Rice in Cosmetic and Home Remedies

Would you be surprised to hear that the humble rice is used in many expensive cosmetics and skin creams? A few examples of these are Kose Moisture Skin Repair Cream, L’Occitane Purifying Rice Toner, Clarifying Rice Mask, Ultra Matte Face Fluid, and Elegant Minerals Rice Setting Powder.

Here are three of the most common uses for rice in skincare and cosmetics.

• Used to absorb oil to achieve matte skin. If you have very oily skin, brushing rice powder lightly over your face will give you a very matte look. Because of this, it also makes an excellent base for make-up. Rice powder absorbs oil very well and keeps your make-up from fading throughout the day.
• In wrinkle creams. Many anti-aging skin creams and wrinkle creams contain ceramides that were extracted from rice. The ceramides in rice closely mimic our skin’s, which can give it a more youthful appearance.
• Mineral make-up. Rice powder is used in some loose or pressed powder compacts. It is especially found in mineral make-up. Rice powder does a good job of covering blemishes and flaws to give the skin a smooth finish, and yet it allows the skin to breathe and does not clog pores.

REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
Study: Ferulic Acid Stabilizes a Solution of Vitamins C and E and Doubles its Photoprotection of Skin
Ferulic acid is a potent ubiquitous plant antioxidant. Its incorporation into a topical solution of 15% L-ascorbic acid and 1% tocopherol improved chemical stability of the vitamins (C+E) and doubled photoprotection to solar-simulated irradiation of skin from 4-fold to approximately 8-fold as measured by both erythema and sunburn cell formation. Inhibition of apoptosis was associated with reduced induction of caspase-3 and caspase-7. This antioxidant formulation efficiently reduced thymine dimer formation. This combination of pure natural low molecular weight antioxidants provides meaningful synergistic protection against oxidative stress in skin and should be useful for protection against photoaging and skin cancer. From the Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2005). Source: http://www.nature.com/jid/journal/v125/n4/full/5603565a.html

Conclusion: Ferulic acid not only provides increased stability to a solution of vitamins C+E, but also adds a substantial synergistic photoprotection, essentially doubling its efficacy.

For more information please visit website: www.whiterskin.info

Rice in Cosmetic Products

Make your own skin lightening rice mask;
If you’re not planning to eat the rice made from your rice water, there is one thing you can do with all that uncooked rice you used… Make it into a mask!

Rice paste can be applied as a mask

Here’s how:

Step 1. Grind a handful of uncooked rice into a fine powder. You can use a coffee grinder to do this.
Step 2. Add some milk to the rice powder – enough to make it into a paste.
Step 3. Apply this paste over your face and neck. Leave for 20-30 minutes.
Step 4. Wash the mask off with some warm water.
Frequency and results: Do this consistently at least once a week and you should see your skin lighten after a month.Rice paste will not only lead to fairer skin, but also a smoother complexion with fewer wrinkles.

For more information please visit website: www.whiterskin.info

Skin Lightening ' Rice Water' Toner

Washing your face in rice water can give you fairer and more translucent skin. While results will not be dramatic, you should see your skin become lighter within a month. The best part of this is that it’s so easy to do.(For the sake of not wasting food, I do encourage you to only do this if you plan on cooking the rice for your meals later!

You can add water to uncooked rice to make your very own 'rice water' cleanser and toner

Step 1. Using a clean bowl, soak some uncooked brown rice, white rice or red rice in water. A handful of rice should be more than enough.
Step 2. Run your fingers through this, as if you’re cleaning the rice.
Step 3. The water should look pretty cloudy right now. Drain this water into another clean bowl.
Step 4. Splash the ‘rice water’ over your face repeatedly (Tip: exfoliate your skin first with a scrub or washcloth so the rice water can be better absorbed). For even better skin lightening, do not towel your face dry but leave it damp to air-dry on its own.

Frequency and results: Do this consistently at least once a week and you should see your skin lighten after a month. If you feel comfortable, you can also use it a few times a week. The ferulic acid in rice is not a very strong acid, and the water would have diluted/weakened the solution further, so there should not be skin sensitivity. However, always use your own good judgement as everyone’s skin is different.If you have more rice water left over, you can pat the remaining water on your face and neck or refrigerate the rest.

For more information please visit website: www.whiterskin.info

An Asian Skin Whitening Secret

Asian women are known for their delicate beauty and smooth, fair skin. This is probably why I’m always intrigued by any traditional skin lightening remedies from the Orient.One of these remedies is rice powder and rice water.

What is rice powder? What is rice water?
Rice powder is simply uncooked rice that has been ground into a fine powder. Water or milk added to rice powder creates a paste, which can be used as a face mask.Rice water is the nutrient-rich water that comes from soaking or washing uncooked rice. Rice water is cloudy in appearance.

How can rice powder lighten our skin?
There are plenty of anecdotes about how rice powder and more specifically, rice water, can keep our skin youthful and translucent looking. But why does rice powder work, exactly?

1) Rice contains a high concentration of PABA. PABA (para aminobenzoic acid) is a very good sunscreen. When taken internally, PABA also raises the Vitamin C levels in our bodies.
2) Rice also contains two other sun protecting agents – Ferulic acid and allantoin.
a) Ferulic acid is an antioxidant. Incredibly, scientists have found that when Ferulic acid is added to Vitamin C and E, its sun protection ability doubled. (Scroll down this page to read an extract of the study’s findings.)
b) Allantoin is a good anti-inflammatory agent. It soothes sunburns and also promotes the skin’s repair.

3) When applied as a paste on the skin, rice powder has been shown to inhibit tyrosinase.

For more information please visit website: www.whiterskin.info

What is the difference between sweet rice flour and glutinous rice flour?

