I washed my face with rice water for two weeks and got the skin of my dreams

I finally tried using rice water for skin, and the results were magical. Read on to know more
How to use rice for skin?
The benefits of rice water, decoded. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Geetika Sachdev Published: 30 Sep 2020, 15:35 pm IST
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To be honest, I love everything that’s Korean—be it food, K-dramas, or skincare. In the last few years, I have hoarded some brilliant sheet masks and beauty products from online stores, and I truly have no regrets. In the last few months, however, while I’ve been home, my skin has become pretty dull. And although I have used all kinds of hacks, I realised nothing really seemed to work. And that’s when I stumbled upon a K-beauty secret that’s also been endorsed by none other than Kim Kardashian. Yes, I am talking about using rice water for skin. 

I agree it sounds a little odd, but stay with me through the article, and I’ll tell why it works so well (even for Indian skin). 

The many benefits of rice water
Rice water might be touted as the next big thing in skincare, but guess what? It has always been around! Of course, the grain has been consumed as a staple food in India and other Asian countries, but it has a host of benefits that’ll leave you with smooth and supple skin. 

“Fermented rice water contains antioxidant-rich components such as ferulic acid, gamma-oryzanol and phytic acid. This helps in skin lightening and anti-aging,” shares celebrity dermatologist, Dr. Jaishree Sharad. 

Research also suggests that rice water improves your skin texture and tightens it too! There’s much more to it, so let’s give you a lowdown on the benefits of rice water. 

Here’s why you should embrace rice water for skin
To begin with, if you suffer from sensitive skin, then rice water will give you a whole lot of relief! That’s because it contains starch and helps to reduce inflammation in no time, especially in cases of atopic dermatitis. 

And you can literally say goodbye to sunburns and blemishes, if you use rice water on a regular basis!

rice water
You can really trust rice water with your stubborn blemishes! Image courtesy: Shutterstock

That’s not all: you can also use it regularly as a facial cleanser every day, instead of relying on those heavy chemical-laden serums and face washes. 

“Just soak a cotton ball with rice water and put it all over your face. You can gently massage it on your skin and wash it off after 10-15 minutes. Your skin will feel refreshed in an instant,” shares Dr. Sharad. 

Here’s how I made rice water and used it for days
You can boil half a cup of rice for about 30-40 minutes, strain the excess water and store it in a spray bottle in the refrigerator for a week. You can easily spray it on to your face for instant freshness, or keep it on for half an hour to brighten your skin. 

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There’s another time-consuming method, but it works wonders for your skin. Make rice water and let it sit at room temperature for 24 hours, and voila, you have your fermented rice water ready! You can then refrigerate it for 2-3 days, and then transfer it to a spray bottle. 

Here’s a word of advice if you’re thinking of using rice water for skin
“Although rice water is great for your skin and completely safe, don’t leave the water at room temperature for more than 24 hours, because then it really won’t serve you well,” cautions Dr. Sharad. 

So ladies, wait no more and add rice water to your skin care routine today!

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About the Author

An independent writer and journalist, Geetika loves sharp and fresh humour, just like her coffee! If not writing, you'll find her cafe-hopping and raiding the best book stores in town. ...Read More

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