04/19/2024
Glow Up with Rice Water
From viral videos to celebrity-endorsed skincare regimens, rice water extract has been making a splash among beauty enthusiasts all over the world. Touted as the new shortcut to Korean glass-like skin, let’s find out if good-old rice water extract is a fleeting fad or is there some grain of truth in its glow-boosting superpower.
Rice water extract has been a popular skincare secret in Korea, China, Japan and other Asian cultures for many centuries. This precious milky-white water is obtained from soaking and rinsing rice grains for hours and straining to separate the starchy water. The nutrient-rich leftover rice water is then applied to the skin to achieve that coveted K-beauty glow.
Known as a humble, gentle, yet effective skin-nourishing treatment, rice water extract is packed with vitamins like B1, C, E, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants that are believed to help minimize the appearance of enlarged pores, brighten and tighten skin, absorb excessive sebum, lighten scars and help soothe irritated skin.
Today, rice water is an esteemed ingredient and is widely accepted for its serious skincare benefits:
Skin Brightening
In 2018, a European research study* published in the Cosmetics journal tested a rice water gel applied on the skin for 28 days. The study revealed that rice water has potential effects on the skin comparable to the powerful antioxidant vitamin C. Rice water extract is rich in ferulic acid, an antioxidant, and allantoin, a chemical compound that can help brighten the skin, reduce the appearance of dark spots and even out skin tone.
Soothing Irritated Skin
Rice water is naturally loaded with starch and vitamins that may help calm skin irritation. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), an ingredient found in many modern personal care and home products like detergents and shampoos, depletes the skin’s natural oils. A 2002 research study has shown that using rice water twice a day can help relieve skin irritation and dryness caused by SLS.
Sun Protection
Did you know rice water extract has a natural SPF of 30? Antioxidant-rich rice water works great as a natural alternative to sunscreens that may contain harmful chemicals. In 2016, one study† revealed that rice water helps protect the skin from UV rays and environmental stressors when combined with other plant extracts. Upon application, rice water extract provides a cooling sensation on mild sun damage including itching, redness and sunburn.
Hydration
A menu staple in most Asian households, rice water is rich in carbohydrates which are known to help seal in moisture by forming a protective barrier on the skin’s surface. Rice water is a natural moisturizer leaving skin looking plump and feeling smooth.
Rice Up Your Regimen
If you’re looking to incorporate rice water extract to your daily routine, there’s no need to DIY this hero ingredient. Backed by LG beauty’s extensive scientific research, the Face Shop’s Rice Water Bright collection helps enhance the natural benefits of rice water extract through our exclusive fermentation technology.
Formulated with newly harvested rice that was fermented by yeast from white hibiscus flowers for 28 days, Rice Water Bright’s vegan-certified formulas will keep your skin moisturized and visibly glowing. The Face Shop’s evidence-based fermentation process is proven to boost nutrient density, maximizing the potency of rice water’s natural ingredients and nutrients.
Add rice water extract to every step of your skincare routine with The Face Shop Rice Water Bright collection.
Step 1: Double Cleanse for a Deeper Clean
K-beauty skincare routines recommend the double cleansing method, but it isn’t as simple as washing your face twice. It’s all about switching up from an oil-based cleanser to a water-based one to completely remove traces of stubborn dirt, oil and impurities. The first cleanse removes makeup and SPF. The second cleanse helps eliminate remaining pollutants and debris on your skin.
Jump start your double cleansing routine with Rice Water Bright cleansers that work for every skin type. Wash away the day in minutes with Rice Water Bright’s Light Facial Cleansing Oil. This lightweight, oil-based vegan formula contains skin-nourishing ingredients jojoba oil, rice bran oil and rice water extract to help remove traces of dirt and makeup while visibly brightening skin.
Follow with Rice Water Bright’s Foaming Cleanser, a creamy 3-in-1 cleanser that cleanses, brightens and moisturizes without peeling away your skin’s essential moisture.
A serum is comprised of extremely concentrated nutrients to treat specific skin concerns. Rice Water Bright’s Vegan Serum is a great option to build out your brightening routine. This quick-absorbing, high-performance formula with rice extract has been fermented for 28 days, which allows the ingredients to be better absorbed by your skin.
Step 2: Target Dryness with a Serum
A serum is comprised of extremely concentrated nutrients to treat specific skin concerns. Rice Water Bright’s Vegan Serum is a great option to build out your brightening routine. This quick-absorbing, high-performance formula with rice extract has been fermented for 28 days, which allows the ingredients to be better absorbed by your skin.
Based on clinical tests, 100% of respondents had measurable improvement of skin brightening after 4 weeks of using Rice Water Bright Vegan Serum.
Step 3: Always Moisturize
Choose a gentle moisturizer that’s ideal for all skin types year-round. Rice Water Bright’s Vegan Cream is a silky, creamy formula that easily absorbs into the skin. Enhanced with fermented rice water extract, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, this vegan formula has been clinically shown to immediately boost skin hydration after a single use.
The Proven Power of Rice Water
As they say, the proof is in the (rice!) pudding…rice water extract may have humble beginnings, but it has become a rising star in the skincare realm thanks to its time-proven nourishing benefits. From serums to moisturizers to cleansers, bring the radiance back to your skin with Rice Water Bright’s glow-boosting collection from The Face Shop.
