DIY: Rice Water for Beautiful Skin & Hair

Throwing away the water after cooking some rice? A no-go for many Asian women! That’s because rice water is full of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants that can help with wrinkle-free skin and strong hair. Read further to learn what’s in rice water, and how to make and apply it.

In Asia, rice water has long since been considered a natural beauty elixir. In ancient Japan, female rice farmers are said to have enjoyed bathing in the water they used before to wash the white rice. No wonder, there are many ingredients in rice water that help keep skin and hair healthy and beautiful.

Natural anti-aging

Rice water contains the B vitamin inositol, which promotes cell renewal and blood circulation. This makes it a natural anti-aging product.

With rice water as a face tonic, you can keep the tender skin of your face soft and clean. Your pores will shrink, your skin will be invigorated, and even small wrinkles can be mitigated.

Remedy for acne, rosacea, and allergies

Using rice water is especially recommended for people with sensitive skin, allergies, or rosacea. As a tonic, it can calm and soften irritated skin.

Those suffering from acne or unclean skin will benefit from rice water’s clarifying and anti-inflammatory effects.

The rice-based face tonic is even said to remedy skin spots caused by the sun or hormone fluctuations. The reason for this is its niacin (vitamin B3) content, which brightens the skin without side effects.

Healthy, shiny hair

Long, healthy hair is the trademark of the women of the Miao tribe (also called Yao), an ethnic minority in Southern China. Hair up to two meters long is totally normal there. The village of Huangluo is even in the Guinness Book of World Records for the inhabitants with the longest hair. The beauty secret behind these beautiful heads of hair? The women use fermented rice water as shampoo and conditioner.

After cooking the rice, the cooking water isn’t thrown away, it’s fermented. The pickled rice water is then used to wash and condition the hair. The result? Rapid growth and especially full, strong hair.

Production and application of rice water

Rice water as a face tonic:

According to Asian tradition, you can simply retain the water left over from cooking rice (preferably organic). Making this beneficial tonic from rice couldn’t be easier or cheaper!

You can also make rice water without cooking, if you want. Just put half a cup of organic rice and one glass of clean water into a container. Cover the container and let stand overnight. Filter out the water the next day, and the facial toner is ready.

The rice water will keep in a resealable jar in the refrigerator for up to one week.

As with any other tonic, apply the rice water to the skin of your face and neckline after a thorough cleaning with a cotton pad.

Hair rinse made of rice water:

For conditioner, let the rice cooking water stand for one to two days until it becomes slightly acidic. Its full effects will develop through the fermentation. The valuable antioxidants, minerals, and vitamin E content will help with shiny, strong, and healthy hair.

Applying the rice conditioner is totally easy, too: just put it in your hair after washing, and rinse out with water after a couple of minutes.