Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Night Knight Retinol Serum Review – Deep Acne Care

Haruharu Wonder is a beloved sensitive skincare brand, that has delivered refreshing and gentle formulas for over 7 years. Their products have always been based in the power of rice and the incredible benefits it has for sensitive and oily skin. Rice extracts help infuse a deep skin glow, reduce presence of dark spots and are a valuable ingredient in barrier repair. They also form a perfect blend with probiotics to help boost skin biome function and prevent irritation, redness and skin imbalance.

Their powerful Black Rice Night Knight Retinol serum is a famous addition to their skincare line that has been beloved for years. It's perhaps the most gentle retinol formula available, designed for sensitive skin that needs treatment (without irritating and aggravating). It only contains 0.08% retinol which, compared to the stronger formulas of 1% and 3% on the market, feels incredibly slight. 

This serum however, is a known treatment for fine lines and acne scars that is restorative and balancing for oily and combination skin types. So, what makes this serum so popular? It's gentle formua? It's treatment of acne spots and fine lines together? Let's put it to the test and find out if its really worth it for your skin!

Sunflower Seed Oils: rich, hydrating extract that is lightweight and gives skin cells the ingredients for barrier repair and softening of inflamed or irritated skin. 

Bakuchiol: plant-derived retinol that helps reduce fine lines and plump skin for refreshed glow and more youthful appearance. 

Black Rice Extracts: helps reduce appearance of fine lines, reduce cell stress and protects skin against UV radiation and environmental damage, whilst also reducing appearance of dark spots. 

Moso Bamboo extract: deeply hydrating and restorative extract that is rich in antioxidants for skin barrier repair and is astringent to reduce pore size and refresh acne spots.  

Retinol (0.08%): low dose retinol that helps smooth fine lines and firm skin texture, whilst helping exfoliate away rough skin and reduce appearance of scars and acne spots. 

Aspergillus ferment: intensely moisturizing extract that is rich in probiotics and brightening extracts that help refresh and restore skin’s appearance. 

Adenosine: this restorative molecule helps boost collagen and elastin production to help boost skin plumpness and smooth skin, whilst supporting the skin cell matrix. 

Ceramides: plumping molecules that help fill the cracks forming in your skin barrier to help seal in moisture, relieve dryness and irritation of skin. 

Ginseng root extract: reviving and soothing ancient Korean extract that helps restore hydration, improve skin healing and refreshes your skin texture. 

This refreshing, milky serum is lightweight and well suited to a variety of skin types. If you don't have sensitive skin and are after radical skincare treatments, you might be disappointed by the low level of retinol in this serum.

However, if you have sensitive, dry, oily or combination skin and struggle with acne (requiring a balance of acne care and fine line care), this serum is an amazing addition to your routine to refresh and rebalance the skin.

I have sensitive skin and rather reactive skin, so finding a gentle treatment that improves my skin can feel like an endless battle. This refreshing serum is one of the top retinol serums (by ratings) in Korean beauty, specifically for sensitive and acne-prone skin. It seemed perfect!

I added it to my PM routine (as recommended), applying it just before moisturizer to help seal in moisture overnight and refresh my skin. It has a soothing, milky texture that blends instantly into your skin, without requiring much massaging. It was so gentle, with no irritation and was genuinely the smoothest retinol serum I've tried so far.

Given the gentle formula, I actually was prepared to be underwhelmed by the results. But I could not have been more wrong! In just 2 weeks, this serum helped rebalance my oily skin and helped reduce pore size and blur skin. It improved the appearance of acne spots, clearing and cooling skin and instantly made a massive difference to my routine!

Even just using 2-3 pumps for my whole face was a big change and shows far more promise than just the ingredients alone. It is artfully balanced, has been carefully designed for sensitive skin and is genuinely an amazing serum for fine lines & skin scars.

This revitalizing serum is an amazing addition to any routine (and a genuine saviour for sensitive skin types). It's milky, hydrating yet gentle and balancing and non-aggravating to acne-prone skin. I would 100% recommend adding it to your routine if you're struggling with acne spots and scarring, and you'll see genuine benefits to fine lines if you're looking to improve skin texture.

If you have sensitive skin, you have to check out Haruharu Wonder! 🍙 With the gentlest formulas, refreshing rice extracts and restorative products that really make a difference to your routine, join the Haruharu Revolution! Check out the range available on Arktastic, for all your sensitive skincare needs.

Want to upgrade your skincare knowledge? Check out the power of Medicube's new AGE-R Booster Pro Cleansing Head to upgrade your AM routine. Or check out our guide to the 4-2-4 Method, for deep skin cleansing.

What is the Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Night Knight Retinol Serum?
The Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Night Knight Retinol Serum is a gentle anti-aging serum formulated with 0.08% retinol, refreshing black rice extracts to help nourish skin, improve fine lines & reduce breakouts.

Is the Haruharu Wonder Retinol Serum suitable for sensitive skin?

Yes, compared to a variety of retinol products on the market, this is one of the most gentle and refreshing. It's designed for deep hydration and skin firming using natural, soothing skincare ingredients (such as bakuchiol and black rice).

Does the Haruharu Wonder Retinol Serum help with acne?
Yes, this serum helps reduce pore size, balance sebum on skin and retinol helps exfoliate to reduce size and scarring of acne lesions. It does not trigger acne (unless you are sensitive to one of the ingredients), making it safe to use during an outbreak.

How Often should I use the Haruharu Wonder Night Knight Retinol Serum?
Beginners should start with 2-3 nights per week and gradually increase frequency as skin tolerance allows. It's ideal to use in your PM routine, followed by a nourishing moisturizer.

Can I use Haruharu Wonder Retinol Serum with other active ingredients?
You should avoid combining it with other retinoids and retinol products, as it can increase irritation risk. Otherwise, it can be used with other actives with care (such as exfoliating AHA/BHA or gentle vitamin C serums).

How long to see results with the Haruharu Wonder Retinol Serum?
You can genuinely see an improvement with texture and pore size within 2 weeks, but it will likely take 4-8 weeks of use to see an improvement to acne spots and scarring.