Anua Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder for dry skin
Rice Extract
Ceramide Np
Ascorbic Acid
Alpha-Arbutin
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Average
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry skin; other products fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 your dry skin, as glycerin and diglycerin provide humectant action to attract moisture, while papain and protease gently exfoliate to improve texture and address flakiness.
- The formula includes rice extract and rice bran water to offer general cleansing and mild exfoliation benefits, but it lacks sufficient emollient and occlusive ingredients like ceramides to fully address dryness.
- The product is safe for your dry skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your enzyme powder cleanser as part of your PM routine once a week to start. Carefully increase frequency only if your dry skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this powder cleanser after your regular pre-cleanser and cleanser steps, but before your toner and moisturizer. Follow the weekly routine order for best results.
- Mix a small amount of the enzyme powder cleanser with water in your hands to create a gentle foam. Gently massage the foam onto your face without harsh rubbing.
- Apply the cleanser to slightly damp skin to help activate the enzyme formula smoothly. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water afterward.
- Avoid the eye area during application and do a patch test before your first use. Always use SPF the next day since exfoliants can make your skin more sensitive to the sun.
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 dry skin?
Anua Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder works moderately well for dry skin, as its glycerin and diglycerin draw in moisture while enzymes gently smooth away flakes. Although it is safe and has helpful rice and ceramide ingredients, it lacks enough rich, softening oils and barrier-locking ingredients to fully comfort very dry skin. A cleanser for this skin type needs richer moisturizing and sealing ingredients to keep dry skin soft and prevent moisture loss.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry skin?
Glycerin and diglycerin help attract moisture to keep your skin hydrated, while gentle enzymes smooth away flakiness. To truly fit dry skin, a cleanser of this type also needs rich skin-softening ingredients and moisture-locking barriers to fully protect against dryness.
What does Rice Extract do for dry skin?
Rice extract helps keep dry skin hydrated and smooth while making it feel softer. It brings moisture back to the surface and supports overall skin barrier comfort.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022
What do Ceramides do for dry skin?
Ceramides help strengthen your skin barrier and lock in moisture to keep dry skin feeling soft and smooth. By restoring essential lipids, they may also reduce water loss and soothe irritation.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2022Dermatologic Therapy, 2019
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This cleanser goes in the morning and evening routine, starting at once a week to check tolerance before using it more often. A product for dry skin also needs rich softening and sealing ingredients like ceramides to fully lock in moisture.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in the same routine as retinol, applying the cleanser first to clean your skin before your retinol treatment. It is unlikely to cause irritation because it contains gentle ingredients, but dry skin needs richer creams with ingredients like ceramides and heavier oils to lock in moisture.
How often should I use this cleanser?
Use this exfoliating cleanser once a week to start, and if your skin feels comfortable and looks good, you may carefully use it more often. This type of product needs extra rich smoothing and sealing ingredients to keep dry skin soft and comfortable.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry skin, as it has a safe formula with no harsh ingredients. It gently exfoliates flakes while drawing in moisture, though dry skin generally needs richer creams with heavy smoothing ingredients to truly feel comfortable.
Is this cleanser 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, 2017Diglycerol combined with glycerol maintains a higher capacitance level and provides a long-term moisturizing effect on human skin compared to glycerol alone after 8 hours.
Journal of Oleo Science, 2016Daily 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, 2016Aspergillus oryzae-fermented broken rice and brewers' rice water extracts inhibit photoaging in UV-irradiated human fibroblasts and co-cultured keratinocytes by downregulating MMP-1, inhibiting elastase, enhancing collagen formation, upregulating elastin gene expression, and lowering pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Cellular and Molecular Biology, 2023Topical 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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