Next time you boil rice, think twice before tossing the water. Rice water is rich in beauty minerals and vitamins that make it fantastic for both skin and hair – a secret those flawless-skinned Japanese geishas have known for centuries. And it’s super-easy to make: simply boil some rice (preferably organic rice and boiled in distilled water), then pour the excess water in a lidded glass jar and store in the refrigerator. Once cooled, it will be a potent ingredient for crystal clear skin and super-shiny hair.
Flawless face
Wash your face, then soak a cotton pad in the rice water and apply it all over, as you would do with a toner. Rice is rich in a complex of B vitamins called ‘inositol’ that helps promote cell growth, slows down the aging process and stimulates blood flow – the perfect recipe to tighten pores and bring a glow to the face.
Besides this, rice water also has moisturising, antioxidant and UV-absorbing properties, along with an ability to bind to naturally occurring copper in the skin, thereby preventing the formation of melanin formation (hyper-pigmentation) and age spots.
Haute hair
After shampooing, work some rice water into your hair. Leave it on for a few minutes, then rinse well. Rice proteins strengthen the hair shaft and fill in the cracks. The result? Ultra-smooth, seriously shiny hair.
Beauteous bod
The soothing nature of rice water makes it an effective remedy for rashes and other irritating or painful skin conditions. In a dermatological study at Brussels University, patients with atopic dermatitis (chronic inflammation of the skin) saw a 20% improvement after taking 15-minute baths filled with rice water twice a day.
Recipe for health
Drinking rice water is also extremely beneficial for overall health. It contains 8 essential amino acids, which form the building blocks for tissue and muscle regeneration. Rice water also provides energy due to high concentration of carbohydrates.
What do you do with your rice water? Will you be seeing it differently after reading this?
Anubha Charan is a powerhouse in the luxury beauty industry, with over 15 years of expertise shaping the global beauty narrative. As the former Beauty Director at Marie Claire, she worked with the magazine's French headquarters to craft cutting-edge beauty content for international audiences.
Anubha's bylines grace some of the world’s most prestigious publications, including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Travel + Leisure, WebMD, and Architectural Digest. She is also the co-author of Paris Bath & Beauty, a Simon & Schuster book on French beauty rituals.
Anubha combines insider knowledge with a talent for breaking down complex beauty concepts, delivering bold, actionable advice that empowers individuals to elevate their beauty routines and embrace their best selves.
nisha says
i just tried this today. Hoping i will soon have lustrous hair and baby like skin 😉
anubha says
Give it a few days… these things take a little time 🙂
Botox Leeds says
I always drink water and it is very beneficial for health. Mostly in summer, I use rice water one best drink.
niki says
Wat kind of rice should be use to get maximum benefits, the one we store in kitchen or some other variety ?
anubha says
Kitchen rice is fine though the organic variety is best as there are no chemicals that might get into the water that way.
Allison says
Just says to get organic.
Zeel says
How to get or make the rice water?
Elizabeth Battle says
I am seventy two years old and been using rice water over six months people that don’t know me think i am forty five years old i don’t boil my rice i keep it in a glass jar i use the water off the rice and put it over my face and body with my hand after i take my shower i put my body lotion on after i put the rice water on my body and i do the same thing in the morning after my shower when the water get low in the jar i just add more tap water and keep it on my vanity my rice is good for at least a month before i change it out with new rice my skin is spot less and very smooth my lotion keep the sour smell away trust me it really work better than any skin toner you buy out of stores