Easy at-home recipes plus important tips for using this naturally brightening beauty ingredient

Written by: 100% PURE®
Washing Rice Main

Still using rice as a side dish in your skin care routine? A single grain of rice holds beautifying power far beyond its size – making the cult-favorite ingredient rice water a secret weapon for skin.

If you’ve got dull skin, dryness, or dark spots, try using rice water in your regimen. Here’s our list of five key benefits that rice water has for skin, hair, and body. Time to see what this little grain can do!


Sake Caraffe
What Kind of Rice Water Should You Use?

Rice water is amazing for your skin, but wait a minute – you can’t just use any old rice water! For a DIY hair treatment, homemade chilled rice water can be used to rinse hair. It will strengthen, improve hair elasticity, and enhance shine. For the skin? That’s a different story.

Homemade/fresh white rice water can work well to minimize the appearance of pores and create a luminous inner glow. On the other hand, fermented rice water (aka sake) is like the fresh stuff on steroids. Antioxidants, amino acids, and vitamins in rice water are increased in the fermentation process. That’s why we prefer using fermented rice water for skin.


Rice Water Paddy
Skin-Beneficial Nutrients in Fermented Rice Water

Curious about which vitamins and minerals are hiding in this undercover beauty elixir? Allantoin can be found in rice water, a nutrient that helps to calm skin and promote healing. Vitamin A also makes an appearance, playing a key role in skin cell production, skin health, and firmness. It’s one of the key nutrients we look to for anti-aging power in our skin care products.

When fermented, rice water also develops a nutrient called pitera, which contains more age corrective properties. There’s also ferulic acid, which can help to block UV damage. This acid neutralizes oxidative damage and boosts the effectiveness of antioxidant vitamins C and E. Vitamin C – also found in rice water – is great for toning and enhancing brightened skin and a move even complexion.

PRO TIP: For a double-dose of antioxidant power, layer your Fermented Rice Water Serum and Vitamin C Serum. Allow your first serum to dry for about 60-90 seconds before layering on the next. Follow with a daily SPF.


DIY Rice Water for Hair and Skin

So how do we recommend using homemade rice water for skin and hair health? Luckily this is one beauty mystery that’s easy to solve: start in your pantry! Select an organic long grain white rice, and use distilled water for your recipes.


DIY Hair Rinse
When it comes to hair care, you can use it as a regular hair rinse. Notice after consistent use that your hair and scalp with feel more hydrated and less itchy. Split ends will look smoother, and new hair growth will feel silky and shiny.

Recipe:

  1. For a basic rice water mixture, measure equal ratio of cups of uncooked rice to distilled water. Start with 2:2, then increase or decrease depending on hair length and density

  2. Pour rice and water into a bowl, mixing gently with clean fingers

  3. After about 30-45 minutes and occasional stirring, water should be a cloudy white color. Strain and discard rice grains, keeping only the water

  4. Shampoo hair and rinse hair as usual

  5. Slowly pour rice water over hair, massaging into scalp and from roots to ends. Allow to soak for 15 minutes before rinsing with warm water


DIY Hand Soak
Hands are one of the first areas to show signs of aging. That’s why we love a DIY hand soak with fermented rice water! Dryness and dark spots are common on the hands, due to high levels of UV exposure and little sun protection. Using fermentation will help enhance skin-brightening benefits, and restore a youthful glow and suppleness to hands.

Recipe:

  1. Follow the same basic rice water recipe as above, then discard rice

  2. Seal your rice water in an airtight container. Let it sit at room temperature for a total of 24 hours

  3. 30 minutes before use, mix a few drops of lavender, geranium, or sandalwood essential oil into your fermented rice water. These will boost its brightening power and improve the scent

  4. Soak clean hands in your mixture for up to 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water and moisturize with a natural hand cream


DIY Skin Essence
We saved the best for last, with an ultra skin nourishing recipe for a rice water skin essence. You can use it twice daily as a skin toner, or spritz it onto skin before applying your serums and moisturizers.

Recipe:

  1. Start with the basic rice water recipe above

  2. Mix in an essential oil of your choice; we recommend rose, geranium, or lavender

  3. Pour into a small, facial mist spray bottle

  4. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week to avoid fermentation; shake gently before each use to redistribute essential oils


Fermented Rice Water Products
100% PURE™ Skin Care Made with Sake

Looking for ultra-concentrated potencies of rice water in your skin care? We blend sake (fermented rice water) with skin-healthy vitamins and essential oils. These formulas target dullness, dry skin, and dark spots for a more luminous complexion. Here are our top (5) products that fully utilize the power of rice water:

Fermented Rice Water Cleanser
We saved the best for last, with an ultra skin nourishing recipe for a rice water skin essence. You can use it twice daily as a skin toner, or spritz it onto skin before applying your serums and moisturizers.

Fermented Rice Water Toner
Witch hazel and willow bark calm the skin while niacinamide, white mulberry, and licorice gently brighten the complexion. Sodium hyaluronate replenishes and primes the skin, to retain essential moisture. Purifying essential oils lift away dirt, oil, and debris for a second-wave clean sweep.

Fermented Rice Water Serum
Packed with super hydrating vegan components, this serum employs organic aloe and glycerin to replenish lost moisture. Includes calming, skin-brightening essential oils of lavender, bergamot, and blood orange, which also contribute to long-term skin clarity.

Dark Spot Remover & Brightening Serum - Main

Brightening Serum
This powerhouse serum uses lemon juice, kojic acid, and sake to encourage rapid renewal of cells. Enlivens dull-looking skin for a more radiant, balanced complexion. Features natural skin lighteners like bearberry, vitamin C, and fruit acids — not harsh bleaches.

Dark Spot Remover
A dark spot remover that visibly reduces hyperpigmentation, scars, and dark spots. Made with gentle, natural ingredients and free of chemical bleaching agents. Perfect as a spot treatment, or as an all-over nighttime treatment beneath your favorite PM moisturizer.

We carefully hand-select products based on strict purity standards, and only recommend products we feel meet this criteria. 100% PURE™ may earn a small commission for products purchased through affiliate links.

The information in this article is for educational use, and not intended to substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should not be used as such.

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