Rice has been a closely guarded beauty secret of women in Asian countries like China and Japan since ancient times.

From scrubbing their skin with rice flour to washing their hair with rice water, Asian women have put this fine grain to multiple uses for health and beauty.

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Now, you can reap the benefits, too. It’s easy to make rice water, and it’s one of the most affordable DIY beauty products for beautiful skin and hair.

Multiple uses of rice water for skin and hair
Multiple uses of rice water for skin and hair

Rice contains high amounts of vitamins B, C, and E. It also contains water-soluble minerals, such as inositol, which helps repair skin damage, and ferulic acid, which acts as a powerful antioxidant and helps keep your skin and hair healthy.

Additionally, fermented rice water is especially useful for your hair, as its pH level is similar to that of your scalp.

Using fermented rice water on your hair and scalp stimulates the secretion of a compound called Pitera, which helps promote the growth and regeneration of cells.

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Read on to learn six different ways that you can use rice water for glowing skin and shiny hair.

Rice Water for Skin

Method 1: Face Toner

Rice water contains allantoin that has anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it a great natural toner for your skin. Rice water also promotes and stimulates cell growth and regeneration.

You can apply this milky-white liquid directly on your skin to tighten it and reduce the appearance of pores.

Single-Step Treatment: Spray rice water on your skin daily

apply rice water as toner to use rice water for hair and skin
Rice water works as a great natural toner for your skin
  • Store rice water in the refrigerator in a small spray bottle and use it as a facial toner.
  • Let it air-dry and wash it off after 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Applying it daily on a regular basis will leave you with smooth, soft, and naturally radiant skin.

Method 2: Face Cleanser

You can use rice water to cleanse your face as a part of your daily skincare routine.

# Basic Cleanser

Single-Step Treatment: Use rice water to cleanse your skin daily

use as cleanser to use rice water for hair and skin
Cleanse your face with rice water for soft and glowing skin
  • Dip a soft, cotton pad in rice water.
  • Gently massage your skin using the saturated cotton pad.
  • Use the cotton pad to gently wipe off all the dirt and impurities from your skin.
  • Let it air-dry to ensure that your skin absorbs all the nutrients and minerals contained in the rice water.

Using rice water for cleansing on a daily basis will leave you with soft, tight, and glowing skin.

# Treat Acne or Eczema

Rice water acts as an astringent and can be extremely useful in curing acne breakouts. The starch components in rice water also help in alleviating symptoms of eczema or atopic dermatitis.

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Single-Step Treatment: Apply rice water directly on the affected skin

apply on acne to use rice water for hair and skin
Rice water is useful in curing acne breakouts and eczema
  • Pour some rice water into a small bowl.
  • Soak a cotton ball in it and apply it directly on the affected skin.
  • Let it air-dry, so that the skin can absorb all the nutrients.

The frequency of use:

  • To treat an acne breakout, apply rice water on the affected areas 3 or 4 times a day until the skin has cleared.
  • To improve symptoms of eczema or atopic dermatitis, apply rice water directly on your skin or take a 15-minute bath with rice water each day.
  • To maintain healthy skin, apply rice water once daily.

Method 3: Bath Soak

You can also use rice water for a relaxing DIY spa bath at home. Soaking in rice and lavender-infused bathwater will ease any tension and anxiety, while your skin slowly absorbs the nutrients to become soft and radiant.

Things you’ll need:

things you'll need to make bath soak to use rice water for skin and hair

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  • Rice water – 1 cup
  • Lavender essential oil – 5 to 10 drops

Single-Step Method: Mix rice water & lavender oil & add to bathwater

add lavender oil to rice water to use for hair and skin
Add a few drops of lavender oil to rice water
  • Get your jar of stored rice water from the fridge.
  • Pour about 1 cup into a bowl.
  • Add 5 to 10 drops of lavender essential oil, or any other favorite essential oil.
  • Add this wonderful concoction to your warm bathwater.
  • Soak in the lavender-scented bath for 30 to 45 minutes. Relax and completely let yourself go.

You can indulge your senses and beat skin damage and stress by taking rice water and lavender-infused bath once a week.

final bath soak of rice water for hair and skin
Rice water bath soak for soft and radiant skin

Method 4: Body Scrub

When you're finished making rice water, don’t throw away the rice. Instead, you can use it to make a nourishing scrub for your body.

In fact, you can add additional ingredients like olive oil and lemon juice for well-moisturized and smooth, blemish-free skin.

Things you’ll need:

things you'll need to make body scrub to use rice water for skin and hair

  • Rice powder (ground-up rice) – 1 tablespoon
  • Olive oil – 1 tablespoon
  • Lemon juice – 2 teaspoons

Step 1. Combine ground rice, olive oil and lemon juice in a bowl

Combine ground rice, olive oil and lemon juice to use rice water for hair and skin
Combine ground rice, olive oil, and lemon juice
  • Put 1 tablespoon of ground rice in a mixing bowl.
  • Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
  • Add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice as well.
  • Mix well to blend all the ingredients thoroughly.

Step 2. Use the mix to scrub off dead skin cells

Softly rub the scrub on your skin to use rice water for hair and skin
Softly rub the scrub on your skin to get rid of dead skin
  • Scoop some of the scrub up with your fingers and softly rub it on your skin for 5 to 10 minutes.

You can use this scrub to gently exfoliate and lighten your skin once every week or 2 weeks.

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Rice Water for Hair

Method 1: Hair Rinse

The proteins present in rice water help repair and strengthen your hair, making it shiny, more elastic, and stretchable.

Single-Step Treatment: Rinse your hair with diluted rice water

Rinse your hair with diluted rice water to use rice water for hair and skin
Rinse your hair with diluted rice water to repair and strengthen your hair
  • Mix 1 cup of rice water with 2 cups of water to dilute the rice water.
  • Shampoo your hair and rinse thoroughly with water to remove all the suds.
  • Use the diluted rice water for your final hair rinse.

You can use rice water hair rinse 1 or 2 times a week. You will notice the improved health and appearance of your hair after about 1 month of regular use.

Additional Tips

  • There are various ways to make rice water – with cooked rice, uncooked rice, or by fermenting it for increased benefits. Since everyone is different, you can determine the best option for yourself via trial-and-error.
  • You can use white, jasmine, or even brown rice to make your rice water. Again, simply choose which is best for you.
  • You can also mix 1 cup of rice water with 3 to 5 drops of essential oils like lavender or rosemary and use it as a conditioner. Leave it on your hair for 5 to 10 minutes, then rinse it out with water.
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