Reasons You Should Start Using Rice Water In Your Beauty Routine
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We are always in search of all-natural magic potions that can work wonders on our skin and hair. We don’t mind shelling out a huge sum of money for the same. But, what we don’t do, is to look for cheaper and safer alternatives to get beautiful hair and skin. What if we said that your kitchen has a hidden beauty secret for you?
Isn’t rice a staple food for most of the countries in the world? (Especially for Asians) What do you do with the rice water when you cook rice? You throw it, don’t you? Have you ever thought of using that water for your skin and hair? The talk of the town is this humble staple food, which is actually a beauty secret. So, the next time you make some rice, remember not to throw away the rice water, because it can give you the glowing skin and lustrous hair that you’ve longed for.
Why Rice Water?
If you flip through a few pages of history and trace the evolution of beauty treatments, you’ll learn that the Asians have been using rice water since centuries to keep their skin young and their hair stronger. In the country of bots, Japan, female rice farmers used to clean themselves in rice water. Even in China, there’s a village called Huangluo where the women have extremely thick, long, and strong hair and they claim that the credit to this goes to them using rice water to cleanse their hair.
Rice water is considered to be a pot full of minerals, vitamins, and amino acids which are essential for healthy hair and skin. The rice water also contains ferulic acid which is a powerful antioxidant and this has anti-inflammatory properties.
Preparation Of Rice Water
There are multiple methods to make rice water. You can use any type of rice for this — brown, jasmine, long grains or whatever you use every day.
The Boiling Method
This method is the most convenient one. All you need to do is just cook rice in the usual way that you do. Just add 2-3 times of extra water than usual. Once the rice has been cooked, strain away the water and use it to wash your hair or cleanse your face. This drained water holds in it a high concentration of nutrients, therefore you need to dilute it and then use it. For one cup of water, add 2-3 tablespoons of the rice water and reap its beauty benefits.
The Quick Method
If you’re too lazy or you’re in a hurry to use the above method, then just soak rice in water for 10-15 minutes. Separate the rice form the water and use the translucent water obtained to wash your hair and face.
The Fermenting Method
This method is considered to be the most effective of all because of the change in pH levels that occurs due to fermentation. The fermentation process releases a chemical called pitera which boosts cell regeneration. This is basically an extended version of the quick method of obtaining rice water. The only difference here is that you need to soak rice in water for at least two days. You’ll know that the rice water is fermented when it starts to smell sour. Dilute it and use it. Store the remaining in the fridge for later use.
Beauty Benefits Of Using Rice Water
1. Treats Dermatitis And Acne
Rice water can be used to calm down the skin inflammation and treat all kinds of rashes. A University study from Belgium found that when patients who had dermatitis were subjected to the use of rice water for 15 minutes to clean themselves, their condition improved within 15 days (1). Rice water application also helps in healing the acne and reducing irritation. It tightens the pores as it’s considered to be an astringent too. Just dip a cotton ball into the diluted rice water and apply on the affected areas of the skin.
2. Treats Sunburns And Aging Skin
Rice water can help lighten those dark spots caused by aging and it also helps to treat the radical damage caused by the sun’s rays. The presence of vitamin A, vitamin C, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids makes it a great remedy for sunburnt skin and to tackle aging. If used regularly, the results can be seen as early as a week. It smoothens the skin texture, fights hyperpigmentation, reduces the pore size and leaves a porcelain-like finish on the skin. Apply rice water to your face like a toner after washing your face in the morning and night. See the amazing results for yourself.
3. Helps Achieve Healthier, Softer, And Manageable Hair
A study published in the year 2010 in the International Journal Of Cosmetic Science showed the benefits of using rice water to maintain healthy skin and hair (2). This treatment even has a term, and it is known as Yu-Su-Ru. Rice water increases the elasticity of the hair and makes it stronger, thus preventing it from breakage. To use it on your hair, wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner like you always do. But, instead of using regular water to rinse the shampoo and container, use rice water. This will leave your hair feeling smooth, silky and beautiful.
4. Rejuvenates And Relaxes Body
The best way for your body to reap the benefits of rice water is to take a bath in it. One way to do this is to add a little rice water to your hot tub. Or just put a cup of rice in a muslinbag and leave it in your hot water tub and let your body soak in all the healthy add ons from the rice water.
These were some of the not-so-staple benefits of popular staple food, rice. Have you ever used rice water in beauty treatments? Let us know about your experience in the comments below.
