Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence for oily acne-prone skin
Rice Extract
Lactobacillus Ferment
GlycerinAverage
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other moisturizers 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 excellent moisturizing and barrier-enhancing effects due to the presence of glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which hydrate and improve skin elasticity, providing general skincare benefits supportive for oily skin. However, it lacks targeted ingredients to address your specific concerns of acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- While glycerin and butylene glycol offer supportive hydration for oily skin, the formula does not contain sufficient ingredients for strong oil control.
- 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 AM and PM routine every day to help clear your skin. Always remember to finish with SPF in the morning.
- Apply the moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your SPF during the day.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and avoid rubbing to keep pores clear.
- Apply on clean, slightly damp skin to help the product absorb better and control oil.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a simple patch test before your first use.
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 the Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence work for oily acne-prone skin?
This essence works well for adding hydration without irritation, but it is an average fit for your skin because it lacks targeted ingredients for breakouts and strong oil control. A product of this type needs powerful hydrating and repairing ingredients that clear blemishes and control oil without adding excess shine.
Which ingredients make this essence a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and rice extract help hydrate and strengthen your skin barrier without clogging pores. Because this option lacks targeted blemish fighters and strong oil control, an oily acne-prone skin routine needs ingredients that specifically clear breakouts and manage excess oil.
What does Rice Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Rice extract helps calm oily acne-prone skin by reducing acne-causing bacteria and lowering inflammation. It may also help keep your skin clear and smooth without causing irritation.
What does Lactobacillus Ferment do for oily acne-prone skin?
Lactobacillus ferment helps calm and balance oily, acne-prone skin while strengthening its natural barrier. It is unlikely to clog pores and may improve firmness and overall skin health with regular use.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023
Where does this essence go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This essence works as a treatment step in the evening routine for oily acne-prone skin. It is safe for your skin and helps provide hydration, though a product of this type for this skin also needs ingredients to control oil and clear breakouts.
Can I use this essence with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this essence with retinol by applying the essence before your retinol product to help keep your skin hydrated. This product is safe and unlikely to cause irritation on oily skin, but to properly manage breakouts, oily acne-prone skin needs targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and strong oil control.
How often should I use this essence?
You can use this essence in your evening routine, as Lovi routines place treatments in the evening for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. Some treatments may also be used in the morning or twice a day if your skin tolerates them well.
Can this essence clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This essence may cause breakouts, as some reviewers note this issue, and the formula lacks targeted ingredients for acne and strong oil control. A product for oily acne-prone skin needs ingredients that help clear blemishes and control oil.
Can I use this essence around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment safely on your body and around the eyes, as its formula is very safe and gentle for the skin. The eyelid is among the thinnest areas of the body, yet this product is unlikely to cause irritation.
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, 2017A 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 oily 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 peel-off facial mask containing myoinositol and trehalose-loaded liposomes improved adult female acne by decreasing lesion counts, sebum production, GAGS scores, and local androgen levels while increasing beclin-1 levels.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017A 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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