Japan’s Hidden Skin Care Secret – Komenuka Rice Bran Powder
A smooth porcelain complexion has always been a highly sought after attribute in many cultures of society, as it demonstrates, youth, health, fertility and beauty. The East Asian culture in particular, where ‘doll like’ skin can also represent a higher socioeconomic class, status and wealth, ladies will go to extreme depths to find that hidden skin grail
In Japan, the thirst for flawless skin has ignited an array of products and brands claiming to be the next best anti-aging and skin brightener. But no matter how many variations are offered, it always comes back to the core staple beauty ingredient of Japan, an ingredient known for its beautifying benefits with its rich history dating back centuries before.
INTRODUCING KOMENUKA RICE BRAN POWDER
Possibly Japan’s #1 hidden skin care gem. Rice bran has been used for centuries in Japan as a key staple ingredient in cleansers, exfoliators, masks, and bathing to keep skin luminous and soft. The bran is composed of the outer layer of the rice grain kernel extracted from the husk during the milling process.
What makes this thousand year old secret ingredient so effective on skin.
Its unique composition of nutrients encourages anti-aging, skin brightening, moisture retention and anti-inflammatory response. It contains amino acids, vitamins A, B, C and E, along with antioxidant rich compounds, including omegas 3 and 6 fatty acids, squalene, polysaccharides, phenolic acids, flavonoids, tocopherols, tocotrienols, c-oryzanol, octacosanol, phytic acid, proteins, lipids, fibers, ferulic acid, ceramides, gamma oryzanol and micronutrients like iron, calcium, zinc, selenium and phosphorus.
Anti-aging properties
As early as the Qing Dynasty, Chinese women traditionally have used rice water to cleanse their face and bathe their bodies to improve skin texture, reduce pigmentation, brighten complexion, soften skin tone, and minimize fine lines and wrinkles.
The antioxidant rich compounds of squalene, polysaccharides, phenolic acids and tocopherols helps fight free radical damage and protect skin from premature aging. The nutrient packed omega fatty acids, vitamins and amino acids promote skin firmness, refine pores and increase elastin to preserve skin youthfulness.
Anti-inflammatory & Calming
Rice bran have been found to be very effective in reducing inflammation. Rich in vitamin B, and oryzanol which alleviate inflammation and soothe skin conditions like eczema and rosacea.
For those that have skin sensitivity, rice bran protein is devoid of gluten, soybeans, and lactose, making it suitable for those prone to allergies.
Brightening / Lightening Effects
Known for its brightening properties, rice bran extract helps lighten pigmentation and even out the skin tone. With unique skin-lightening agents such as ferulic acid, phytic acid, and gamma oryzanol, daily cleansing or bathing with rice bran will assist to improve skin tone, reduce pigmentations and dark spots, and improve skin radiance.
Ferulic acid – inhibits tyrosinase expression to reduce melanin synthesis
Oryzanol – It not only effectively reduces dark under-eye circles and puffiness but intercepts incoming UV rays on the skin surface to prevent discoloration, dark spots, and excess melanin synthesis from occurring.
Phytic Acid – A Mild Alternative to AHAs, phytic acid acts by promoting exfoliation in our skin and speeding up the natural skin cell rejuvenation cycle to reduce sun spots, hyper-pigmentation and melasma.
Moisture Retention
Rice bran is rich in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids which serve to regulate the skin’s oil production, help to lock in moisture, maintain a balanced pH hydration level and help alleviate dry skin. Along with squalene which closely resembles our natural skin sebum, hydrates, conditions and protects the skin barrier from water loss. Its quick-absorbing composition is excellent for maintaining skin hydration and promote elasticity for a more plumped appearance.
HOW TO INCORPORATE RICE BRAN INTO MY BEAUTY REGIME
Face Cleanser/Exfoliant – Rice bran makes an amazing cleanser with its optimal pH 5.5 composition and natural amino acid surfactants. Add a small amount of water to 1 gram of rice bran powder and mix into a light pasty consistency. Apply to face and massage using circular motions to dislodge impurities and exfoliate dead skin cells. Rinse off with lukewarm water to reveal revitalized and pampered skin. For those with sensitive skin, combine use with a cotton sash bag. Fill the bag with the rice bran powder and knead on the face and body in slow circular motion and rinse your face with lukewarm water.
Face Mask – Rice Bran when used as a facial mask lightens pigmentations, refine pores, even out skin tone, calm redness and brightens skin complexion. The combination of niacinamide, oryzanol and ferulic acid helps to prevent melanin production whilst the vitamins and essential fatty acids hydrates and illuminates.
Bath – baths are great for relieving stress, relaxing the mind and stimulate the nerves. While it’s common for people in the west to add bubbles, bath salts and bath bombs to their baths, the people of Japan have a different way of infusing their baths and commonly they enjoy their bath time by adding rice bran, sake or kelp. Rice bran is rich in vitamins and minerals and contains high levels of oleic acid, which makes it easily absorbed by skin to replenish and hydrate dry lifeless skin.
Healthy food – Beautify from the inside. Rice bran offers a highly digestible and nutrient rich form of calories to the diet. The fat found in rice bran is an extraordinary source of dietary energy and it’s also a rich source of dietary fiber, sterols, vitamins and various antioxidants.
