Why is Rice Essential for Skincare?

At home, skincare can be as simple as going through your pantry cabinets and mixing some ingredients to make a paste. 

You all must be familiar with the honey and lemon combination to fight dark spots and the benefits of egg white to tighten up pores. Nevertheless, rice is another one of those skincare ingredients that can boost your beauty routine. 

Rice is a staple in the Asian diet. It is economical and accessible, which makes it an easy add on to your skincare regime. Let us look at the numerous benefits rice has for skincare:

Brighten Dull Skin

Women in Japan and Korea use rice to reduce blemishes and brighten the skin. It is assumed that rice has enzymes that provide a brightening effect. Rice comprises ferulic acid, vitamins B1, C and E. 

When applied topically on your skin, rice aids to even out the skin tone and stimulate radiance, making it an ideal component in skincare products Links to an external site. like cleansers, toners and exfoliants. 

Anti-aging

Beginning with your facial skincare routine, it so happens that the water that is left behind from washing rice contains Ferulic acid. This acid is famous for its anti aging properties and maintains the efficacy of vitamin A, C and E. Rice water comprises allantoin, which is a pacifier that endorses healing of the skin. 

Rice water comprises antioxidants that constrains the activity of elastase. This enzyme destructs elastin. Therefore, it could assist in preserving the elasticity of the skin and decline the signs of aging. 

Defends the Skin Barrier

When the natural barrier of your skin is conceded, it becomes parched and exposed to skin conditions like dermatitis. Rice starch can help recover and restore the natural barrier of the skin. For skincare, women add it to bathwater to decrease inflammation in itchy skin conditions and is especially useful for people suffering from atopic dermatitis, rashes and eczema.

Soothes Sunburn

Rice water has a soothing effect on sunburned skin. It can be used to treat minor symptoms of sunburn like inflammation, redness and itching. When you apply it as part of your skincare regime, starchy water has a tightening impact. This is particularly helpful for people with oily skin. 

How to Prepare Rice Water at Home

There are many ways to prepare rice water. You can bathe and cook rice before removing water or you can use the fermenting process. 

Soaking Method:

You can take a cup of rice like 100g. You can take any variety of rice. First rinse it clean, then pour three cups of water in a bowl and soak the rice for half an hour. Use your fingers to stir the rice gently pressing it down. Drain the water and collect it in a container. You can then refrigerate it.

You can store this in the fridge for a period of one week, take it out, and use it in your skincare regime. After it is finished, you may want to prepare yourself another batch. You can use it for your hair and skin as a toner or a facemask. 

Fermented Rice Water

In Japan, rice water is known as sake. This skincare ingredient is great for treating damaged skin. Applying rice water or rice wine topically in your skincare regime can guard the natural barrier of the skin and avoid ultraviolet damage. 

Since it encourages collagen synthesis, it has noteworthy anti-aging benefits. Consequently, it thwarts wrinkles and Trans epidermal loss of water and endorses epidermal thickening.   

Here is how you can make fermented rice for skincare:

Rinse a cup of rice with normal water. You can select from any variety of rice. Add three cups of water in a bowl. Let the rice soak in water for a period of two days and let it ferment. After the soaking period, stir the water and drain out the liquid. Add the liquid in a bottle and refrigerate. 

This is the simplest way to prepare fermented rice water in your home. However, the process of making sake is a bit more tiresome as it has to be fermented longer using a fungus called Koji. 

To prepare sake for your skincare regime at home, you can follow this process:

You can take two cups of sticky rice. You are free to use any other type of rice as well, but I prefer glutinous rice. After washing the rice, soak it in hot water for one hour. Using a sieve, strain the rice. Throw away the excess water. 

In a medium pot, boil two cups of water. Place the rice-filled sieve on top of the pot. Let the rice steam. For this step, you can also use a steamer to steam the rice. Cover the rice and let it steam for 30 minutes. Then, spread the rice onto a cooking sheet and let it cool. 

Take a bowl and crush some yeast balls in powdered form. Combine this powder with the rice and transfer it to a glass container. You must store it in a warm place for some days. After a few days, you will see liquid collecting at the end. That liquid is rice wine. Let this ferment for a months’ time. The more it ferments the better. Strain the rice through a muslin after a month to extract the wine. Then use it in your skincare routine. 

Being devoid of harsh chemicals, rice is suitable for all skin types. Therefore, you can use it regularly in your skincare regime in the form of organic face packs or skincare products from the store.