The
benefits of rice water for hair and skin
by Neeti Jaychander | February 15, 2018, 10:00 AM
IST
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This age-old magic beauty ingredient has seen a revival in recent times! So what is rice water exactly, you may ask? Quite simply, rice water is the water that is left over once rice is either soaked or boiled in it. You can either soak the uncooked rice in water and use the residue, or boil rice in twice the amount of cooking water that you normally need, and use the remaining water once done.
It is
preferable to use organic rice, clean filtered water, and rinse the rice
thoroughly before use to get rid of any topical pollutants and pesticides.
White rice is preferred over brown or red rice – since the water from the
former has more extensive benefits.
How long has it been used?
The
Chinese village of Huangluo, home to native Red Yao women, is in the Guinness
Book of Records as the ‘world’s longest hair village’. The women here boast
long, lustrous and healthy hair that is consistently maintained. The villagers
believe that it is a symbol of luck, longevity and prosperity. So what is the
secret to their fabulously-maintained hair? An ancient but extremely simple
Chinese remedy – rice water! This magic potion, used as a natural shampoo and
rinse for centuries now, clearly works wonders. In fact, women usually don’t
start graying until they’re almost eighty years old! But China doesn’t hold
monopoly over rice water. Around 1,200 years ago, women in Japan – especially
those at the Imperial Court – used rice water to rinse their hair as well as
wash their face. This solution was highly acclaimed and termed ‘Yu-Su-Ru’.
Geishas especially used it, to keep their skin smooth, even-toned and supple.
Even Korea (which has now seen a revival in traditional beauty techniques) and
other South East Asian countries like Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia have a
history of using rice water as a key beauty supplement. So why is this simple
ingredient such a potent solution, and how can you harness its benefits today?
Let’s take a look.
What does it contain?
Rice
water has a multitude of components with nutritional value for the skin and
hair. Around 16 percent of these are proteins, the building blocks essential to
cell health. Triglycerides and lipids each make up 10 percent of the rice water
composition, while starch (an extract still used in Japanese cosmetics), is
present at 9 percent. Carbohydrates, inositol, phytic acid and inorganic
substances are other components in rice water. This is what you get when you
boil an average handful of white rice in two cups of hot water, and strain out
the residue liquid.
What are its skin benefits?
Over the
years, various studies have been testimony to the fact that rice water, part of
Asia’s culinary legacy, is also part of its beauty legacy. And for good reason.
There are several benefits to using rice water for the skin. In 2002, a study
from the Department of Toxicology at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium
determined that patients with skin conditions like inflammation, rashes and
dermatitis benefitted greatly from taking a bath in rice water twice a day. So
people with sensitive skins, rejoice! It is the most natural astringent you can
ever imagine, thanks to its high starch content. It is also a natural
sunscreen, protecting from the harmful effects of UV rays. In addition, rice
water can be used to treat sunburns. Just apply it on sun-damaged skin, and it
will help your skin recover faster. It also helps tighten open pores. Skin
texture is greatly improved, and elasticity is restored, especially in the case
of dry and dehydrated skin. Rice water is rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin
E, flavanoids and phenolic compounds. In addition, it contains ferulic acid and
allantoin, all of which are necessary for skin function. One of the key
functions of rice water is brighter skin and an even skin tone. If you dip a
cotton ball in fermented rice water and massage it into your face, it really
works wonders. You’ll find sunspots, pigmentation, hyperpigmentation and
freckles lightening. Not only does it promote cell growth and regeneration,
keeping your skin supple and smooth, it also has antioxidants, which keep
various skin cancers at bay and also act as an anti-ageing agent. You can even
use it as a bath soak – just add two cups of rice water into regular water
that’s in your bath rub, and finish up with a few drops of lavender essential
oil. Soak for about half an hour to reap the skin benefits of rice water all
over the body, while the lavender lulls you into a comfortable sleep-like
state.
What are the hair benefits?