Stabilizing your Rice Bran for maximum potency and effectiveness
With active enzymes and natural omega fatty acids, rice bran is prone to going rancid quickly if not stabilized. Generally, rice bran is immediately pretreated after milling using various stabilizing methods and then drying to storage to preserve the quality and extend the shelf life. There are many forms of stabilisation methods aimed to inactivate rice bran lipase. These include using heating methods such as oven, steamer, roasting, microwave, or using processing methods such as extrusion, infra-red, refrigeration, and acidification. Effective stabilisation of rice bran should deactivate enzyme hydrolysis hence prolonging the life for up to 18months.
Chidoriya Japan offers an organic rice bran powder which is stabilized using the heat roasting method to offer a pure and potent form to promote beautifying results. Uncover the secret to youthful illuminating skin and harness the transformative power of natural komenuka rice bran. Follow Japan’s thousand year old hidden secret and elevate your skin care regime to unveil your natural soft luminous glow.
Having lived in Japan for more than 10 years and just returning back this year, It took some getting used to with how different of lifestyle practices the east and west have. In Australia, dining is predicated on fast foods, fried foods, oily fatty foods, and foods that are loaded with preservatives. Even a supposedly healthy cafe lunch is packed with so much calories and fats. In comparison in Japan, food is light, fresh, minimal oil and rarely fried. They hold a zen type simple way of living. It is deeply rooted in their culture and heritage. Even with skin care and what they use on their skin the focus is on simplicity and being in harmony with nature. Japanese people have such flawless skin and all of my Japanese friends unveil to me that they make their own DIY skin treatments which I find surprising because in Japan, there is definitely no shortage with choice when it comes to skin care brands. (but obviously I have a very small sample size)
Rice water is a big thing where my friends would literally just use the water left over from rice to cleanse their face and wash their hair. Simple, and nothing goes to waste. Rice bran powder is also very big in Japan. Almost every person that I’ve met have told me they use rice bran or at least incorporate rice bran in their beauty regime. Kelp is another popular ingredient. I guess by living in Japan for 10+ years has allowed me to adopt some of their health and beauty rituals. Since being back in Australia, my skin and my appearance in comparison to some of my friends of similar age is a big difference. I’m talking 10 years. I’m a 36 white Caucasian women and people who have just met me guess me for 24 – 29. My friends have a tanning beach culture sunbaking in the sun and eating processed foods. I on the other hand keep my skin well away from the sun and eat fresh and light. It also helps that I have not been pregnant yet.
Now for my 2 cents on the Rice bran. I find this as a great base product to revolve around my skin care regime and work my way up using this product as a core. Rice bran is an extremely nutritious ingredient for the skin and body and is a great cleanser, exfoliator and mask. since the powder is so fine, it can clear impurities and oils within the pores and using it as a scrub with not irritate the skin at all. I mainly use it as an daily cleanser and my skin feels amazingly brightened and deeply cleansed after. As a face mask, by adding different ingredients to it, you can create many variations and tailoring it to your skin making it detoxing, anti-aging, brightening, hydrating, firming, calming or whatever your skin concerns are. But whatever you do, my #1 advice is to stay out of the sun. You’ll look years younger.
Everyone, try this as a super effective brightening and hydrating face mask.
2 table spoons of rice bran powder
4 drops of camellia oil
1 a table spoon of sake kasu powder
1/4 of table spoon of manuka honey
3 table spoons of Chidoriya Peach Moon water.
Leave it on your face for 20 minutes and rinse off. This mask is designed to brighten and hydrate. Your skin will glow. Thank me afterwards in the comments
Tried to save myself a bit of money and got a bag of rice bran from the supermarket once and it smelt awfully rancid. The brand starts with an ‘L’. There is a distinct difference between a fresh smelling batch of rice bran as opposed to a bag which is dated or gone off. The fresh batch I got was wheatie nutty aroma whereas the one past the shelve life smells stale and in severe rancid smelling.
I also noticed a difference when using one for eating and one designed for the skin. I can say it makes such a big difference to my skin. Your skin illuminates after each wash. It’s strange because it’s still the same rice bran and the same rice husk.
I think it could be the rice they use. I know some brands will only use organic rice husk and this can increase the cost as organic rice is much more expensive. It could also be the method of stabilization. Some methods are more time exhaustive. It could be the origin of production. If you’re getting a Australian made rice bran it would obviously be cheaper than if you import one from Japan where it specialises in this field.
If you’re getting a 1kg bag for $30, this is purely designed for cooking and don’t expect to get much results if you’re using it for the skin.
Well, I use the 1kg for $30 bag of rice bran. Nothing wrong with that. May not be as potent on my skin but at least it’s not as potent on my wallet. Especially if you’re using it on your body, a 1kg bag does not last long.
But to answer your question, the same type of product can have a large variation in price. You can buy a $20 bottle of red wine and a $1000 bottle of red wine, or a $40 piece of beef or a $1000 piece of wagyu beef, $20 handbag or a $20000 designer bag. Now are the quality and taste better, maybe……………..that’s subjective. It is probably better, but can you justify the large price gap difference. If you’re paying double, triple, quadruple…….. the price, are you getting double, triple or quadruple the quality. It’s difficult to quantify. But I’m certain your brain has already made the justification that it is better when you purchase the more expensive product. So whatever placebo effect you get, it taste better, it looks better and it works better.