Did you know that rice water has nutrients that are beneficial not only to your body but also to your skin?
There are times when I’ll touch the hands of my mother or grandmother and think to myself, “Wow, their hands are smooth!” But the weird thing is that they rarely apply skincare or lotion to their hands. Were they just born this way? Not exactly. Little did I know, their baby-smooth hands have come thanks to an everyday chore. The best part is that it is free skincare!
Asians are known for their love for rice and eating this carbohydrate-packed staple every day has become a culture-wide habit—especially for the older generations. If your household also cooks rice daily, it’s time to put the rice rinsing water to use. Scroll down to see all the ways you can utilise this natural remedy and all its benefits.
What is rice water?
Rice water is literally the liquid that you can get when you soak, rinse or ferment the ingredient. There are a lot of different types of rice, but the most common are white rice, purple rice and brown rice. The question is, can rice water (of all types) be used as skincare?
The answer is, yes. They are all extremely rich in antioxidants, bringing tons of benefits to the skin and makes for a great natural skincare option that can be used long-term.
Beauty benefits of rice water
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The Japanese had already discovered the wonders of rice water over 1000 years ago, but at that time, this ‘miracle water’ was mostly used to help create strong and silky hair. Now, people are falling in love with it all over again for its abundance of goodness for the skin. Below are some of the benefits of rice water as skincare.
1. Brightens the skin and scars
Rice water is scientifically proven to help lighten uneven skin tone and pigments. True enough, a lot of skincare products (especially Japanese brands) incorporate this ingredient into their products.
2. Repairs damaged and dry skin
If you are suffering from sunburn or other external factors that damage your skin, your usual skincare routine might actually be adding on more burden to your skin. However, this also means that it is a great time to give this natural skincare a try.
3. Soothe irritated skin
For those who are suffering from skin conditions from acne to eczema, rice water can also help calm redness and soothe irritation as it is rich in amino acids, antioxidants and minerals that strengthen and protect the skin.
4. Reduces fine lines and shrinking pores
The antioxidant properties of rice water can help to fade fine lines and wrinkles.TIP: Start using it from a young age to enjoy its full anti-ageing properties and maintain youthful, bouncy skin.
5. Enhanced sun protection
While it doesn’t offer UV protection on its own, because rice water is so antioxidant-rich, it can enhance the protection from the sun when formulated into sunscreens.
How to apply rice water onto your face
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The most popular way is to use it as a toner. You can dab the water on with a cotton ball and gently swipe it onto your face or pour it into a spray bottle for quick spritzes whenever your skin needs extra moisture. Koreans also developed their own interesting method, which is to freeze the water into ice cubes that can be used to massage the water into the face every morning.
Give it some time to sit on your skin (preferably 30 minutes or at least till it has been absorbed) and wash it off with lukewarm water.
Caution: As natural remedies do not include preservatives, make sure to change your rice water frequently or discard it immediately if the water smells sour.
Rice-infused skincare products
If you are not a rice eater and prefer not to waste food just to make skincare, here are some rice-infused skincare products that are ready-made for you to enjoy all the same benefits.
SHOP HERE:
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