Rice is at the base of the Brazilian diet, forming the unbeatable pair with beans. But in addition to being part of our dish, this grain has also been used for aesthetic purposes.
Incidentally, this use is not from today: for hundreds of years Asians have been using rice water to keep the skin evenly colored and to prevent the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
By itself, rice water has a soothing effect on the skin, which aids in the regeneration of the outermost layer.
In addition, rice is rich in starch, minerals, niacin (vitamin B3) and antioxidants. When these substances are extracted into water, it has moisturizing and antioxidant properties, helping to prevent and lighten sun spots and melasmas.
The prevention of blemishes also happens because rice has substances that can bind to the copper present in the skin, which participates in the production of melanin. In this way, pigment synthesis is impaired, preventing darkening of some areas of the body.
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How to make rice water
The homemade rice water recipe is very simple: you just have to soak a glass of rice in water for 12 hours, strain the liquid and keep it in the fridge for up to two days.
Another way to make rice water is to cook the beans: just put the rice and water in the skin without any seasoning and let it boil for 10 minutes. When the water is a very milky white tone, strain the rice (which can be used for food) and store the water in the refrigerator.
This water can be used as an astringent tonic or directly on blemishes, including dark circles. Simply moisten a cotton swab or cotton swab, wipe the stain and wait for the liquid to dry.
It is recommended to apply rice water daily for at least 30 days to observe the results. Do not forget to use sunscreen before sun exposure, as radiation is one of the main factors for the appearance and accentuation of spots.
Results vary from person to person and will be most noticeable on the most superficial spots. If the blotch is located on a deeper layer of the skin, rice water treatment will not have the desired effect.
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Fermented rice water: potentiation of the effect
When rice water is fermented, its effects are even more potent. This is because, with fermentation, new compounds appear in this mixture. One of them is kojic acid, which is used in the production of skin whitening cosmetics and skin texture enhancers.
To get home-brewed rice water, you can extract it with one of the two methods explained above and let it stand at room temperature for 24 to 48 hours until it is slightly acidic. After that, store the liquid in the refrigerator.
To speed up the fermentation process, do not strain the rice, leaving it with the water. Thus, the liquid will ferment for 12 to 24 hours, and then it should be stored in a refrigerator (now without the beans). The disadvantage of this method is that rice cannot be used for food.
Remember that no home product can replace sunscreen? It can even be dangerous to make substitutions for this. If the blemishes do not regress, it is always advisable to seek professional help from a dermatologist.
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