Rice Essence Rituals (4)
From folk knowledge to world class spas

The rice grain has traditionally been considered a source of beauty in Asia. In Indonesia, white rice was soaked with spring water until a layer of froth forms at the top of the water. The froth would be skimmed off to be applied on acne prone skin. This formula is also used to whiten and smoothen the complexion. Over sustained use, the skin is protected from various kinds of diseases related to old age and infections. This range of rice products have been used for many generations of discerning Asian women. No fancy packaging or advertising, just the natural goodness and honesty of rice.

For years, scientists observed that although the female rice farmers in Japan spent long hours working in the blazing sun, their skin remained fair and supple, with few signs if wrinkling or dryness. As these scientists were to find out: beauty lies in the very grain of rice that these farmers toiled over. Long before the scientists did, Japanese rice farmers had recognized the extraordinary properties in the rice bran. Their womenfolk traditionally used the water that was left over from washing white rice to bathe in or to wash their face. 

They noticed that their skin appeared ever more beautiful, smooth and soft. They also drank the 'rice-water' taken from the boiling of rice to bathe or to wash their face. They noticed that their skin appeared ever more beautiful, smooth and soft. They also drank the 'rice-water' taken from the boiling of the rice during cooking, believing that it had 'healing' properties.

The result is skin that is not just white as in fair but rather transclucent in appearance.

In Thailand, rice is considered most nutrient-packed when unripe, and 'rice milk' pressings of the green rice shoots were fed to infants. Another bygone baby food was the smooth liquid residues drained from partly cooked rice (nam um), also given as a tonic to those nursing an illness or hangover. Another kind of rice water, nam sao khao - washings from the first rinsing of grains before cooking - can transfer its goodness through human skin. Siamese apparently used it as a shampoo and achieved facial rejuvenation by enveloping the head over a bowl of steaming nam sao khao, in an earlier incarnation of today's 'home spa' concept.

Now Khao Hom Mali  is finding a niche at Thailand's world-class spas. And it's not just via unmilled rice being featured in spa menus, heralding its return into today's health-conscious diet. Rice has become a skin therapy.

Aromatherapy massage using essential oil from jasmine rice bran not only imparts its relaxing signature scent, but is an effective way of delivering Vitamin E, of which three kinds (tocopherol, tocotrienol and oryzanol) are found only in rice. A key to maintaining youthfulness and beauty, E is noted for moisturising, anti-oxidation and sun shielding.

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Whitening Young Rice Milk Cream
Purity of young rice bran
5 grams
Thailand

Modern research led to a finding that an extract of rice bran had a chemical structure similar to ceramide found in the human skin, which is responsible for cell regeneration and growth. It not only has significant moisturizing and water retaining effects on the skin but also increases the production of collagen that results in younger, radiant skin. The essence of the young rice bran is now harnessed in an easy to use ointment. Formulated with the best natural rice bran skin care ingredients made from Rice bran extracts, Rice bran ceramides and Rice bran oils.

[ Ingredients ]

Young rice milk, honey (rice bran ceramides, rice essence)

[ Function and Indication ]

Moistens the skin, smoothen and lightens the complexion.

[ Usage and dosage ]

Wash the skin with water and apply this ointment after some drying of the skin, 1-2 times daily.

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Pure Rice Powder
Traditional beauty treatment for the complexion
Malaysia
100 grams

Kitchen cosmetics refer to what we use for the face should be as good to be eaten as food. Rice has an age old reputation as a skin healer, softener and whitener. Tropical Asian women have a head start over those in the West. The use of rice has been an integral part of their traditional lifestyles for centuries. In the absence of manufactured cosmetics, Asian women have used rice in its many forms as a secret aid to beauty. Usually, Freshly harvested rice is de-husked, pounded, powdered, dried and mixed with other herbs to produced beads. These beads are kept in containers for later use.

This tradition is now available in an easy to use form.

[ Usage ]

The beads are mixed and dissolved in water and apply over the skin. No rinsing is needed. Apply at night before sleep.

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White Rice Cake
Compact rice compress
Hoi Tong
Indonesia

This white rice powder compact has been in use since the 50's. However, the use of rice powder goes way back in the early sixteenth century when the Japanese Geisha began using a white foundation made from rice powder that has since been replaced by a white cream. The 'Hoi Tong' white rice powder has a unique formulation which makes use of the curative and exfoliative properties of white rice. Compressed in a cube, it is easy to use and portable. It is also formulated to ensure that the very fine rice powder adheres to the skin and not fall off.

The highest compliment a Japanese women can ever be paid is to be called a nuka bijin, which literally means a rice bran beauty. Used for many centuries - rice bran or nuka is an age old secret of the East for maintaining beautiful skin. It is used in many ways - to cleanse, exfoliate, revitalize, prevent wrinkles, make the skin smooth and blemish free.

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Rice Water
Liquid essence of rice bran
Japanese formulated, Japanese made
100ml

The famed Japanese rice water. It is an accidental visit to a traditional sake brewery which showed that the brewery workers had extraordinarily soft and youthful hands. Even an elderly man with pronounced wrinkles on his face possessed the silky smooth hands of a young boy. It has been used for generations to smoothen and beautify the complexion. It is transparent, odorless and is easy to apply.  Used regularly, the result is a clear and smooth complexion fortified by the ceramides found in rice. In fact, the user will notice that the complexion has become soft and tender within minutes of applying the lotion. This lotion is made with Vietnamese fragrant rice. The Japanese Rice Water is now introduced in many luxury cosmetics brands.

This lotion can be used with:

+ facial masks sheets to boost moisture levels to improve texture and clarity for a more beautiful, glowing complexion. It absorbs easily and leaves your skin looking radiant, with a supple, smooth feel.

+ the Orange Peel by first by softening and lifting away dead skin cells. This is followed by drenching the skin with the lotion. It can applied directly from the bottle or with a facial sheet. (see below)

[ Ingredients ]

Water, glycerin, alcohol, denatured rice fermentation extract, citric acid, sodium nitrate, etc