Anua Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder Versus Babor Refining Enzyme & Vitamin C Cleanser
Updated on April 03, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, fungal acne (malassezia) safe, and reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain exfoliants and Vitamin C
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Anua Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder 30 ingredients
Babor Refining Enzyme & Vitamin C Cleanser 11 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Anua Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder 30 ingredients
Babor Refining Enzyme & Vitamin C Cleanser 11 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zea Mays Starch
AbsorbentSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Diglycerin
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Papain
Skin ConditioningCI 77004
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Water
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Powder
Oryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Water
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
MaskingHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Seed Protein
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Protease
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlucose
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Zea Mays Starch, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Diglycerin, Allantoin, Maltodextrin, Papain, CI 77004, Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Water, Oryza Sativa Powder, Oryza Sativa Lees Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Oryza Sativa Extract, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Oryza Sativa Seed Protein, Ceramide NP, Ascorbic Acid, Alpha-Arbutin, Protease, Caprylyl Glycol, Glucose, Glycerin, Tartaric Acid, Lactic Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate is the sodium salt from the lauric acid of glutamic acid.
It is a surfactant and helps cleanse the skin. Surfactants gather oil, dirt, and other pollutants from your skin so they may be washed away easily.
Maltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinPapain is an enzyme found naturally in the papaya plant's leaves, fruit, and roots. It has antimicrobial, soothing, and wound healing properties.
Glycine and Vitamin A are naturally found in papain.
While papain is often touted as skin-lightening, further studies are needed to prove this. However, papain has been shown to help soothe acne-inflammation.
Papain belongs to a class of enzymes called proteolytic enzymes. These enzymes break down peptides and amino acids.
Some studies found papain to be a potential skin sensitizer and allergen. Those with latex allergies might also be allergic to papaya.
Learn more about PapainWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterAscorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C. This form makes up the largest amount of vitamin C found naturally in our skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, it also has plenty of benefits on your skin.
Vitamin C is best used for brightening skin. It improves dark spots, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation. This is because it blocks the process of skin darkening when exposed to UV.
Remember: Vitamin C should not replace sunscreen!
Your skin uses vitamin C to build collagen. Collagen is one key component in having a strong skin barrier and plump skin. Vitamin C also plays a role in regulating collagen, thus making it effective in improving wrinkles and fine lines.
Ascorbic acid shows potent antioxidant activity. As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. These antioxidants also protect skin against UV damage.
The best formulations include Vitamin E and/or ferulic acid. These two ingredients help stabilize and provide a boost in the benefits of ascorbic acid. This is because ascorbic acid becomes unstable when exposed to UV and air. In fact, you can tell your ascorbic acid has oxidized when it turns an orange-yellow color.
Ascorbic acid is generally compatible with other ingredients. However, using ascorbic acid with other active ingredients might cause irritation. Two ingredients: copper ions and benzoyl peroxide, will inactivate ascorbic acid completely.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidThese enzymes break down protein into smaller peptides and amino acids. They also encourage the formation of new protein.
Our skin uses peptides, amino acids, and protein for maintaining healthy skin cells.
Protease work by breaking peptide bonds in protein with hydrolysis. This is the process of breaking bonds using water.
An in-vitro study (not done on a living organism) found a blend of 3-protease decreases skin inflammation by mitigating the effects of other proteins.
One manufacturer that uses subtilisin, a protease from Bacillus subtilis, claims this ingredient is exfoliating, promotes cell regeneration, and is a good substitute for AHAs. Further research is needed to back up these claims.
Fun fact: The human body contains ~641 protease genes.
Learn more about ProteaseIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Anua Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder 30 ingredients
Babor Refining Enzyme & Vitamin C Cleanser 11 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Anua Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder 30 ingredients
U don’t know how much u need it untill u get it. Hydrates tightens brightens and helps with hyperpigmentation aswell
I cannot tell for sure, but I believe that this screwed up my skin barrier. No idea what in it could *do* this, but within days I was flaking everywhere and all my other products were burning my face. Big no for me. I've used other rice cleansers with no issues.
Babor Refining Enzyme & Vitamin C Cleanser 11 ingredients
Love it when I remember to use it, not irritating, packaging is kind of annoying, the cap doesn’t always close so I get worried that water or steam will get in since I keep it in my bathroom
I didn’t have any problems with it (didn’t break me out). I think it could be a bit irritating for sensitive skin, but for me it works pretty well. I had this in my routine since a few months and can’t go without it now. Overall a great cleanser!
