Like all things surrounding the famous Japanese artists, a geisha’s beauty routine is often presented as a thing of mystery. But truth be told, the secret of their beauty lies in all-natural ingredients. Things like green tea, rice, sea salt, adzuki beans, camellia oil, seaweed, and apple cider vinegar have long been included in their beauty regimen.
(Of course, it also comes down to a lifetime of eating well… but who’s counting?)
For us in the west, it’s never too late to start babying our skin using tips and tricks passed down through the centuries. This 2-ingredient rice milk cleanser will have your skin looking as flawless as a geisha’s in no time.
Benefits of Rice Milk
As we age, we lose moisture and elasticity in our skin. That means we should replace our harsh cleansers with gentle milk-based cleansers if we hope to keep our skin looking soft and radiant. That’s where rice can help.
Rice milk:
Fights inflammation – Brown rice flour has anti-inflammatory benefits that help treat sensitive skin, while rice milk provides vitamin A and calcium [source].
Exfoliates dry skin – Since the grains do not dissolve in liquid, rice helps gently exfoliate skin.
Clears pores – Its gentle exfoliant action can help clear pores and keep acne-causing bacteria at bay.
Won’t exacerbate dry skin – Since there aren’t any foaming ingredients to irritate or dry out skin, rice milk cleansers are perfect for more mature skin (or anyone that needs more serious hydration in their routine).
Has anti-aging effects – Recent research has uncovered three specific compounds contained in rice grains that were shown to inhibit aging [source].
How to Use a Rice Milk Cleanser
This is a great scrub for buffing away dead skin and adding some glow. If you have time, you can leave the scrub on your face as a quick mask (for 5 minutes or so) to help your skin make the most of the application of rice milk and rice flour.
After rinsing, follow up with your favorite moisturizer for super-radiant skin, all thanks to the wholesome goodness of rice! It’s an underestimated ingredient in almost everyone’s pantry and actually does a lot for hair and skin—that is, if you know how to use it.
If you’re in a pinch, a rice flour scrub with distilled water is fine too. A popular ingredient that’s touted to help with basically everything (skin, hair, nails) is rice washing, aka the water that’s left behind after washing rice. (In case you didn’t know, people usually wash their rice before cooking—it helps make it super fluffy!)
Mixing distilled water with rice flour helps you take advantage of all the goodness of rice water without needing to have washed a whole lot of rice. Studies have found that rice water has antioxidant abilities, protecting skin from free radicals and slowing down the signs of aging [source]. Pretty impressive, right?!
Supposedly, it’s even better when fermented for a few days—maybe something that I need to try the next time I buy some rice. It’s even supposed to help protect and beautify the hair [source]—and I kind of believe it when I see how gorgeous the results are!
Rice Milk Cleanser FAQs
How long does this cleanser last?
Because it contains water, it has a pretty short shelf-life. Store any leftover rice milk cleanser in the refrigerator and use it within 3–4 days, max.
Is rice milk cleanser good for dry skin?
Yes! Since it doesn’t strip your skin of its natural oils, this cleanser will keep dry skin feeling soft and moisturized. If needed, follow up with a light face oil for added moisture.
Does rice milk help lighten skin?
There haven’t been many scientific studies done on the subject, but anecdotal evidence suggests that it might. It wouldn’t hurt to try it out for a few weeks and see what happens.
Can I use a rice cleanser every day?
Sure! Just keep an eye out for redness or irritation and take a break if any issues pop up.
Rice Milk Cleanser
Equipment
- Small bowl and spoon
Materials
- 1/4 cup brown rice flour
- 1–2 tablespoons organic rice milk
Instructions
- Mix the flour and milk together to form a paste.
- To use, massage a small handful of rice gently into skin, avoiding the eye area. Let sit for 1–2 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
Notes
This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Gina Jansheski, a licensed, board-certified physician who has been practicing for more than 20 years. Learn more about Hello Glow’s medical reviewers here. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
Photos by Ana-Maria Stanciu
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This is a good idea! This works like a bomb, I'm impressed with the kind of skin that i have i still can't believe the results. I'm blown.
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I’m thinking of a blend here that I’d keep in dried form, then to use it you can add choice of a wet ingredient to make a paste at time of using it, making a blend if dry ingredients, store in a jar, then choose from many beneficial natural ingredients ( yogurt, homer, juices..mashed fruits, …) at the time of using the grains? No worries then about shelf life
I’m definetely trying this, but first would like to know what is the best way to store it and for how long?
Thanks!
Is this good for dry skin
These are great facial suggestions! I know about the ingredients and I know how important an antioxidant it is. For sure it will do wonders to our skin too. It’s on my list of things to try.
When making the rice milk cleanser, how long can you store it for?
This seems so easy, I must try it.
Always love your posts whenever I come across them :)
this sounds lovely! can’t wait to try it :)
I love using rice, adzuki beans, and green tea in my homemade skin care! i make a scrub/mask with green tea (brewed,) rice flour, and manuka honey. When the mask is done sitting on my skin, it makes a lovely gentle exfoliant when it comes time to rinse.