'This viral mochi cleanser is supposed to make your face as soft as... mochi. So I tried it.'

Mamamia's Tried and Tested series is your review of the latest to hit our desks in beauty, health and wellbeing. You won't find any #sponsored content here, just honest, relatable and independent advice. This week, Mamamia's beauty writer, Juna Xu, tries the viral mochi cleanser.

Korean skincare is no stranger to weird and wacky ingredients. From snail mucin to salmon sperm, natural microneedles, bee venom, pig collagen and volcanic clusters — we've truly seen (and slathered on) it all.

But no matter how questionable some of these ingredients may sound at first, there's no denying they come with some seriously glorious skin benefits. 

As someone who's obsessed with buying and testing hundreds of Korean skincare products every year (seriously, it's an addiction!), I've heard, seen and tried just about everything.

Now, there's a new surprising skincare ingredient we need to get familiar with: mochi.

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Yes, I'm talking about THE traditional Japanese treat made from glutinous rice that's delectably chewy, stretchy, slightly sticky and as smooth as a baby's bottom.

(Just a note: While mochi is a traditional Japanese food made from pounded glutinous rice, Korean culture has a similar rice cake called "tteok". The key difference is that the Korean version can be made with regular or glutinous rice, which is steamed and then pounded, shaped or fried.)

There's a good chance you've probably enjoyed mochi grilled with soy sauce and wrapped in seaweed, or as a sweet treat paired with ice cream, fruit, cream or red bean. But now, this delightfully gummy-like rice isn't just good enough to eat — it's making waves in skincare for its ability to improve skin texture and leave your complexion feeling as soft and bouncy as the picture-perfect mochi beautifully stacked in Japanese dessert shop windows.

OK — this isn't your cue to grab a pack of mochi and slap it on your face. Instead, there's a specific mochi-based beauty product going viral across the internet and blowing up amongst skincare girlies in South Korea: Arencia's Rice Mochi Cleansers.

However, being the sceptic I am, I knew I needed to find out whether this ingredient and product were worth the hype — or just another internet fad.

Here's what happened when I put this sell-out product to the test. 

What is the Arencia Rice Mochi Cleanser?

Unless you're fully immersed in the world of Korean skincare, there's a good chance you've never heard of Arencia. This eco-conscious South Korean skincare brand focuses on creating high-quality, innovative products that blend traditional ingredients with modern skincare science.

While they've been around for a few years, Arencia has only recently gained massive popularity thanks to its range of Rice Mochi Cleansers making the rounds on social media.

Just do a quick search on TikTok, and you'll be bombarded with hundreds of videos of people applying this satisfyingly gooey cleanser to their faces.

@milkydew

Only takes 1 minute to get rid of blackheads, clogged pores & skin texture with @Arencia rice mochi cleanser💚🍡✨ #arencia #mochicleanser #ricemochicleanser #cleanser #koreanskincare #viralskincare #trendingskincare #pores #blackhead #beforeandafter #amazon

♬ Vidrado Em Você - Dj Guuga & Mc Livinho

Novelty and fun aside, the cleansers actually work and come with a plethora of skin benefits.

What are the skin benefits of the Arencia Rice Mochi Cleanser?

The cleansers are crafted using a kneading technique that involves zero heat, mimicking the traditional method used to make mochi cakes. This no-heat process helps preserve the integrity of the vitamins and minerals, ensuring maximum skin benefits. It also forms a protective structure that creates a strong, stable texture, giving the cleanser its signature mochi-like bounce and durability.

Currently, there are six cleansers in Arencia's range, each designed to target a specific skin concern and distinguished by a different colour. Every formula is packed with over 20 plant-based ingredients, carefully chosen for their soothing, balancing or brightening benefits. Plus, they're free from harsh chemicals, parabens, synthetic fragrances and artificial dyes, making them gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin types (AKA me).

Here's a breakdown of each cleanser on offer:

• Green: This is made with green tea and witch hazel and is currently the best-selling one in the range. It has been clinically tested to improve skin texture by 6.8 per cent, increase moisture by 12 per cent and reduce blackheads by 11 per cent. 

• Orange: Made with calendula extract, rice powder and bentonite clay, making it perfect for brightening dull and dry skin. 

