or sensitive skin have reported breakouts and irritation, possibly due to fermented ingredients.
Highlights
Deep hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “drinks up like water”
- “gives a beautiful glow”
- “skin looks very plump”
- “intensely hydrated”
Milky texture Often Mentioned
- “creamy milky essence”
- “lightweight yet nourishing”
- “non-sticky finish”
- “silky soft feel”
Fragrance-free Sometimes Noted
- “no scent”
- “great for sensitive noses”
- “fragrance-free formula”
Soothes skin Sometimes Noted
- “liquid cushion hug”
- “calmed my angry skin”
- “restores skin barrier”
- “soothing for sensitive skin”
Causes breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “deep painful zits”
- “gave me closed comedones”
- “caused whiteheads”
- “wave of bumps”
Causes irritation Rarely Noted
- “face felt raw”
- “caused redness and irritation”
- “skin felt warm”
- “allergic reaction”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “heavy plastic bottle”
- “hard to dispense”
- “not travel friendly”
Too rich Rarely Noted
- “too nourishing for oily skin”
- “slightly viscous”
- “better for dry skin”
Sources: lovi.care, pick.co, skinsort.com, iherb.com, yesstyle.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does haruharu wonder Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence work for acne-prone skin?
This essence works moderately well for acne-prone skin, as glycerin and Lactobacillus ferment help support hydration and barrier repair, though it lacks targeted ingredients for breakouts. A product of this type needs effective ingredients that provide excellent benefits for acne and blemishes, pose no risk of irritation, and perform their intended function exceptionally well.
Which ingredients make this essence a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Lactobacillus ferment, glycerin, allantoin, and panthenol help calm, hydrate, and support the skin barrier. A product of this type needs targeted ingredients that directly address acne and blemishes, effective peptides, and soothing extracts for an optimal fit on acne-prone skin.
What does Rice Extract do for acne-prone skin?
Rice extract helps calm acne-prone skin and supports an even tone while keeping moisture balanced. Rice-derived ingredients exhibit anti-inflammatory properties that may help soothe irritation.
What does Lactobacillus Ferment do for acne-prone skin?
Lactobacillus ferment helps calm acne-prone skin and supports a clear complexion. Ferment ingredients of this type may also improve the skin barrier and reduce breakouts when used regularly in your skincare routine.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Journal of Experimental Pharmacology, 2025
Where does it go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing toners and before moisturizers, or in the morning if you prefer using it twice a day. It is safe for acne-prone skin and helps support hydration and barrier repair, though this skin type also needs targeted blemish-fighting ingredients to see the best results.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Can I use this essence with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this essence with retinol by applying it right before your retinol treatment to help keep your skin calm and hydrated. A product of this type works well for acne-prone skin when it also includes targeted blemish-fighting ingredients to directly clear breakouts.
How often should I use it?
You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. Daily application helps keep your skin hydrated and supports its natural barrier.
Can this essence clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This essence may cause breakouts for acne-prone skin, as some reviewers note, though it is unlikely to cause severe irritation due to a safe ingredient profile. This product type needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or retinoids to properly address blemishes and breakouts on acne-prone skin.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
You can safely use this moisturizing treatment on the body and around the eyes since the formula lacks harsh ingredients and is well-tolerated. However, skin on the body and around the eyes can range significantly in thickness from very thin areas to much thicker regions, so products for these areas often benefit from richer hydrators and targeted soothing extracts to properly support delicate or varied skin.
Is this essence 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, 2017Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A 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, 2023Daily 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, 2016Probiotic-derived lotion successfully reduced inflammatory acne lesion counts and erythema index comparably to 2.5% benzoyl peroxide in patients with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris, while causing fewer side effects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical 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, 2021Lactobacillus plantarum extracellular vesicles modulated extracellular matrix related gene expression in vitro and suppressed wrinkle formation and pigmentation in clinical trials.
Current Issues in Molecular Biology, 2022The 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, 2012
Why other moisturizers fit acne-prone skin better
Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023A facial serum containing snail secretion filtrate, Calendula officinalis, and Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract significantly reduced inflammatory acne lesions compared to placebo in 66 participants with mild-to-moderate maskne over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Rice Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Water, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Panthenol, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Xanthan Gum, 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
How does it fit your skin?
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