Rice water and the products formulated using rice water are gaining popularity and attention in the skincare and hair care industry across the world. Apart from that, this ingredient has also been used as an ingredient that can be used to make a lot of varieties of hair packs and face packs at home.
Many people across the globe prefer this ingredient it is quite affordable. Since many Asian countries depend upon rice as their primary source of energy in their meals, every household is highly likely to have this ingredient irrespective of the class and creed. Thus the availability of the ingredient is also never a concern.
Moreover, rice water is also being used by a lot of influencers and celebrities in their skincare and hair care routine, either directly or in the form of an active ingredient in any of the skincare products that they have been using.
This article is everything you need to know about this amazing household ingredient giving special emphasis on its skincare benefits. By the end of this article, you will easily get to know how to use the same to achieve the Korean glass skin of your dreams.
Find Out What Rice Water Can Do For Your Skin
Rice water, a centuries-old beauty secret, has gained popularity in recent years due to its exceptional skincare benefits. The water, which contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, has the potential to alter your skin and boost its natural beauty.
Let’s look at how using rice water in your skincare routine can help you achieve a healthier, brighter complexion.
Skin lightening
When it comes to skin lightening, it is important to note that, it is impossible to drastically change the shade of your skin color unless and until you take clinical treatments like glutathione injections. However, there are a couple of compounds in rice water that have proven benefits to lighten pigments on your skin. This can work more on the dark spots or the marks of solar lentigines that appear on your face. When these dark spots fade, your face may look like 1 or 2 shades lighter than it was before.
Hence, if you are using rice water keeping this notion in mind, you may have significant benefits after using the same. Due to the skin-lightening claims of rice water, a lot of brands can be seen mentioning the presence of water in a lot of their formulations including soaps, face cleansers, toners, moisturizers, etc. Several serums and actives can also be seen in the presence of rice water in it.
Sun protectant
If you use rice water daily, you can also have the sun-protectant properties of rice water. However, if you are using rice water for protection from the harmful rays of the sun, make sure you are using the same by fermenting rice water for at least overnight. The fermented rice water is known as rice wine. This rice wine has proven properties that can protect your skin from harmful UVA and UVB radiation.
However, it is also important to note that, using rice wine as a part of your daily skincare will not replace the role of the best sunscreen lotion or cream. Hence make sure you are not skipping the layering of sunscreen as a last step of your morning skincare routine. Rice wine can also increase the production of collagen in your skin and thus make it look more supple and soft. More collagen in your skin can also prevent aging.
Rice water provides additional protection against harmful UVA and UVB rays, effectively delaying the aging process when used daily—a bonus for your skincare routine.
Reverses Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS) damage
SLS is one of the chemical ingredients that can be easily found in many of the personal care, grooming, skincare, and hair care that you have been using daily. This is quite harmful to your skin, body, and hair in a lot of ways and it can also cause damages of varying intensity. If your skin barrier has been broken by continuous exposure to Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS), then using rice water twice a day as an integral part of your skincare routine can help you significantly.
Apart from that, it can also help you in reducing the dryness of your skin, if the effects of the same chemical compound exposure to your skin have caused it.
Soothes skin conditions
If you are someone who is suffering from a variety of skin conditions such as eczema, acne, rashes, and other kind of inflammations, rice water can be your go-to option to be included in your skincare routine. There are a lot of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in rice water which can make these benefits to be fact true.
Scientific studies are still going on to prove these effects of the same. Since it can even treat extreme skin dryness such as eczema, people with dry skin conditions may consider water as a virtual ingredient in their skincare routine. Its non-oily, non-greasy formulation makes it suitable for individuals with oily and acne-prone skin conditions.
Skin brightening
While skin lightening should be considered as something with several conditions that follow, the skin brightening properties of rice water are almost guaranteed. Rice water is an ingredient that has plenty of vitamins and antioxidants. This can significantly help give you an irresistible glow to your skin and also brighten it. Apart from that, there are also a couple of natural actives present in rice water making it perform as a gentle natural exfoliator on your skin. This can also help in making your skin soft and supple if you use it for some time.
Wrap Up
Now you know how to use rice water to benefit your skin and conditions. However, it is important to note that, if you badly wish for a Korean glass skin, it is also necessary that you slightly change your dietary patterns and lifestyle habits.
Apart from that, you may also seek the help of an expert professional to check whether you have any kind of deficiencies or health conditions, making your skincare journey a challenging one.
References:
- Juliano B.O. second ed. American Association of Cereal Chemists; Eagan, MN: 1985. Rice: Chemistry and Technology. [Google Scholar]
- Kovach MJ, Sweeney MT, McCouch SR. New insights into the history of rice domestication. Trends Genet. 2007;23(11):578-587. doi:10.1016/j.tig.2007.08.012
