Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Bakuchiol Serum: 30-Day Honest Test

I peeled off my retinol patch like it was a toxic relationship and slapped on this milky serum from Haruharu Wonder on a Tuesday. No purge, no peeling — just a slight tingle that felt like my skin was suspicious of change.

By day 3, I noticed my forehead didn’t look like a creased receipt every time I raised my eyebrows. That’s when I stopped waiting for disaster.

It’s $23 for 30ml of bakuchiol — the plant-based retinol alternative that claims to give you glass skin without the flaky divorce settlement. The packaging is boring glass, which I respect.

Photo: Amanda Wolbert / Unsplash

This isn’t a one-trick pony. The texture is watery-gel — I dropped it on my hand and it ran down my wrist like it had places to be. The ingredient list reads like a skincare nerd’s grocery list.

• Bakuchiol: Smooths lines without irritation
• Black rice ferment: Brightens dull patches overnight
• Niacinamide: Shrinks pores over time, not instantly
• Tocopherol: Vitamin E that calms redness

Photo: Poko Skincare / Unsplash

It absorbs in 10 seconds — one Mississippi, two Mississippi, gone. No film, no tacky residue, just skin that feels like you just washed it. I layered it under moisturizer and it didn’t pill, which is rare for a serum this thin.

Week 2 hit me weird: my left cheek broke out in tiny bumps. I almost rage-quit. But I pushed through, and by day 18, they vanished. My skin was doing the purge I thought I’d escaped.

Photo: engin akyurt / Unsplash

My forehead lines are softer — not gone, but they look like they’ve been napping. My pores around my nose are smaller, but my chin still has that stubborn texture. It’s not a miracle worker; it’s a slow burn.

Photo: pmv chamara / Unsplash

I’m not going back to retinol. This serum gave me 80% of the results with zero of the drama — and my skin actually looks calmer, not just smoother.