Rice water is renowned as a great remedy for various skin and hair woes! Learn some of the uses of rice water in this article.
Rice water is used since ancient times in many areas of China, Japan, and Southeast Asia for various skin and health benefits. Rice contains an abundance of nutrients that can be lost during the process of cooking or soaking. The residual water absorbs these nutrients. This water consists of amino acids, Vitamin E, antioxidants such as ferulic acid (known for its nourishment properties), and many minerals that can work wonders if added to your beauty regimen.
Uses of Rice Water
1. Facial Cleanser and Toner
You can use rice water as a mild facial cleanser or a toner to give a boost of vitamins and minerals to your skin. The Vitamin E in rice water helps in lightening pigmentation and gives you glowing bright skin. It has soothing properties that can help in reducing inflammation and redness caused due to acne. It also helps in unclogging pores to prevent future breakouts. The starch in rice water is useful in easing discomfort which may persist due to rashes or other skin conditions.
You can use it as a facial cleanser by massaging rice water over your skin and rinsing it thereafter. As a toner, you can pour few drops of rice water into a cotton ball and gently apply it to your skin. You can use it every day for daily nourishment.
2. Sunscreen
Sunburns or dry skin can be treated by applying rice water for a few minutes twice a day. The anti-inflammatory properties of rice water can help cure sunburns. Wash it off with water to give instant relief to sun-damaged skin. It is also a great moisturizing agent to treat dry skin. Chemicals in rice water can provide protection from the harmful UV rays.
Use it twice a day to treat recent sunburns as this provides an instant soothing effect and cure damaged skin. You can apply it as sunscreen regularly but be sure to test it depending on the climate of your region. Some regions require very high SPF sunscreens for complete protection.
3. Body Scrub
The nourishment properties of rice water can be reaped for your whole body by using it as a body scrub. You can mix sea salt with rice water to create your own DIY scrub. Use body scrub once a week to get rid of dry cells and nourish your skin.
4. Shampoo
An easy way to make a shampoo using rice water is by mixing it with soap nuts. Rice water consists of amino acids that can stimulate hair growth. They are beneficial in treating dandruff as they can fight the itchiness and scalp fungi, which causes dandruff. The nutrients in rice water are essential to produce protein and keratin which can give you stronger and healthier hair.
You can use this mixture twice or thrice a week depending on your hair health and condition. Use it as a mild cleanser in-between your regular shampoo rinses.
5. Conditioner or Hair Rinse
Rice water can prevent dull hair as it is a natural source of Vitamin E. It promotes a healthy scalp preserving the protective lipid layer which provides a strong base for hair growth. It reduces the stress on the hair, making it look lustrous as ever.
After shampooing, you can apply a generous amount of rice water to your hair and leave it for 10 minutes. Rinse it off and get strong, shiny hair. Rice water can work instantly on promoting good hair health. Using it once or twice a week as a conditioner can give you instant benefits.
How to Make Rice Water
1. Instant Soaked Rice Water
Clean the rice under running water to get rid of dirt and impurities. Soak it in water for about 30 minutes. Strain the rice and your rice water is ready. You can refrigerate it or keep in a cool place. The shelf life of instant soaked rice water is no more than a week.
2. Fermented Rice Water
Soak clean rice in water for at least 30 minutes. Strain the rice and let the rice water sit for about 1-2 days until it starts to give a sour smell. Dilute it with plain water before use. It is commonly said that fermented rice water has better benefits because it has more antioxidants. If you can spare time, you can try using it and check what works better for your skin and hair.
3. Boiled Rice Water
If you are a regular consumer of boiled rice, instead of throwing away the leftover water, you can use it for your skin and hair. You need to dilute it with plain water before using it since boiling can thicken the consistency.
Side Effects
A patch test is often recommended whenever you add a new step to your beauty regimen or try a new product. Everyone has unique skin and hair and not everything can work for everybody. Rice water has tremendous benefits making it a must-try but it might not work for you the same way.
We hope that these uses of rice water helped you to better your skin or hair health! Tell us about your experience in the comments section.