• Pink: This is made with rosehip extract, which contains over 60 times the vitamin C of lemons and is rich in antioxidants and vitamins for effective skin conditioning. It also has pink aloe vera to calm inflammation and provide moisture, and blue german chamomile for soothing properties. 

• Blue: This is made with holy hyssop (aka Hyssopus Officinalis extract), which does wonders for keeping acne-prone and oily skin types clear and clean. There's also sea water extract, chaga mushroom extract and black barley extract for providing deep hydration and improving the skin barrier.  

• Black: Best for those with oily skin since it's made with black tea and yuzu to effectively remove excess oil from the skin and replace it with moisture. 

• White: This is formulated with rice ferment filtrate and vegan mucin to purify the skin and help with acne, blemishes and blackheads.

@milkydew

🍡RICE MOCHI FOR YOUR FACE 🍡✨🎀🤍🤭 #arencia #mochicleanser #ricemochicleanser #riceskincare #koreanskincare #ricemochicleanser #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt #tiktokviral @Arencia #cleanser

♬ APT. - ROSÉ & Bruno Mars

Where to buy the Arencia Rice Mochi Cleanser in Australia. 

Thankfully, you don't have to fly to Seoul to get your hands on viral K-beauty products. Arencia's Rice Mochi Cleansers are stocked by several Aussie retailers, including Amazon, Nudie Glow, YesStyle and W Cosmetics.

But if you're looking for the best deal with fast shipping, Lila Beauty is my go-to. They stock the 120g tubs of cleansers for just $19.95 (usually $36), which is an absolute steal.

And since you're practically saving money buying it on sale (well, girl math says so), you might want to check out other products in Arencia's range, too, like the Fresh Red Smoothie Serum, which I have also tried and LOVED.

Image: Supplied.

How to use the Arenica Rice Mochi Cleanser. 

The real beauty of this cleanser is that it allows you to forego your oil cleanser, micellar water or makeup wipes since it's deeply cleansing enough to remove all impurities in a single wash. 

Use the provided spatula to scoop out a small amount. Gently spread it over your face and massage in circular motions for about a minute before rinsing off with lukewarm water. You can add a few drops of water to the product beforehand for easier application.

Bonus tip: it also doubles as a mask. Just apply a thin layer after cleansing and leave it on for up to five minutes before rinsing.

The cleanser is soft and sticky like real rice mochi. Image: Supplied.

Arencia Rice Mochi Cleanser review: Is it worth it?

As someone with extremely sensitive skin, I opted for the calendula cleanser from the range.

The moment I opened the tub and scooped out a little with the mini spatula, I knew the brand wasn't kidding when they called it "mochi". It was soft, bouncy and dough-like — exactly like the real mochi I grew up eating. 

On closer inspection, I noticed it had a slightly gritty texture, thanks to the tiny microbeads, which initially made me a little nervous. My skin and exfoliating beads have never exactly been besties.

But the moment it touched my skin with a splash of water, it transformed. The texture melted into a creamy, foamy lather that felt luxuriously soft and smooth — no harshness or irritation.

Zfter rinsing it off with lukewarm water and gently patting my skin dry, my face felt deeply cleansed yet incredibly hydrated — no tightness, no dryness. It was such a unique sensation because usually, I'm forced to choose between feeling clean and taut or just moisturised. 

The next morning, I cleansed with the product again, carried out my morning skincare routine and began to apply my CC cream. I immediately noticed how much better my makeup applied — my base looked smoother and more even. 

Safe to say that I was officially converted. 

My makeup applied beautifully after using the mochi cleanser. Image: Supplied.

Now, while I'm absolutely in love with the formula, there is one downside: the packaging. The tub format isn't my favourite. It's not the most hygienic option, and exposing the product to air — especially in a steamy bathroom — isn't ideal. Plus, having to unscrew and screw the lid back on with slippery hands is a bit of a hassle, TBH. 

Despite saying this, this is obviously a minor hiccup for me, given I've already gone ahead and bought the blue and green cleansers. Plus, while on my recent trip to Seoul in March, I did notice the brand has released the green tea cleanser in a tube format, so fingers crossed Arencia transitions to this packaging for all cleansers in their range soon. 

Bottom line: mochi is as good for your skin as it is to eat.

Have you tried the viral Arencia Rice Mochi Cleansers? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

Feature image: Supplied.