Rice flour has been used in Eastern countries as a skin and hair beauty aid for almost 5,000 years. Records dating to 2800 B.C. indicate rice was used medicinally, psychologically, and for beauty – truly, a plant that can do anything! Our modern culture is finally seeing rice flour’s many attributes, and food ingredient supplier Bell Chem would like to share news, studies, and information pertaining to the use of rice flour in cosmetics. 

Benefits of Whole-Grain Rice

Whole-grain (100%) rice is preferred over whole rice or white flour because it contains all portions of the rice grain. Think about a single grain of rice: what is it? It’s a seed packaged inside a nutrient-filled covering that protects and feeds it until it is planted and begins to mature. Whole-grain rice contains the rice bran, germ and endosperm – the entire growth package. Whole flours contain the endosperm, a portion of the bran, and most of the germ – only a portion of the healthiest portions of rice. White flour is generally only the endosperm – the seed itself. Because bran contains the highest amount of nutrients, while the endosperm in the white rice flour is simply a carbohydrate, it is important to choose carefully when purchasing rice flour.

With this in mind, let’s peek inside a single rice grain and see how the different components can benefit skin and hair health.

Parts of Whole-Grain Rice

Bran and germ are the rice grain’s abundant sources of nutrition. They protect its contents with an ensemble of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory chemicals to help nurture growth. These chemicals function similarly in the human body. The rigidity of the bran is slightly apparent even when ground; it acts as a natural, mild exfoliant. Here are the different components and how each one helps with skincare:

• Allantoin: The soothing effect of allantoin prevents inflammation, deters sun damage, and recent studies report that it may stimulate wound healing.

• Ferulic acid: A bioactive that may prevent sunburn by blocking ultraviolet radiation, ferulic acid blends antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties into an effective cosmetic treatment. Ferulic acid is often used in conjunction with vitamins C and E (other components effective in skin care) since it lengthens their shelf life.

• Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA or vitamin B10): Stimulates cellular repair and prevents damage from ultraviolet rays.

• Phytic acid: Like ferulic acid, phytic acid is located within the rice kernel’s bran. Phytic acid is an alpha hydroxy antioxidant found to be more gentle than glycolic or salicylic acid for reducing hyperpigmentation and treating acne. The acidity helps the skin shed its outermost dead skin cells, leaving a glowing, more youthful appearance.

• Proteins: The proteins supporting the endosperm have proven to be effective in repairing damaged hair and acting as overall conditioners.

• Endosperm: The starchy endosperm clears skin and cleans hair by absorbing oil on and slightly below the skin’s surface. Rice starch quickly binds to water molecules to stabilize fats. 

Rice flour has major benefits when it comes to caring for hair and skin. To see why, it helps to break a single grain of rice down into its many components. For thousands of years, rice has been used as more than just food, and it certainly will be for generations to come. 

Bell Chem is your food ingredient supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including rice flour. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.