Shahnaz Husain
We’re well into winter now . The merriest season of the year is here, the Holidays, shaddis, lots of winter barbecue and hot tea ,Pakodas. It’s time to mix up your beauty arsenal, because with winter comes a whole slew of problems for your skin, nails, and hair.
At-home beauty can be as simple as going through your kitchen cabinets. Another plus point of it is completely cost-effective and easily available.
Sometimes the best solution is the simplest one, and that definitely applies to rice water.
The magical liquid Kanji or rice water is traditional home remedy used as a beauty potion for skin whitening, brightening, tightening pores, reducing black spots and make skin firmer and softer by women around the world .
Rice water, the water leftover after boiling or soaking rice in it is loaded with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that are essential for maintaining healthy, beautiful skin during winters. Rice water contains the nourishing antioxidant ferulic acid, as well as allantoin, an organic compound that helps soothe and heal the skin during freezing temperature. Rice water has inositol, a carbohydrate that can repair hair damaged due to extreme weather conditions and dryness during winters. It can strengthen the roots, make it smooth and silky by combating the losses due to natural atmospheric conditions.
It is commonly available in every home in India. From ancient times, when cosmetics were not available, such natural ingredients were used for beauty care.
Rice water is a natural skin toner which promotes cell growth, stimulates blood flow and keeps the skin smooth and bright in chilly weather conditions .
You can use rice water cubes to boosts collagen and nourish, refresh skin. Put rice water into the ice tray and freeze it. Add cucumber too. Apply these ice cubes onto the face and uncovered areas around the face, neck and uncovered area around face etc as a toner. Rice water is great to keep the skin glowing and hydrated during winters .
You can use rice water for reducing dark patches or achieving fair complexion by mixing rice powder with raw milk to form thick paste . Apply thick paste on your face and uncovered skin and leave it for few minutes and wash it with clean fresh water. Repeat it once in a week to achieve amazing results .Although many beauty companies have launched soaps, toners, and creams etc containing rice water but it is always advisable to go for herbal homely products .
Rice water acts as excellent hair conditioner. You can add a few drops of essential oils like rosemary, lavender or tea tree oil and apply it on hair to balance PH level on the scalp and act as an excellent hair conditioner. After shampooing, apply rice water to your hair along with a few drops of lavender essential oil or rosemary essential oil. Let the rice water dry on hair in a natural environment for 15-20 minutes and then rinse with normal fresh water. Fermented rice water is rich in vitamin B which also happens to promote melanin production for hair.
Fermented rice water protects the skin from UV rays and sun tan. Leave your boiled rice water out on your kitchen in open space for 48 hours. When it starts to smell slightly sour, bottle it up and store it in your fridge. You can use fermented rice water in the same ways you can use regular rice water. Using rice water is also an effective remedy in treating sunburns. Applying it on sun-damaged skin can help the burns heal faster.
You can also prepare rice water with fermentation. In a glass jar put some rice and water (twice the quantity of rice). Keep it at room temperature for a day or two. Strain the mixture and keep the water in the fridge.
Rice wine increases the collagen in the skin, which keeps your skin supple and helps prevent wrinkling.
Rice is part of India beauty legacy which contains ferulic acid, a power antioxidant and allantois which contains anti- inflammatory properties. So, whether you eat rice or not, use it in your face pack for glowing skin.The starch in rice water is said to soothe the skin in conditions like eczema. Dip a clean washcloth into the rice water, then apply it over the affected area. After 2 to 3 minutes, allow the skin to dry by itself. In fact, acne-prone skin or even skin with acne eruptions can be washed with rice water to soothe and heal the skin. It also helps to tighten the pores and refine the skin. Rice water may be applied on the face with cotton wool and then massaged for a few minutes to revitalize the skin. In fact, rice water has an astringent effect and helps to prevent pimples and acne.
Mix corn starch powder and rice powder in 1;2 ratios. Apply the powdery material evenly on the face by using makeup brush and wash with clean water after few minutes for silky smooth skin.
Rice powder or rice flour can be used as a facial scrub. It is ideally suited to oily skin and is effective as a facial scrub. It helps to deep cleanse the skin and unclog the pores, discouraging and dislodging blackheads. It removes dead skin cells, tightens the pores and brightens the skin. Mix rice powder with curd and a pinch of turmeric. Apply on the face and rub gently on the skin with circular movements. Wash off with water.
Rice powder can also be added to ubtan or body scrubs, along with gram flour, curd, rose water, powdered lemon and orange peels, etc.
Rice wine contains antioxidant properties which prevent premature ageing and wrinkles on the skin.
Prepare thick paste of rice flour, castor oil and banana and apply over dark circles and wash it after some time with clean fresh water. It will lighten skin around eyes and keep you younger and fresh.
Take rice powder and Multani mitti in equal proportions and make a paste of it . Apply the paste on your scalp and rinse off with fresh water after 45 minutes for smooth, soft and lustrous hair.
Mix honey and rice powder and apply the thick paste on face and open areas. Leave it to dry in natural atmosphere and wash after it has dried completely.
Cook a cup of rice. Remove the water and grind it to a thick paste with honey and milk . Apply a thick layer of this paste on the face and neck and let it to dry before washing it off with lukewarm water.
Add yoghurt to the mixture of sugar and rice. Apply the paste on face and wash your face with fresh water after half an hour to get flawless, fair and attractive complexion.
It is preferable to use organic rice, clean filtered water, and rinse the rice thoroughly before use to get rid of any topical pollutants and pesticides. White rice is preferred over brown or red rice – since the water from the former has more extensive benefits .
Transcending the boundaries of food, rice offers a plethora of benefits for your skin and hair, a rather surprising beauty staple that’s been used across the world.
(The author is a beauty expert)
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