“Rice is a food staple for almost half the world’s population, so it’s not surprising to find it at the core of some of the world’s oldest beauty [rituals],” says Jennifer Hirsch, Beauty Botanist for The Body Shop. According to Hirsch rice is the ultimate waste-not-want not approach to beauty. You can use rice water as a DIY cleanser or toner, rice extract in face masks, and eat up seasoned rice as a delicious side dish. Rich in antioxidant vitamins C and E it’s no wonder rice can be found at the core of beauty rituals around the world. Ahead, we share one of our favorite skin care products formulated with rice extract which inspired us to create a delicious Thai coconut rice recipe that is sure make your mouth water. Fact is, rice is way more than just a side dish!THE BODY SHOP CHINESE GINSENG & RICE MASK If you are looking for a face mask that can moisturize and brighten the appearance of dull-looking skin, look no further than The Body Shop’s Chinese Ginseng & Rice Mask. Insired by Chinese traditions, this creamy exfoliating face mask is formulated with ginseng and rice extract from China and the brand’s Community Trade sesame seed oil from Nicaragua. After use, skin will appear more radiant, imperfections will appear reduced, and pore-size will look more refined. Use it all over your skin or in a multi-masking recipe to target specific skin care concerns. For more on The Body Shop’s Chinese Ginseng & Rice Mask ($28) and the rest of the Beauty Recipes from Nature Expert Face Masks, check out our full product review here. While nature inspired this face mask formula, we were inspired by the mask to create a rice recipe that we can’t get enough of below!THAI COCONUT RICE Thai coconut rice is an easy-to-make side dish that can be paired alongside both sweet and savory dishes. Made from jasmine rice and canned coconut milk, this recipe is not only delicious, it’s a great way to spice up a classic rice recipe!What You’ll Need: 1 cup jasmine rice 1 ½ cup of canned coconut milk ½ cup of water ½ teaspoon of salt DIRECTIONS: Rinse rice in a colander until the water runs clear. In a small-medium saucepan, combine rice, coconut milk, water, and salt. Cover with a lid and bring to a boil. Once the water is boiling, turn the heat to low and allow the rice to cook for about 15-20 minutes more or until liquid has evaporated. Serve under Thai shrimp curry or top it off with mangos for a sweet treat! Want more tasty recipes inspired by the beauty Recipes From Nature Face Masks? We share a honey-glazed carrot recipe here!
