Rice water for Skin: a grain turned beauty elixir

Jan 08, 2025

Reviewed by: Kapil Dhameja

Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes

Rice water for Skin: A grain turned beauty elixir

Who strikes your mind when you hear the word “glass skin”?

Well, it's none other than the “Koreans,” but have you wondered why? The answer lies in the history of East Asia. The East Asians, predominantly Koreans, Japanese, and Chinese, have been known for their awareness about skin care. They have valued their skin, and that's why the majority of them have bright and flawless skin.

Today, we have a large number of skincare products, so it’s quite easy to do skincare in the contemporary world, but has it ever struck your head how people maintained skincare in the ancient times?

The traditional medical system, be it Indian Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, ancient Korean medicine, or others, has solutions to anything and everything. When it came to skincare, a very common yet very popular ingredient that was used, especially by the East Asians, was “rice water.”.

Yes, you heard it right: the rice water that you throw away every day in your sink, and no, it's not a skincare ingredient used only by the poor. The rice water was used in skincare by various royalties, including Empresses of China, Goryeo dynasty of Korea, and the famous Geishas of Japan- the traditional entertainers known for their elegant style and look, as well.

From the royal to the commoner, the rice water has been a tried and tested formula for clear, bright, and radiant skin.

Let's navigate more about the rice water and its potential usage in skincare.

Table of contents

Cloudy nectar: A guide to make rice water
Relevance in Ayurveda
Benefits of rice water for Skin
How does rice water work for the skin?
How to use rice water for skin?
Do’s and Don’ts
Conclusion

A cloudy nectar: A guide to make rice water for Skin

“Rice water,” a cloudy white liquid that remains after soaking or cooking rice from which the rice is strained, has a long history of usage in traditional households in some parts of the world for clear and glowy skin.

Making rice water is not rocket science; in fact, it’s the simplest skincare ingredient that could ever be made. Let's learn how to make it in three steps:

Step 1

Soak or cook rice in clean water.

Step 2

Leave it for 10-15 mins.

Step 3

Strain the rice and your rice water is ready.

Important Notes

Type of Rice: Any type of rice works fine, but red rice is considered as the best choice.

Water: Use cool water

Vessel: Mud vessel is preferred

Relevance in Ayurveda

In Ayurveda, rice water is called "Tandulodaka," a derivative dosage form of cold infusion (Hima Kalpana or sheeta kalpana).

The rice water, or Tandulodaka, is said to have multiple properties that not only radiate skin but also help in various other diseases.

Some popular medicinal uses of rice water in Ayurveda are as follows:

Brightening of skin
Growth of hair, if applied to scalps.
Helps in curing diarrhea; one needs to drink rice water for this.
Other usage includes helping with burning urination, heavy periods, bleeding disorders, and white discharge. It also reduces burning sensation in palms and soles.

Benefits of rice water

Rice water is a “potato” of skincare that is applied in various forms.It has many uses that are both straightforward and miraculous. This white cloudy liquid- which is nothing short of a nectar for the skin, has long been utilized and lauded for its ability to improve skin. Rice water is a storehouse of various vitamins and antioxidants that help to brighten skin and reduce redness and irritation. The astringent qualities of the rice water also help in minimizing the visibility of big pores and reducing excess oil.

Apart from this, rice water is thought to be an excellent moisturizing agent that provides hydration to our skin. Furthermore, it plays a great role in protecting skin from UV damage, enhancing skin texture, minimizing fine lines, and treating wrinkles and acne.

How does rice water work for the skin?

The rice water has a wealth of nutrients, antioxidants, and other necessary components that enhance our skin. There have been scientific reports that have validated the efficacy of rice water in providing great texture to the skin. As per those reports, the rice water is rich in some vital components like antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, inositols etc. that plays different roles once applied to the skin.

Come, let's peek into how these components play different roles in the skin through QnA:

Q1: Who protects skin from damage?

Anti-Oxidants. They protect our skin from damage by fighting free radicals.

Q2.Who repairs the damaged skin?

