ANUA Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder 40g

Anua Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder is a multi-purpose powder-to-foam cleanser and wash-off brightening mask — a versatile dual-format skincare product that activates from a dry powder into a rich, elastic, cream-like paste when mixed with water, delivering a uniquely luxurious cleansing experience that combines enzymatic exfoliation, AHA brightening, clay pore-cleansing, barrier-repair ceramide hydration, and Anua’s full Rice Water+ brightening complex in a single-step format. The formula’s powder-to-paste activation mechanism is itself functionally significant: dry powder storage prevents the premature degradation of enzyme actives (Papain and Protease) and vitamin actives (Ascorbic Acid) that would occur in a water-based liquid cleanser — meaning every batch retains full enzymatic and brightening potency through its entire lifespan. The resulting paste texture when water is added is smooth, elastic, and gel-serum-like rather than gritty or abrasive — providing a gentle, non-stripping cleanse that leaves skin impurity-free, soft, and visibly more radiant with each use. Clinically proven to clear skin of impurities by 98.1% after a single use. Can be used as a daily cleanser (½ tablespoon powder + water to foam) or as a wash-off brightening mask (1 tablespoon powder + small amount of water or Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner to elastic paste, left on for 3–10 minutes). Free from alcohol, parabens, artificial color, silicones, sulfates, mineral oil, and nuts. Fragrance-free. Vegan. Suitable for all skin types. Made in South Korea.

The Anua Rice Water+ Complex is the formula’s primary brightening and skin-conditioning active system, comprising five distinct rice-derived fractions that collectively deliver a broader range of rice bioactives than a single rice extract alone: Oryza Sativa (Rice) Powder provides finely milled rice hull particles that act as a mild physical micro-exfoliant — gently buffing the skin surface and loosening dead corneocytes during the massage step, while simultaneously delivering concentrated gamma-oryzanol, ferulic acid, and tocotrienol antioxidants from the rice hull directly to the skin surface. Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Water is the aqueous extract of rice bran — the nutrient-dense outer layer between the rice hull and white rice grain — exceptionally rich in inositol, phytic acid, gamma-oryzanol, and a broad spectrum of B-vitamins; it provides deep humectant hydration, antioxidant protection, skin tone brightening, and sebum-normalising properties that make it a highly effective brightening hydration base. Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract is the concentrated extract of the white rice endosperm, providing ferulic acid, kojic acid precursors, and amino acids with brightening, antioxidant, and skin-smoothing activity. Oryza Sativa (Rice) Seed Protein is a plant-derived protein fraction from rice seeds with film-forming, skin-conditioning, and structural barrier-supportive properties that contribute a smooth, soft post-cleanse skin feel and help maintain skin protein integrity during the cleansing step. Hydrolyzed Rice Protein is an enzymatically hydrolysed rice protein of reduced molecular weight that penetrates the skin surface more readily, delivering amino acid moisturising factor-class humectant hydration and conditioning deep into the upper epidermis. Alpha-Arbutin is the formula’s primary targeted melanin-inhibiting brightening active — a stabilised glucoside form of Hydroquinone in which the hydroquinone molecule is chemically bound to an alpha-glucose unit, dramatically increasing stability and reducing sensitisation risk compared to free Hydroquinone while retaining direct competitive tyrosinase enzyme inhibition. Alpha-Arbutin is generally regarded as the most efficacious and safest form of Arbutin available, and its combination with the Rice Water+ complex’s ferulic acid, gamma-oryzanol, and natural kojic acid precursors creates a multi-mechanism brightening system targeting melanin synthesis via several simultaneous pathways. Papain is a cysteine protease enzyme extracted from papaya (Carica papaya) that provides the formula’s primary enzymatic exfoliation mechanism — Papain specifically cleaves the protein bonds between dead corneocytes on the skin surface, dissolving the intercellular desmosome connections that hold dead skin cells together in the stratum corneum. Unlike physical abrasive exfoliants, Papain’s protein-bond-cleaving mechanism is selective for denatured and dead keratin proteins rather than for living skin cells — making it exceptionally gentle for sensitive skin that cannot tolerate physical scrubs or high-concentration acid exfoliants. Papain is also particularly valued for blemish-prone skin as it dissolves the keratin-based hyperkeratinisation that clogs follicular openings and contributes to comedone formation. Protease (serine protease) provides complementary enzymatic exfoliation activity via a second enzyme mechanism — broadening the dead cell protein substrate range addressed by the formula’s enzymatic exfoliation system for more complete surface cell turnover. Lactic Acid is an AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid) that provides mild chemical surface exfoliation by dissolving the ionic bonds between dead corneocytes, accelerating their separation from the skin surface — complementing the enzymatic mechanisms of Papain and Protease with a classic acid-driven desquamation mechanism. At the concentration found in a rinse-off cleanser format, Lactic Acid contributes mild brightening and surface smoothing without the irritation or photosensitivity risk of leave-on AHA treatments. Tartaric Acid and Citric Acid contribute additional mild AHA activity and pH buffering. Ascorbic Acid (pure Vitamin C) contributes antioxidant protection and direct tyrosinase-inhibiting brightening activity within the powder base — its dry powder format prevents oxidative degradation and ensures full potency is maintained until the moment of water activation and use. Kaolin is a refined clay mineral that absorbs excess sebum, draws surface impurities and environmental pollution particulates from the pore openings, and mattifies the skin without causing dryness or disrupting the skin’s moisture balance — providing the formula’s primary pore-cleansing mechanism alongside the enzyme exfoliation. Zea Mays (Corn) Starch contributes oil-absorbing activity alongside Kaolin, providing additional excess sebum management and surface refinement. Sodium Bicarbonate regulates the formula’s pH upon water activation to ensure optimal enzyme activity conditions and comfortable cleansing pH for the skin. Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate and Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate are mild, sulfate-free surfactants — Isethionate and amino acid-derived respectively — that create the formula’s foam and emulsification activity for efficient impurity removal without stripping the skin’s natural lipid barrier. Ceramide NP provides skin-identical barrier lipid replenishment that prevents the typical post-cleansing tightness and TEWL increase that conventional cleansers produce — maintaining or improving barrier function during and after the cleansing step. Allantoin provides anti-irritant and skin-soothing protection that calms any sensitivity from the multi-acid and enzyme exfoliation activity. Diglycerin and Glucose contribute humectant hydration that maintains skin comfort during the cleansing process. Maltodextrin provides a film-forming and texture-improving polysaccharide matrix that contributes to the formula’s characteristic smooth, elastic paste texture when activated with water.

