Rice water on your face: what it really does and how to use it safely

Rice water has become a viral ritual: rice is soaked, sometimes fermented, and the water is used as a toner or mask to achieve glowing skin. It is an ancient practice in Asian tradition, which lends it credibility. But tradition and evidence are not the same thing.

Rice water is not a miraculous active ingredient, nor is it useless. It mainly contains starch, which has a documented protective and soothing effect, plus trace amounts of antioxidants. The real limitation is homemade rice water: it contains no preservatives and, within a few hours, becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and mold.

Article written by Elisa Avalle, founder of LeLang Skin Care and a dermocosmetics specialist. Cover image generated with the support of artificial intelligence.

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What is really in rice water

When rice is left in water or cooked, it mainly releases starch. Small amounts of B vitamins, minerals, inositol, and phenolic compounds such as ferulic acid, an antioxidant for which rice is a natural source, also dissolve into the water. However, the amounts are low and variable: they depend on the type of rice, soaking time, washing, and temperature. There is no way to know how much is being applied.

The richest part of the grain is the bran, only a minimal amount of which ends up in soaking water. This is where rice bran oil is obtained, a cosmetic ingredient with a much more defined composition.

What the studies say

There are few studies on rice water applied to the face. The strongest data concern rice starch: in a clinical study published in Acta Dermato-Venereologica in 2002, rice starch baths promoted the recovery of experimentally damaged skin barriers in healthy volunteers and people with atopic dermatitis. This is the same principle behind using oatmeal on irritated skin: the starch forms a film that protects and provides relief.

In 2018, a study published in the journal Cosmetics measured antioxidant activity in rice water in the laboratory, as well as its ability to inhibit elastase, the enzyme that breaks down elastin. These are in vitro data: they show that the substance has potential, not that applying it to the face reduces wrinkles. There is no clinical evidence for the brightening effect promised in many videos.

The real problem: homemade rice water

A water-based cosmetic contains preservatives for a precise reason: where there is water and nourishment, microorganisms grow. Rice water is water with starch and sugars, making it an almost ideal breeding ground. At room temperature, it spoils within a day. Fermented rice water is deliberately left in contact with microorganisms, and there is no way to know which ones have grown.

Applying a contaminated liquid to the face can cause irritation, folliculitis, or infections, especially if the skin has small lesions or the product gets near the eyes.

If you still want to try it

1. Prepare a small amount to use within the day, and keep it in the refrigerator.
2. Use washed rice, boiled and cooled water, and a clean container.
3. Avoid the fermented version, which carries the highest microbiological risk.
4. Do not apply it to open pimples, lesions, or near the eyes, and patch-test it first on a small area.
5. Throw it away if its smell or color changes or if it becomes cloudy.

The formulated alternative

The ingredients that make rice water interesting also exist in cosmetic form: rice extracts and ferments, bran oil, and ferulic acid, with a known concentration and a preservative system that keeps them safe for months. If you are looking for an antioxidant that protects the skin and makes it look brighter, ferulic acid in a formulated serum does, in a measurable way, what rice water promises without guarantees.

FERULIC + HA SERUM Vitamin C and ferulic acid face serum Antioxidant and tone-evening, with dual hyaluronic acid. Helps prevent dark sp... Discover FERULIC + HA SERUM

The glowing, firm-looking skin associated with rice water is actually the result of a layered hydration routine, not a single ingredient: we explain it in glass skin.

Where to go next

If the idea is to use rice water as a toner, it is worth first understanding what that step of your routine is really for: we discuss it in facial toner: what is it for. To choose the right product for your skin, at LeLang partner pharmacies and parapharmacies you can get in-person advice, or you can book a consultation with the founder.