The Benefits of Adding Black Rice To Your Skincare Routine

Black rice isn’t just a tasty superfood – it’s a game-changer for your skin. Packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, its rejuvenating, glow-boosting benefits have made it increasingly popular in the world of K-Beauty, starring in bestselling brands like haruharu wonder. But what exactly does black rice do for your skin? With its nutrient-rich profile, it can improve skin elasticity, brighten your complexion, protect against environmental stressors, along with many more perks.

From the black rice benefits for your skin to the black rice products you need on your radar, we’ve got the lowdown on this starchy skincare staple.

Short answer: absolutely. Black rice is packed with benefits that can leave your skin looking radiant and refreshed. Here’s five of our favourites: 

1. Boosts hydration: Black rice is loaded with amino acids and antioxidants, helping to lock in moisture and keep your skin feeling soft and plump.

2. Brightens complexion: Thanks to its high levels of anthocyanins (the stuff that gives it that dark purple hue), it helps fade dark spots and brighten your skin for a glowing, even tone.

3. Improves elasticity: The rich vitamins and minerals in black rice work to improve skin elasticity, making your skin look firmer and smoother over time.

4. Protects against free radicals: Antioxidants in black rice fight free radicals that cause premature ageing and damage, keeping your skin looking youthful and fresh.

5. Soothes and calms: Its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce redness and irritation, making it a great choice for sensitive skin.

Our 3 Favourite Black Rice Products

While rice water and black rice come from the same source, they work differently in skincare. Rice water is the starchy liquid left after soaking rice, loved for its gentle hydration and soothing effects. Black rice, on the other hand, is packed with antioxidants, offering deeper nourishment, brightening, and anti-ageing benefits. While rice water refreshes and softens, black rice takes things up a notch with powerful skin-protecting properties.

Once known as “forbidden rice” because it was reserved for Chinese royalty, black rice is now making its way into skincare routines everywhere, no royal status required. Thanks to its antioxidant-rich, skin-loving benefits, it’s a star ingredient in K-Beauty, especially in haruharu wonder’s bestselling range. From cleansers and toners to moisturisers and serums, you can build an entire routine powered by black rice. Whether you’re looking to hydrate, brighten, or fight signs of ageing, this once-exclusive grain is now a must-have in modern skincare.

Cleansers are the foundation of any good skincare routine, washing away dirt, oil, and impurities to keep your skin fresh and balanced. But when infused with black rice, they do even more, gently purifying the skin without stripping moisture, cleansing, nourishing, and protecting the skin.

Toners and essences are the secret to plump, hydrated skin, prepping your face to absorb all the goodness from the rest of your routine. If enriched with black rice, they deeply nourish and renew in one lightweight layer. They’re especially effective when it comes to brightening, soothing, and strengthening the skin, leaving your complexion dewy and balanced.

Oils and ampoules provide intense nourishment and targeted benefits. When infused with antioxidant-rich black rice, they take hydration to the next level. These powerful formulas protect against signs of ageing, strengthen the skin barrier, and lock in moisture for a healthy, radiant glow. 

Creams and SPFs are essential for locking in moisture and protecting your skin from harmful UV rays. Black rice-infused creams go beyond hydration, offering antioxidant-rich protection against environmental stress while promoting a brighter, smoother complexion. When added to SPF formulas, black rice provides an extra layer of defence against free radicals, helping to prevent premature ageing.