I saw a video on rice water skin benefits recently and it had me intrigued. I can say with certainty that the lady demonstrating its use had flawless skin that had barely aged. If rice water really does have an anti-aging effect then could we have actually found the Holy Grail of skincare? Skincare that costs pennies? In this article I’m going to delve a little into the history behind rice water use for health and beauty and document my own attempts to use it…wish me luck!!
What is rice water?
Rice water is the starch that is released from rice grains when submerged in water. I’ve seen water collected from uncooked rice but it is more concentrated when collected from cooked (boiled) rice. I’m currently sitting here cringing thinking about the vast amount of highly useful rice water I have tipped down the kitchen sink! 
History of rice water use
Rice water has been used for beautifying in Asia for hundreds of years. Called “Yu-Su-Ru” it is used for washing faces and hair and with good reason. Rice water is vitamin rich, containing B vitamins, vitamin E minerals (vitamin E is actually a collection of different compounds) amino acids and antioxidants.
What is rice water good for?
- Hair – rice water is said to smooth, strengthen and detangle hair. It’s also used to promote hair growth!
- Skin toning – rice water balances skin pH and contains antioxidents to provide natural toning to your skin
- Skin tightening – rice water contains Vitamin K which penetrates and soothes aging cells
- Skin irritation – starch in rice water has an anti-inflammatory effect on skin
- Digestive issues – when ingested rice water is said to relieve both constipation and diarrhoea
- Energy – as rice water is rich in carbohydrates it is suggested you can drink it as a quick and healthy energy boost
How to use rice water on skin and hair 
Let’s focus then on how we can incorporate rice water into our skin and hair routine! If you’re new to this, don’t worry. So am I! So without further ado lets have a go at beautifying with this simple solution. In the video below I have used about a cup of rice (it spilled everywhere haha) and about 500ml of water. I would say definitely experiment with quantities, cooked/ uncooked until you have the desired concentration of rice water.
Let me know in the comments what preparation works best for you!
Facial Skin
- Let your rice water steep for around 4 hours
- Strain your rice into a container or spray bottle
- Cleanse your face first
- Spritz on face (if using spray bottle) or soak cotton pads or similar alternative in the rice water and place on your face
- Leave rice water on your face for 15 minutes
- Rinse off and moisturise, continue your usual facial routine
- Ideally do this around twice a day, morning and evening
Hair
- Shampoo your hair and rinse
- Pour or spray rice water over your hair
- Leave rice water in for around 15 mins
- Rinse and condition
Rice water aftersun
With its anti-inflammatory properties, rice water makes a great solution for soothing sore sunburnt skin. Spritz on and leave the same time as when using on your face.
Rice water coffee alternative
Drink a cup of rice water before going out for a carbohydrate ‘hit.’ Personally if I try this I will probably sweeten it in some way, maybe add a little agave syrup. I will probably also heat it through first. Let me know if you try it and how you sweeten it too so we can work out what tastes best.
Rice water for plants
Don’t have enough time to use the rice water on yourself? Don’t waste it – it’s also very nutrient rich for your plants! Especially good if you’re growing your own herbs and vegetables as part of your very own homemade meals. It can be used fresh or fermented.
Rice water to clean your house
Rice water is mildly acidic (pH6) so acts as a mild cleaning agent. Use thick starchy rice water when wiping down surfaces in both your kitchen and your bathroon to remove stuck on food/marks more easily! Who knew?
Rice water as a homemade gift
If you find rice water good for you, definitely consider sharing the love with family by making a spritz bottle up as a gift. Just be sure to remind whoever you’re giving it to to store in the fridge and use within a week! Or, perhaps you want to gift them with a longer lasting gift. In this case, check out the link below for a lovely spray that contains rice water but a few other nice ingredients too such as aloe vera. Super soothing!
How do I store my rice water?
Once prepared make sure to keep your rice water in the fridge. You can keep for around a week but be sure to check for any signs of mould – ensure all the sediment is white only.
Hopefully all of the above has given you an idea of the versatility of rice water, which is quite astounding really for a solution we typically just throw away! So, back to my own journey on the use of rice water. I am about to add a video below of my initial attempts at using it on my face so I can report back to you lovely people. Given what I have read so far I am super hopeful. The only other thing that remains is to ask – does it make a difference what rice you use? I have seen jasmine rice used and plain white rice but don’t think I’ve seen any other varieties used. Has anyone else? I can’t find much difference between jasmine or white rice other than water ratio needed. Jasmine rice is softer so potentially needs less water for your rice water solution than white rice. It does however cost a little more so I guess it depends on your budget 🙂
Happy Concocting!
Ali R
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