• Anua Rice Water+ Complex (Rice Powder + Rice Bran Water + Rice Extract + Rice Seed Protein + Hydrolyzed Rice Protein) — five complementary rice fractions delivering gamma-oryzanol, ferulic acid, inositol, amino acids, and B-vitamins for comprehensive brightening, antioxidant, and humectant hydration
• Alpha-Arbutin — gold-standard stable tyrosinase-inhibiting brightening active for dark spot fading and melanin suppression
• Papain (enzyme) + Protease (enzyme) — dual enzyme exfoliation system that selectively dissolves dead keratin protein bonds without irritating living skin cells; ideal for sensitive skin
• Lactic Acid + Tartaric Acid — AHA chemical surface exfoliation complementing the enzyme system for more complete dead cell turnover and brightening
• Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) — dry-powder-stabilised tyrosinase-inhibiting brightening and antioxidant active at full potency
• Kaolin + Zea Mays (Corn) Starch — clay mineral and starch oil-absorbing impurity-drawing pore cleansing system
• Ceramide NP — skin-identical barrier lipid replenishment preventing post-cleansing TEWL increase
• Allantoin + Diglycerin — anti-irritant soothing and humectant hydration for comfortable non-stripping finish
• 2-in-1 dual-use format — daily cleanser (½ tbsp powder + water to foam) or wash-off brightening mask (1 tbsp powder + water/Rice Toner to elastic paste, 3–10 minutes) | Clinically 98.1% impurity removal after 1 use
• Fragrance-free | Free from alcohol, parabens, sulfates, silicones, mineral oil, artificial color, nuts | Vegan | All skin types | 40g | Made in South Korea

How To Use — As a Daily Cleanser: With wet hands and face, dispense approximately ½ tablespoon of powder into damp palms and mix with water until the powder dissolves and creates a rich foam. Gently massage onto the face in circular motions, avoiding the eye and lip areas. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. Can be used as the second step of a double cleansing routine after an oil cleanser.

How To Use — As a Wash-Off Brightening Mask: After cleansing, dispense approximately 1 tablespoon of powder into dry hands. Add 1–1½ tablespoons of water (or substitute Anua Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner for additional brightening and hydration) and mix until the texture becomes smooth and elastic. Apply the paste evenly to the face, avoiding the eye area. Leave on for 3–10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. Use 1–2 times per week as a treatment mask. Always apply SPF 30 or higher sunscreen in the morning after use. For external use only. Avoid direct contact with eyes. Keep out of reach of children.