The world of DIY beauty recipes and hacks is flooded with essential oils, cocoa or shea butters, rosehips, aloe vera, and other ingredients that promote skin and hair health. One simple remedy, which has become famous on beauty blogs and YouTube videos, is rice water, the liquid that is loaded with amino acids and vitamins that encourage healthy, glowing skin.
What Is Rice Water?
Rice water is the water that you obtain by soaking rice in water. Many women in Japan have been using rice water for over 1,000 years, primarily to lighten skin and reduce dark patches. The Yao women in Huangluo, China, which has become known as “the world’s longest hair village, accredit their ankle-length hair to rinsing with rice water. Many commercial beauty products, including creams, toners, and soaps, actually contain rice water. The health benefits are attributed to the rice itself, because rice grains contain antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins B, E, & K.
How To Make Rice Water
It turns out that rinsing the rice is a key step that must not be forgotten. It doesn’t just yield less starchy rice; rather, it helps the nutrients from the rice infuse into the water. Pour a half-cup of uncooked rice into a bowl with 2 cups of water. Once you’ve given your rice a stir, let it sit for about 15-20 minutes. Strain the rice from the water and store the rice water in a sealable glass jar. It will stay fresh for up to one week in the fridge.
Benefits Of Rice Water
For Dry Skin
Sodium laurel sulfate (SLS) is an ingredient found in a lot of personal hygiene products, and it has been known to cause skin irritation. While no scientific studies have been conducted, anecdotal evidence suggests that using rice water twice a day can reduce the damage done by SLS.
For The Face
If you leave the rice water soaking for about two days, it begins to ferment into a mild form of rice wine, which as been known to increase collagen in the skin. A 2013 study found that rice wine may have natural sunscreen properties, and that it may improve skin damage from too much sun exposure. Other research found that fermenting rice water richens the antioxidant content, which may result in an anti-aging effect when applied to the skin.
For Eczema
Eczema affects about 35 million Americans, and it can be a chronic problem for lots of people. About 1-3% of American adults have it, 10-20% of children have it, and about 70% of eczema cases begin in children under the age of five. Applying rice water to the skin can help to reduce itchiness and clear up eczema blemishes. More research needs to be conducted, but anecdotal evidence has proven this to be true so far.
How To Use Rice Water On The Skin
As A Cleanser
Splash your face with rice water and massage the liquid into the skin. Gently rinse the rice water away with cold water to help seal your pores. That’s it!
Toner
After cleansing with warm and cold water, soak a cotton ball or pad in a little rice water and dab your face and neck. Allow the rice water to dry on the face and then continue you to moisturize. You can click here for a great all-natural moisturizer.
Face Mask
Get a paper towel and cut out holes for your eyes, nose, and mouth. Soak this paper towel in rice water for 10 minutes. When you remove it from the rice water, be careful not to tear it. Place the soaked paper towel on your face and leave it there for 10-15 minutes. Remove and rinse with cold water.
