Fermented ingredients in skincare have been gaining traction in K-beauty, and it’s pretty easy to see why. The fermentation process takes already-powerful ingredients and supercharges them, making them more potent, more absorbable, and more effective for the skin, too. And when it comes to fermented skincare, few ingredients are as impressive as black rice.
Lucky for you, Haruharu Wonder has built an entire product line around fermented black rice. Below, we're breaking down exactly what makes fermented black rice so uniquely powerful for skin, and taking a closer look at three products from the Black Rice line: the Probiotics Barrier Essence, the 5 Ceramide Barrier Moisturizing Cream, and the NAD+ Serum Mist.
Why Is Black Rice Used in Skincare?
Black rice is a type of rice that gets its deep purple-black color from a pigment called anthocyanin. An antioxidant compound, you can also find anthocyanin in blueberries and blackberries, too.
Primarily grown in Asia, black rice has been cultivated for thousands of years and is very nutrient-dense compared to white or brown rice. Plus, it's rich in anthocyanin antioxidants, vitamin E, iron, fiber, and amino acids. These nutrients are what make it useful in skincare because the antioxidants help neutralize free radical damage, while vitamin E supports moisture retention and skin repair.
Haruharu Wonder takes black rice a step further by incorporating upcycled black rice jigemi extract into their formulas. Jigemi refers to the lees, which are the nutrient-rich byproduct left behind after black rice is fermented. Rather than discarding this byproduct, Haruharu Wonder repurposes it for use in their skincare formulas, which is what "upcycled" means in a skincare context.
Black rice’s antioxidant content helps shield skin from environmental stressors and free radical damage that can accelerate signs of aging. Its soothing properties help calm irritation and reduce redness. And finally, its ability to improve skin tone and texture over time makes it a well-rounded ingredient for anyone looking for brighter, healthier-looking skin.
What Does Fermentation Actually Do?
If black rice is already such a powerhouse ingredient, you might be wondering why folks ferment it and how that might benefit the skin. There are two reasons for this: absorption and potency. Fermentation is a natural process that breaks down ingredients into smaller molecules, making them easier for your skin to absorb. You can think of it as “pre-digesting” the ingredient so your skin doesn't have to work as hard to reap the benefits.
Additionally, fermentation can boost the potency of the original ingredient and introduce beneficial probiotics. This means that you’re getting a more concentrated, more effective version of black rice's already impressive nutrient profile delivered straight to your skin's microbiome.
Not only are probiotics great for your gut, but your skin also has its own microbiome, too. When that balance is disrupted, you're more likely to experience sensitivity, breakouts, and a weakened skin barrier. Haruharu Wonder addresses this across their Black Rice line with two key fermented ingredients: galactomyces ferment filtrate, which soothes irritation and improves skin elasticity, and bifida ferment filtrate, which gently encourages the shedding of dead skin cells while improving skin texture and tone.
How Fermented Black Rice Makes Each Product Unique
Product 1: Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence
The Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence is one of the brand’s hero products, and is the first step in delivering fermented black rice benefits directly to the skin. The formula contains three parts ceramides, one part cholesterol, and one part fatty acids to add moisture and nutrients to your skin. Plus, this pick is non-comedogenic, gluten-free, and safe for acne-prone skin, too.
Honestly, the results speak for themselves. In clinical studies done using the Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence, 33.695% saw improvement in moisturization after two weeks, while 21.001% saw improvement in skin barrier strength after two weeks. To add this essence to your routine, apply it to your skin after you’ve used the Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner for maximum hydration.
Product 2: Black Rice 5 Ceramide Barrier Moisturizing Cream
This formula is great for the “sealing” step—it locks in everything that the Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence delivers. The beautiful texture is buttery soft and rich without feeling heavy, and the formula contains visible ceramide capsules that melt into the skin.
Featuring ingredients like allantoin, vitamin E, upcycled black rice jigemi extract, and fermented black rice, the Black Rice 5 Ceramide Barrier Moisturizing Cream offers immediate and all-day hydration without any greasy finish. When clinically tested for two weeks, participants saw a 37.129% improvement in moisturization and a 23.597% improvement in skin barrier strength.
Product 3: Black Rice NAD+ Serum Mist
The hero ingredient in the Black Rice NAD+ Serum Mist is, you guessed it, NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide). NAD+ is a coenzyme that plays a key role in cell renewal and DNA repair. By applying it topically, you're helping to replenish those declining levels to maintain a youthful appearance over time. What sets this mist apart from a regular facial spray is its Ultra Deep Technology (UDT), which encapsulates key active ingredients in Red Ginseng Liposomes to deeply infuse nutrients into the skin rather than simply glazing the surface. The formula features a higher concentration of NAD+ than is commonly found in other NAD+ products, plus a 5-Ceramide Complex, galactomyces, bifida, pathenol, and ECOCERT squalene.