In 2010,
a study was published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, where
researchers clearly stated that using rice water as a hair treatment offered
several benefits including improved elasticity, texture and lesser friction and
frizz. This is largely due to the presence of inositol, a carbohydrate. Using
it as a shampoo to wash out your hair may not be as convenient as a store
bought shampoo, but it comes without chemicals and preservatives, and you don’t
even need to follow it up with a conditioner. Rice water keeps your hair’s
natural oils intact and its pH levels are similar to that of the scalp! For
added benefits, a few drops of your preferred essential oils can be added to
rice water, and this mix can replace your regular shampoo.
What is pitera – the magic ingredient?
To make
the solution more potent, allow it to ferment for a day or two – it may smell
funny, but this will definitely give you an added benefits. Fermented rice
water is the elixir of youth! It contains pitera, a natural byproduct that
boosts cell regeneration. It is rich in minerals, vitamins and amino acids, all
of which are essential to anti-ageing. This ingredient has been rediscovered by
scientists recently, and is all the rage in keeping skin youthful. To give you
an example, sake, a Japanese fermented rice liquor is based on pretty much the
same principles as rice water. It was found that workers at a sake factory had
exceptionally youthful hands compared to the rest of their skin! Upon further
investigation, it was discovered that the pitera found in fermented rice water
and its offshoots, was responsible for this miraculous occurrence.
What are the other ways it helps?
Including rice water in your diet is beneficial in more ways than one. It can cure a number of ills such as stomach infections, gastric problems and nausea. It improves gut health drastically, which in turn reflects on the outside, giving you smooth and radiant skin. Rice water is also used extensively across Asian cultures for babies who are weaning off nursing, to settle their stomachs. Drinking it up is a natural cure for eczema, fever and other bacterial infections. Rice water is full of energy, with a low-cal but high-carb way of providing your body with the boost it needs to get through the day effectively. In south India, Kanji, a fermented gruel made from rice water is part of the daily staple diet, especially among farmers and agriculturists. In the hot tropical summers, it prevents dehydration, replenishing lost nutrients and reducing chances of ailments. To prepare Kanji, cook a cup of rice in four cups water. Once the rice is semi-cooked, strain out the water, add some salt if required, and drink up. Your body will thank you for it, and so will your skin. Kanji can also be made from brown and red rice variants, depending on your taste and preferences. Just remember to keep it organic as much as possible.
Including rice water in your diet is beneficial in more ways than one. It can cure a number of ills such as stomach infections, gastric problems and nausea. It improves gut health drastically, which in turn reflects on the outside, giving you smooth and radiant skin. Rice water is also used extensively across Asian cultures for babies who are weaning off nursing, to settle their stomachs. Drinking it up is a natural cure for eczema, fever and other bacterial infections. Rice water is full of energy, with a low-cal but high-carb way of providing your body with the boost it needs to get through the day effectively. In south India, Kanji, a fermented gruel made from rice water is part of the daily staple diet, especially among farmers and agriculturists. In the hot tropical summers, it prevents dehydration, replenishing lost nutrients and reducing chances of ailments. To prepare Kanji, cook a cup of rice in four cups water. Once the rice is semi-cooked, strain out the water, add some salt if required, and drink up. Your body will thank you for it, and so will your skin. Kanji can also be made from brown and red rice variants, depending on your taste and preferences. Just remember to keep it organic as much as possible.
Is it used in store-bought cosmetics?
Japanese
and South Korean cosmetic giants have been using rice water and pitera in their
cosmetics, and marketing them as combining the best of science and nature.
Several high-end brands now feature this key ingredient, technologically
modified to fit into a bottle of serum or face wash. While we recommend you try
the undiluted, freshly made version everyday, there is no denying that
store-bought versions come with benefits too. Firstly, the shelf life is
longer, and you don’t need to keep making a fresh batch every couple of days –
which can be a pain if you’re hard-pressed for time. Secondly, it comes with a
multitude of other ingredients, which offer a holistic, all-round benefit in
one product. Thirdly, if you go to a reputed cosmetic company, you’re assured
of the quality of rice water used, and won’t really need to worry about what
brand of rice to pick up from the supermarket! Just remember to do your
homework before you pick up any product, make sure it is suited to your skin
type and also provides the benefits that you would like for your skin.