Amino Acids

Q3:What adds moisture to our skin?

Vitamins B and E. It enhances the elasticity of the skin as well.

Q4:What protects our skin from inflammation?

Ferulic acids

Q5:What stimulates cell regeneration in our skin?

Inositols. It improves skin texture as well.

Q6:Which minerals improve skin health?

Magnesium and potassium

How to use rice water for skin?

Rice water is like the Swiss army knife of skincare that is used in various forms such as cleanser, toner, serum, gel, cream, and others. These products are readily available in the markets, and can be made at home as well. We can make the following products of rice water at home in given ways:

Gentle Cleanser: Rice water as a gentle cleanser can be used by applying it on the skin using a cotton pad or fingertips and then massaging it in circular motion for a few minutes and finally rinsing it off using lukewarm water. It will remove oil, dirt, and makeup and create a clean canvas for further products.
Effective Toner: Rice water has been popularly used as a toner as well. After rinsing your face with a cleanser, soak the cotton balls in rice water and apply it on the face and neck. It will be instrumental in tightening pores, balancing pH, and reducing excess oil.
Hydrating Face mask: Rice water is widely used hydrating face mask as well. Soak a cotton sheet mask in the rice water, put it on your face, leave it for 10-15 minutes, then remove it for hydrated and plump skin.

Do’s and Don'ts of rice water

DO’S	DON’TS
Before applying rice water directly to the face, do a patch test on your wrist or neck in order to check the sensitivity of your skin.	Overuse of rice water may cause dryness, and residual buildup, which can clog pores. Hence, using it more than 2-3 times a week is not advisable.
Storing rice water for a long time causes bacterial growth; hence prepare fresh rice water and use it under 5-7 days.	If the rice water is causing skin irritation, stop using it. Not every product is meant for everyone.
In case you're using fermented rice water for more enhanced benefits, dilute it using clean water as the fermentation makes the water more potent and acidic.	Don't use unwashed rice, as it may contain dirt or pesticides that can harm your skin. One should clean rice thoroughly before soaking it.
Do clean your skin thoroughly after applying rice water to reduce the residual build ups.	Leaving rice water for more than 20 mins can make your skin dry. It can also cause irritation.
One can combine rice water with other natural ingredients like aloe vera, honey etc. to suit specific skincare needs.	Don't combine rice water with chemical based skincare products as it may cause unwanted and harmful effects on your skin.
Analyse the effectiveness of rice on your skin by tracking its progress, in order to adjust the frequency of usage.	Don’t use rice water before identifying your skin type. Adjust rice water recipes based on your skin type. For example: Fermented rice water is said to be more beneficial for oily skin while on the other hand people with sensitive skin may require dilution.

When it comes to the skin, one should be very careful before adopting any skincare routine. Though rice water is a natural and effective ingredient that improves the health of the skin, it can act differently on different skin because of routine, frequency, or skin type. Hence, the aforesaid do’s and don'ts must be considered while incorporating rice water in a skincare routine.

Conclusion

In conclusion, rice water, a common yet impactful ingredient, has historical as well as scientific validity. From nobilities to non-nobles, rice water has been a common choice in the history of Southeast Asia because of its amazing features. The traditional method of using rice water is still prevalent in Korea, and it is said to be one of the main reasons behind the famous glass skin of Korean people.

Usage of rice water is mentioned in Ayurveda as well, where it is called Tandulodak, which is not only used for skin care but for treating diseases like diarrhea, heavy bleeding, burning sensation while urinating, menstrual issues, and others as well. Furthermore, rice water helps in brightening skin, reducing wrinkles and fine lines, hydrating skin, tightening pores, and protecting from the damage.

The rice water is widely used as cleansers, toners, serums, and face masks that ultimately recharge our skin with necessary nutrients, minerals, and antioxidants. However, there are certain do’s and don’ts relating to the usage of rice water that must be considered before incorporating it in the daily skincare routine. Not every product or ingredient is going to suit us, no matter how good it is, and since the skin is the largest and the most visible organ of our body, we must take utmost care of it

References

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