Table of Contents
*Anzeige/Ad I loved the original version of the Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner! And now I’m so excited to introduce you to this even more sensitive skin friendly, fragrance- and alcohol-free version of this TikTok famous, skinfluencer-beloved K-beauty toner gem!
TikTok’s Most Viral K-Beauty Toner?
I downloaded TikTok in 2021 at the height of the pandemic (didn’t we all?!) and immediately did my research on which Korean beauty products were discussed there. “Skintok”, the skincare side of TikTok, has become more and more influential in recent years, and products that go viral on the short form video platform can sell out in minutes. I must admit, many of the “Korean” skincare products on TikTok were things I – a Korean beauty blogger of over 8 years – had never heard of before!
However, one particular Korean skincare product instantly got a nod of approval from me when I noticed it trending on TikTok: The Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner* had been a staple on my vanity for a few months before it went viral, and I had really been enjoying it so much. The original version contains a few fragrant essential oils, which didn’t bother me personally, but many skincare lovers prefer their products fragrance-free.
Thus, it made me extra happy when Haruharu listened to consumer feedback and brought out a fragrance- and alcohol-free version of the toner! The rest of the ingredients are pretty much identical to the “original”, fragranced version, which I actually emptied a while ago. So, for today, I wanted to give you a full review of the “free” – fragrance- and alcohol-free, to be precise – version of the Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner.
Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner: “Glass Skin in a Bottle”?
One of the reasons why the Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner has been so popular globally is probably its reputation as a “glass skin toner”, making skin look like it is glistening with deep, plumping hydration. You all know how I feel about the idea of “glass skin”: I think it’s a bit silly to want to make your skin look like a fully light reflecting, almost AI-like canvas. However, I do think that having products at hand which hydrate and plump the skin deeply will indeed make it look and feel healthier, and through that, also appear dewier and smoother. The Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner is basically an easily absorbable hydration bomb, so that might be where its reputation as a “glass skin toner” stems from, its ability to create a smooth, dewy appearance of the skin.
First, a few things on the brand Haruharu Wonder: it is a natural skincare brand specialising in sensitive skin friendly formulas with at least 95% natural ingredients. All Haruharu Wonder products are also vegan and cruelty free, which is likely one of the reasons why they are so popular especially here in Europe and in North America.
Black rice extract is one of the key ingredients of the brand’s core line: known to be soothing, brightening and smoothing, rice has been a staple component of South East Asian beauty recipes for centuries. Women used to wash their hair with rice water in Japan, Korea and China as far back as history records go, and it has also been touted as one of the reasons for their wrinkle-free faces even in high age. Its high antioxidant content can help undo UV damage thanks to those free radical combatting superpowers, and there is evidence that it may help fade hyperpigmentation. Haruharu Wonder uses fermented black rice extract for its toners, with the fermentation process boosting absorption.
Here is the full list of ingredients for the Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner (“free” version):
“Water, Betaine, Glycerin, Propanediol, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Phyllostachys Pubescens Shoot Bark Extract, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Aspergillus Ferment, Sodium Gluconate, Hyaluronic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Glucose, Cyclodextrin.”
Of course, we already learned that this formula is free from fragrance and alcohol, which makes it ideal for sensitive skin types. The ingredients list is kept minimal, further reducing the risk of irritation. This is a very hydrating product indeed, with humectant (water-grabbing) ingredients galore: glycerin, betaine, sodium gluconate, beta glucan and, of course, hyaluronic acid! Ginseng plus bamboo extract provide antioxidant support, as does the already mentioned rice extract.
Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner: So…I’m already on My Second Bottle, You Guys!
Listen, I could pretend to keep up the suspense about whether or not I like the fragrance- and alcohol-free version of the Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner. But – well, I already very much gushed about the original version a while back, in one of my empties videos on YouTube. Leaving out fragrance and alcohol only increased my love for this toner, which genuinely deserves its virality.
The main reason why I love this toner is its texture: despite the high hyaluronic acid content – which can make toners feel thick, heavy and sticky – the Haruharu Wonder Toner has an only lightly viscous, silky-liquid consistency. The smooth texture glides onto skin easily, whether you use your hands or a pad (I personally prefer my hands).
Thanks to being so lightweight, the toner also absorbs quickly, making it ideal for the summer heat, providing deep hydration even for very thirsty and/or dry skin types. It’s sometimes hard to find toners and serums that extensively hydrate without causing breakouts or just kind of sitting on the skin, but the Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner does the trick for me, every time I use it!
I actually remember the first time I used the original toner: I was sceptical about it due to its alcohol content, but then kind of gasped after using it, because my skin just looked super dewy and happy! There is some magic in that formula, I swear! Having used dozens upon dozens of Korean toners over the years, I can say with certainty that the Haruharu Wonder toners are both really special, doing exactly what we want from our hydrating toners. If you have very dehydrated, sensitive skin, be it dry, combo or even oily/blemish-prone, this is a great everyday toner to choose.
To sum this up, here are my top reasons for loving the “free” version of the Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner:
- Alcohol- and fragrance-free, so great for sensitive skin
- Gentle formula
- Vegan + cruelty-free
- Deeply hydrating without stickiness
- Easily absorbed with no residue
- Silky, smooth texture
- Leaves skin dewy, plump and smooth
While I am at it: I can also highly recommend the Haruharu Wonder Cleansing Black Rice Moisture Deep Cleansing Oil*, which is pleasantly light and washes off like a dream! If you are in Europe, it will please you to know that Haruharu Wonder actually has its own European Amazon shop,* so you can buy their products and get extra fast shipping benefits, plus – no customs hassle!
The fragrance- and alcohol-free, 150ml or 300ml version of the Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner* is available on Amazon too, as is the original version,* which has a light lavender scent.
Let me know in the comments: Have you tried the viral Haruharu Wonder toners yet? Do you pay attention to TikTok skincare trends?
Take care guys, and stay safe – remember to follow me on Instagram and Facebook for all the latest K-Beauty and skincare news!
*Ad/Anzeige, in collaboration with Haruharu Wonder – all views in this article are entirely my own! Links marked with an * are affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission when you use them, and a tracking cookie is placed. This does not increase the amount you pay when you purchase via these links. Products were provided by the brand.
Leave a Reply