Flours are not only used to prepare delicious treats such as biscuits, cakes or bread, but can also become precious beauty allies. So let's jump into our cupboard to get a very special cosmetic, rice flour! Let's see what rice flour can do for our skin and how to take advantage of its benefits.
Rice flour, cosmetic properties
Rice flour, especially wholemeal, contains important antioxidants with an anti-aging action widely used in cosmetics, such as gamma oryzanol and ferulic acid. The skin, thanks to the action of these substances, is more luminous, elastic, toned and smooth (Manosroi et al, Pharm Biol, 2012). Not only that, ceramides, a type of lipid, in rice improve skin hydration and restore the skin barrier (Manosroi et al, J Nanosci Nanotechnol, 2011 - Lee et al, Biomol Ther, 2014). Finally, it is also worth noting that rice counteracts dark skin spots and helps to obtain a more even complexion thanks to phytic acid, which acts with a peeling effect (Chen et al, Molecules, 2021). Thanks to this action, rice flour not only helps in the case of photoaging with skin discoloration but also in the case of acne and spots caused by lesions (Sarkar et al, J Cutan Aesthet Surg, 2019).
Rice flour, how you can use it in cosmetics
Today we see how to prepare a simple cosmetic by exploiting the synergy between rice flour, green tea and nourishing and anti-aging vegetable oils. Green tea, in fact, acts on the skin with an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action, counteracts the damage of UV rays and helps regulate the production of sebum (OyetakinWhite et al, Oxid Med Cell Longev., 2012 - Mahmood et al, Hippokratia, 2013). Therefore, green tea as a cosmetic is suitable for any type of skin, both mature and young. Bring a cup of water to a boil. Remove from the heat and wait a few minutes for the water to reach 70° C. Add a green tea bag and leave to infuse for 10 minutes, then remove the bag and let the infusion cool down a bit. In a bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of rice flour and as much green tea as you need to make a cream. Add 1 teaspoon of argan oil, with a nourishing and moisturizing action, in the case of mature skin or 1 teaspoon of jojoba oil, useful for protecting the skin barrier and regulating sebum production, for young acne-prone skin. Apply on your face and leave on for 15 minutes, then rinse and continue with your usual treatment.