What are its environmental implications?
When you
use rice water, you are using a by-product of boiling rice – and this is a
single ingredient trick, which means you’re not really digging into anything
else. What’s more, you don’t have to deal with the implications of using
disposable plastic waste that just reaches landfills, and you can spare the
earth of that many more toxins and toxic waste. If you actually cook for a
cartload of people, don’t even throw away the water used to rinse the rice –
you can even just store it in a bucket and use it to bathe your body. Also,
rice water costs virtually nothing! Instead of opting for expensive
store-bought serums and toners, just use this really affordable (read, free!)
DIY product and you’ll find you don’t really need to clutter your bathroom
shelf with much else.
What are the cons?
Rice
water is not a miracle cure, but a slow, healing process. While you’ll see
visible benefits using it for a few days or even weeks, to reap its real
benefits means making a lifestyle change. It’ll need to be a part of your daily
routine just as much as eating breakfast or brushing your teeth. Also, try to
get certified organic white rice, since non-organic versions may have extensive
traces of dirt, pollutants, bacteria and pesticides that you are privy to,
resulting in skin problems like eczema and so on. Since the product is
homemade, it doesn’t contain preservatives. So you’ll need to keep an eye out
for when it’s going bad and whip up a fresh batch every couple of days.
Celeb speak
Aishwarya
Rai Bachchan is one celebrity who swears by rice water. Whenever her skin needs
a little pick-me-up, she opts for a rice water facial, massaging concentrated amounts
into her skin and letting it sit for a while, which is her secret to youthful
and radiant skin. She also takes it one step further, mixing it up with rice
flour for an exfoliating scrub. Internationally, London-based facialist Su-Man
Hsu boasts a clientele that includes Juliette Binoche, Anne Hathaway and Freida
Pinto, and makes her own skincare products. A key ingredient in this Taiwanese
facialist’s anti-ageing kit is rice water. She goes back to beauty recipes that
her mother and grandmother used, for inspiration.
Face packs to try out
- Mix 2
tbsp rice water with a tbsp of ground gramflour and a teaspoon of honey. Mix
well and apply all over face and neck. Rinse with lukewarm water after 20
minutes and pat dry. This pack helps get rid of suntans and facial impurities
caused by pollutants.
- For a probiotic face mask, take half a cup of curd and mix 2 tsp rice water into it. Let it sit for ten minutes. Then apply all over face and neck, and leave on for 10 minutes. Wipe with a wet washcloth and pat dry. This pack has anti-ageing and skin firming benefits.
- Mix half a cup of rice water with half a mashed banana in a blender. Add a few drops of castor oil and apply all over face, including a very thin, careful layer under the eyes. Dip some cotton wool in a teaspoon of rice water and slowly remove the pack. Once every inch of the paste has come off, splash water on your face and pat dry. For tired and dull looking skin, this pack is ideal.
- Here’s a real treat! This antioxidant scrub will have your skin glowing in no time. Add 2 teaspoons of cocoa powder to a tbsp of rice water and mix well. Scrub this into the skin in slow upward strokes. Then rise well and pat dry with a towel.
Photos: Shutterstock
- For a probiotic face mask, take half a cup of curd and mix 2 tsp rice water into it. Let it sit for ten minutes. Then apply all over face and neck, and leave on for 10 minutes. Wipe with a wet washcloth and pat dry. This pack has anti-ageing and skin firming benefits.
- Mix half a cup of rice water with half a mashed banana in a blender. Add a few drops of castor oil and apply all over face, including a very thin, careful layer under the eyes. Dip some cotton wool in a teaspoon of rice water and slowly remove the pack. Once every inch of the paste has come off, splash water on your face and pat dry. For tired and dull looking skin, this pack is ideal.
- Here’s a real treat! This antioxidant scrub will have your skin glowing in no time. Add 2 teaspoons of cocoa powder to a tbsp of rice water and mix well. Scrub this into the skin in slow upward strokes. Then rise well and pat dry with a towel.
Photos: Shutterstock
More on: How
to use rice water for skin,
rice water benefits for skin,
rice water for skin, pitera, YuSuRu
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