After two weeks, participants saw a 32.125% improvement in skin hydration, a 16.667% improvement in skin barrier strength, and a 12.205% improvement in skin elasticity. Absorption also improved significantly—just 30 minutes after application, absorption speed and depth each jumped by 122.51%.
How to Build Your Fermented Black Rice Routine
All of the Haruharu Wonder Black Rice products work together as a complete barrier-repair routine. To incorporate fermented black rice into your daily skincare routine, follow the steps below.
1. Step 1: Cleanse - Start with the Black Rice Moisture Cleansing Oil to remove makeup, SPF, and daily buildup without stripping your skin's natural moisture barrier.
2. Step 2: Tone - This step is optional but recommended. Apply the Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner to freshly cleansed skin to boost hydration and prep it to absorb everything that comes next.
3. Step 3: Apply your essence - Follow with the Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence, applying a few drops to damp skin using your hands. Let it absorb fully.
4. Step 4: Mist - Spritz the Black Rice NAD+ Serum Mist evenly over your face and neck. Unlike a regular setting spray, this mist actively infuses your skin with NAD+, ceramides, and probiotics.
5. Step 5: Moisturize - Seal everything in with the Black Rice 5 Ceramide Barrier Moisturizing Cream. Gently massage it into your skin and pat to absorb, allowing the ceramide capsules to fully melt in.
6. Step 6: SPF (mornings only) - Always finish your morning routine with sunscreen to protect everything you've just put into your skin.
The Bottom Line
Fermentation takes the powerhouse ingredient, black rice, and makes it even better. Rich in antioxidants, probiotics, and barrier-strengthening nutrients, fermented black rice delivers exactly what skin needs to stay hydrated and resilient over time. Haruharu Wonder has distilled that science into three complementary products that work wonderfully on their own, and even better together.
Whether you're starting with just the Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence or want to commit to the full routine, you really can’t go wrong. You can shop the full Black Rice line here.
What Makes Fermented Black Rice Skincare So Effective?
Fermented ingredients in skincare have been gaining traction in K-beauty, and it’s pretty easy to see why. The fermentation process takes already-powerful ingredients and supercharges them, making them more potent, more absorbable, and more effective for the skin, too. And when it comes to fermented skincare, few ingredients are as impressive as black rice.
Lucky for you, Haruharu Wonder has built an entire product line around fermented black rice. Below, we're breaking down exactly what makes fermented black rice so uniquely powerful for skin, and taking a closer look at three products from the Black Rice line: the Probiotics Barrier Essence, the 5 Ceramide Barrier Moisturizing Cream, and the NAD+ Serum Mist.
Why Is Black Rice Used in Skincare?
Black rice is a type of rice that gets its deep purple-black color from a pigment called anthocyanin. An antioxidant compound, you can also find anthocyanin in blueberries and blackberries, too.
Primarily grown in Asia, black rice has been cultivated for thousands of years and is very nutrient-dense compared to white or brown rice. Plus, it's rich in anthocyanin antioxidants, vitamin E, iron, fiber, and amino acids. These nutrients are what make it useful in skincare because the antioxidants help neutralize free radical damage, while vitamin E supports moisture retention and skin repair.
Haruharu Wonder takes black rice a step further by incorporating upcycled black rice jigemi extract into their formulas. Jigemi refers to the lees, which are the nutrient-rich byproduct left behind after black rice is fermented. Rather than discarding this byproduct, Haruharu Wonder repurposes it for use in their skincare formulas, which is what "upcycled" means in a skincare context.
Black rice’s antioxidant content helps shield skin from environmental stressors and free radical damage that can accelerate signs of aging. Its soothing properties help calm irritation and reduce redness. And finally, its ability to improve skin tone and texture over time makes it a well-rounded ingredient for anyone looking for brighter, healthier-looking skin.
What Does Fermentation Actually Do?
If black rice is already such a powerhouse ingredient, you might be wondering why folks ferment it and how that might benefit the skin. There are two reasons for this: absorption and potency. Fermentation is a natural process that breaks down ingredients into smaller molecules, making them easier for your skin to absorb. You can think of it as “pre-digesting” the ingredient so your skin doesn't have to work as hard to reap the benefits.