1) " In Japanese, rice flour is called komeko (米粉 ^?) and is available two forms: glutinous and non-glutinous. The glutinous rice is also called sweet rice, but despite its name it is neither sweet nor does it contain gluten; the word glutinous is used to describe the stickiness of the rice when it is cooked ".

2) What is flour made out of?
" An ingredient used in many foods, flour is a fine powder made from cereal grain or other starchy food sources. It is most commonly made from wheat, but also corn, rye, barley and rice, amongst many other grasses and even non-grain plants ". 

3) What is the difference between rice flour and sweet rice flour?
" Rice flour is ground from long- or medium-grain rice, the same kind of rice that most of us probably have in our pantries. It has some thickening properties, but is better used in gluten-free flour mixes for baked goods. Sweet rice flour is ground from short-grain glutinous rice, aka "sticky rice."

4) What is the use of rice flour?
" Rice flour (also rice powder) is a form of flour made from finely milled rice. It is distinct from rice starch, which is usually produced by steeping rice in lye. Rice flour is a particularly good substitute for wheat flour, which causes irritation in the digestive systems of those who are gluten-intolerant ". 

Rice Flour

Rice flour (also rice powder) is a form of flour made from finely milled rice. It is distinct from rice starch, which is usually produced by steeping rice in lye. Rice flour is a particularly good substitute for wheat flour, which causes irritation in the digestive systems of those who are gluten-intolerant ".


A box of sweet rice flour
Rice flour (also rice powder) is a form of flour made from finely milled rice. It is distinct from rice starch, which is usually produced by steeping rice in lye. Rice flour is a particularly good substitute for wheat flour, which causes irritation in the digestive systems of those who are gluten-intolerant. Rice flour is also used as a thickening agent in recipes that are refrigerated or frozen since it inhibits liquid separation.



Mochi 
Production Rice flour may be made from either white rice or brown rice. To make the flour, the husk of rice or paddy is removed and raw rice is obtained, which is then ground to flour.

Popular Culture 


La Diaphane, Poudre de Riz, rice flour used as a cosmetic, endorsed by Sarah Bernhardt, at 32 Avenue de l'Opéra Paris
Types


Japanese rice bread
Rice flour has a presence in South Indian cuisine too. Some of the examples include Dosa, Puttu, Golibaje (Mangalore bajji) and Kori Rotti. It is also mixed with wheat, millet, other cereal flours, and sometimes dried fruits or vegetables to make Manni, a kind of baby food -Wikipedia 

Rice Flour for Dumplings

Photo Credit Laura Beth Drilling/Demand Media

Rice flour is commonly used in Asia to create dumplings filled with both sweet and savory mixtures. To make a dough, mix rice flour, water and sometimes baking powder and sugar together to create a ball. After resting, roll out the dough into a long piece and divide it into the specified number of pieces. Flatten the balls, fill them with marinated pork, mixed vegetables or sweet bean paste. Seal the dumplings by bringing the sides together and pressing the edges together. Flip the dumplings over and steam in a paper-lined steamer for about 10 minutes or until cooked through.

For more information please visit website: www.lifestrong.com

Rice Flour for Thickening

Photo Credit Laura Beth Drilling/Demand Media

Rice flour works in the same manner as wheat flour for thickening soups, sauces and gravies. To thicken a dish, create a roux from oil, onion and rice flour as a base before adding your liquid and simmering it. You can also use it at the end of a preparation by making a slurry. Add 1 part rice flour to 4 parts water, and mix thoroughly until it's smooth, with no clumps. Add 1 cup of liquid from your sauce or soup and mix well before adding the mixture back to the pot and stirring.

For more information please visit website: www.lifestrong.com

How to Cook and Bake with Rice Flour

Photo Credit Laura Beth Drilling/Demand Media

Rice flour works in the same manner as wheat flour for thickening soups, sauces and gravies. To thicken a dish, create a roux from oil, onion and rice flour as a base before adding your liquid and simmering it. You can also use it at the end of a preparation by making a slurry. Add 1 part rice flour to 4 parts water, and mix thoroughly until it's smooth, with no clumps. Add 1 cup of liquid from your sauce or soup and mix well before adding the mixture back to the pot and stirring.

For more information please visit website: www.lifestrong.com

How to Bake a Cake with Rice Flour

Baking ingredients in a glass bowl. Photo Credit VizzPhotography/iStock/Getty Images

Brown or white rice flour may be used as a gluten-free alternative to wheat flour. When baking a cake using rice flour, it is best to use white rice flour, according to Lisa Lewis, Ph.D. However, different brands of white rice flour vary in texture, with some being more grainy than others. You may need to experiment to find a brand of white rice flour that is similar in softness to the typical all-purpose flour.

Things You'll Need

• Two 8-inch round cake pans
• Non-stick baking spray with flour
• Two bowls
• Measuring cup
• Electric mixer
• 6 tbsp. margarine
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup rice flour
• 6 tbsp. potato starch flour
• 2 tbsp. tapioca flour
• 1 tsp. guar gum
• 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 3/4 cup milk or casein-free milk substitute with 2 tsp. lemon juice

Step 1
Preheat  oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 2
Spay the two cake pans with a light coating of non-stick baking spray.

Step 3
Mix together the margarine, sugar and eggs in a bowl until well blended.

Step 4
Combine the rice flour, potato starch flour, tapioca flour, guar gum, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a separate bowl.

Step 5
Pour the milk into a measuring cup and mix the vanilla extract into it.

Step 6
Add the flour and milk mixtures to the egg mixture gradually, using a low speed on your mixer and alternating between flour and milk. Mix just until well combined.

Step 7
Spoon the batter equally into the prepared cake pans. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the cake is light brown and springs back when lightly pressed in the center. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes then turn out onto wire rack until completely cool.

For more information please visit the website: www.lifestrong.com