All Hail HaruHaru - Your Next Skincare Obsession

The world of K-Beauty is vast, filled with an array of products made with every ingredient imaginable. 

Over time, they seemingly all blur together, with one becoming indistinguishable from the next. But, once in a while, a brand comes along with a product offering that reminds us there is beauty in simplicity, especially when it’s married with thoughtful scientific methods. 

HaruHaru’s Wonder Black Rice line is a fresh take on hydrating skincare, filled with products that are designed with 95% of naturally-derived ingredients like black rice extract, tortoise-shell bamboo, ginseng, and skullcap.

The line also features an innovative liposome created by the scientists at HaruHaru - U.D.T. (Ultra Deep Technology).  The Wonder Black Rice line’s U.D.T. promises deep and effective delivery of antioxidant-rich black rice extract by infusing it with ginseng. The result is skin that is visibly better-hydrated and more supple.

First up, the Black Rice Soft Peeling Gel is a gommage-type product designed to gently exfoliate skin without drying it out. Recommended use is about 2x/week for skin that looks brighter and more even. To use, spread a generous layer over clean skin, leave on for 5 minutes, then massage and rinse.

This product is unique in that it functions as both a mask and physical exfoliant. It reminds me of the AmorePacific Treatment Enzyme Peel Cleansing Powder; the only difference is that it is not recommended for the same frequency of use and doesn’t function as a cleanser.

The Black Rice Soft Peeling Gel does provide a buffing effect and is an effective way to introduce a dose of gentle exfoliation to your skincare regime. So far, it seems to be a nice addition to my beauty arsenal and I’ll be playing around with it some more.

Toners are the cornerstone of a good skincare regimen. They work by re-balancing the skin’s pH and prepping it to receive the products that are layered on top. For dry skin like mine, finding a good toner is often challenging, and it’s a struggle to find one that delivers on the promise of hydration.

Honestly, I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of truly great toners that have worked for me. That said, I’m happy to report that the Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner will be joining products like the Klairs Supple Preparation Toner and Roundlab 1025 Dokdo Toner in the hall of fame. It’s watery, but don’t let that fool you.

As you pat this toner into the skin, it absorbs and dries to a slightly tacky finish that is soothing. I also love the floral yet earthy scent of the black rice and lavender extracts. I don’t usually expect much from watery toners, but this stuff is, as Tony the Tiger would say, “Grrreat!” It’s refreshing and the perfect addition for summer skin care regimes too.

The HaruHaru Wonder Black Rice line is the gift that keeps on giving. Not only did it surprise me with another knockout toner that now holds a coveted place on my holy grail list, their hyaluronic acid serum is also quite a performer. The texture is a watery gel I would compare to a slightly thicker Klairs Supple Preparation Toner or a watered-down COSRX Advanced 96 Snail Mucin Power Essence, with the same subtle lavender scent.

This serum, paired with the Wonder Black Rice toner, has put a slight bounce back into my complexion. I’m also seeing more of a glow and my skin looks and feels smoother to the touch. This serum and I are going to be very happy together. 

Finally, there’s Wonder Black Rice Facial Oil - oh how I do love thee, let me count the ways. First, it’s thin, but does some heavy lifting. Second, even if you use a generous amount (such as 10 drops because you got carried away squeezing the dropper), it doesn’t feel greasy. Third, that glorious scent. Finally, this divine creation offers a fluidity that makes it possible to use it on its own, rather than mixing the oil into a moisturizer as I usually do (because oils don’t often absorb well into my skin). 

Added bonus: apply a bit of the oil prior to a sheet mask for a noticeable boost. I discontinued using the rosehip oil that saw me through the winter months since it began to clog my pores as the weather got warmer, but this Wonder Black Rice Facial Oil has been a winning replacement. I will never look at another oil the same way again. I’m a one-oil woman now.

Every product I experienced in this line, perhaps with the exception of the Soft Peeling Gel for now, was a genuine hit, and I would happily repurchase each one. I appreciate the dedication to an ingredient list that is mostly made up of naturally-sourced and skin-beneficial plant extracts.

Also, the scent is subtle yet enticing enough to avoid turning off anyone who dislikes overly perfumed products. The marriage of hydrating hyaluronic acid, anti-aging ginseng and deep absorption technology is effective and highly motivates me to explore additional product offerings from this technologically-advanced brand.