Additionally, fermentation can boost the potency of the original ingredient and introduce beneficial probiotics. This means that you’re getting a more concentrated, more effective version of black rice's already impressive nutrient profile delivered straight to your skin's microbiome.
Not only are probiotics great for your gut, but your skin also has its own microbiome, too. When that balance is disrupted, you're more likely to experience sensitivity, breakouts, and a weakened skin barrier. Haruharu Wonder addresses this across their Black Rice line with two key fermented ingredients: galactomyces ferment filtrate, which soothes irritation and improves skin elasticity, and bifida ferment filtrate, which gently encourages the shedding of dead skin cells while improving skin texture and tone.
How Fermented Black Rice Makes Each Product Unique
Product 1: Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence
The Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence is one of the brand’s hero products, and is the first step in delivering fermented black rice benefits directly to the skin. The formula contains three parts ceramides, one part cholesterol, and one part fatty acids to add moisture and nutrients to your skin. Plus, this pick is non-comedogenic, gluten-free, and safe for acne-prone skin, too.
Honestly, the results speak for themselves. In clinical studies done using the Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence, 33.695% saw improvement in moisturization after two weeks, while 21.001% saw improvement in skin barrier strength after two weeks. To add this essence to your routine, apply it to your skin after you’ve used the Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner for maximum hydration.
Product 2: Black Rice 5 Ceramide Barrier Moisturizing Cream
This formula is great for the “sealing” step—it locks in everything that the Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence delivers. The beautiful texture is buttery soft and rich without feeling heavy, and the formula contains visible ceramide capsules that melt into the skin.
Featuring ingredients like allantoin, vitamin E, upcycled black rice jigemi extract, and fermented black rice, the Black Rice 5 Ceramide Barrier Moisturizing Cream offers immediate and all-day hydration without any greasy finish. When clinically tested for two weeks, participants saw a 37.129% improvement in moisturization and a 23.597% improvement in skin barrier strength.
Product 3: Black Rice NAD+ Serum Mist
The hero ingredient in the Black Rice NAD+ Serum Mist is, you guessed it, NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide). NAD+ is a coenzyme that plays a key role in cell renewal and DNA repair. By applying it topically, you're helping to replenish those declining levels to maintain a youthful appearance over time. What sets this mist apart from a regular facial spray is its Ultra Deep Technology (UDT), which encapsulates key active ingredients in Red Ginseng Liposomes to deeply infuse nutrients into the skin rather than simply glazing the surface. The formula features a higher concentration of NAD+ than is commonly found in other NAD+ products, plus a 5-Ceramide Complex, galactomyces, bifida, pathenol, and ECOCERT squalene.
After two weeks, participants saw a 32.125% improvement in skin hydration, a 16.667% improvement in skin barrier strength, and a 12.205% improvement in skin elasticity. Absorption also improved significantly—just 30 minutes after application, absorption speed and depth each jumped by 122.51%.
How to Build Your Fermented Black Rice Routine
All of the Haruharu Wonder Black Rice products work together as a complete barrier-repair routine. To incorporate fermented black rice into your daily skincare routine, follow the steps below.
1. Step 1: Cleanse - Start with the Black Rice Moisture Cleansing Oil to remove makeup, SPF, and daily buildup without stripping your skin's natural moisture barrier.
2. Step 2: Tone - This step is optional but recommended. Apply the Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner to freshly cleansed skin to boost hydration and prep it to absorb everything that comes next.
3. Step 3: Apply your essence - Follow with the Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence, applying a few drops to damp skin using your hands. Let it absorb fully.
4. Step 4: Mist - Spritz the Black Rice NAD+ Serum Mist evenly over your face and neck. Unlike a regular setting spray, this mist actively infuses your skin with NAD+, ceramides, and probiotics.
5. Step 5: Moisturize - Seal everything in with the Black Rice 5 Ceramide Barrier Moisturizing Cream. Gently massage it into your skin and pat to absorb, allowing the ceramide capsules to fully melt in.
6. Step 6: SPF (mornings only) - Always finish your morning routine with sunscreen to protect everything you've just put into your skin.
The Bottom Line
Fermentation takes the powerhouse ingredient, black rice, and makes it even better. Rich in antioxidants, probiotics, and barrier-strengthening nutrients, fermented black rice delivers exactly what skin needs to stay hydrated and resilient over time. Haruharu Wonder has distilled that science into three complementary products that work wonderfully on their own, and even better together.
Whether you're starting with just the Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence or want to commit to the full routine, you really can’t go wrong. You can shop the full Black Rice line here.