Rice flour is a popular face powder ingredient. Many famous makeup brands have created rice powder products, including Nars, Hourglass, and Sephora Collection. Many people use rice face powder because it is reported to be very gentle on the skin.
Like other powders, rice flour may be a cause for irritation for some people. People with very sensitive skin may find that it causes redness or swelling of the skin.
While it is not common, some people may develop a sensitivity to rice. This can then lead to problems with acne or dry skin depending on how you use rice glue in your daily life.
This article will discuss the disadvantages of using rice flour for your face mask or as a face powder ingredient.
Allergic reactions
Although rice flour is a pretty common ingredient, some people are allergic to it. Since it is a popular ingredient in face masks, you can assume that there are many people using it, so there is a good chance you will encounter someone with an allergy.
If you have sensitive skin, you may experience some irritation due to the high proportion of starch in the rice flour. When mixed with water, the powder becomes glue-like and tugs at the skin as it dries. This can lead to discomfort for those with sensitive skin.
Those with wheat allergies or celiac disease should avoid using rice flour as a substitute for other flours due to its similarity in structure. Mixing the two can lead to serious health consequences.
As mentioned before, if used in large quantities, rice flour can lead to dry skin due to its starch content. This can be problematic for those that need to keep their skin moisturized.
Dry skin
People with dry skin will experience issues with dry, flaky skin and sometimes even leathery skin. This is because they do not moisturize enough or use products that moisturize well.
Rice flour is a lightweight powder that will not add much grease to your face. This is an advantage if you have oily skin as it will not contribute to the oily surface of your skin. It will also help pull out any oils embedded in the skin as it is lightly abrasive.
The problem with rice flour for face is that it does not contain many nutrients. When applied, it may leave the skin dry and looking dull. To avoid this, mix it with some oils or a moisturizer before applying to the face!
If you have very dry skin, trying using rice flour as an additional layer of moisturization on your face. It will help keep your soft, smooth skin for a few hours after applying it.
Too much rice flour on your face can cause irritation
While rice flour is a great ingredient to add to face masks, too much can be a problem. Using too much rice flour in your mask recipe can cause it to be too thick.
When that happens, it can take longer to dry and possibly even leave your face still feeling wet. That is not a feeling anyone wants when they are trying to relax!
Rice flour is also known to be quite expensive which makes it an expensive ingredient in face masks. Using too much of it may cost you more than you want to pay.
Some people have sensitive skin and may experience some irritation due to using face masks. If the mask contains too much of an ingredient or something that your skin does not like, then you will see those symptoms. If you notice your skin getting irritated after using a mask, try investigating what ingredients were in it and whether you are sensitive to them.
Does not cover pores as well as powder does
If you are worried about your pores being visible through your foundation or concealer, then rice flour may not be the best option for you. Because rice flour blends into your skin and covers it, it does not hold as much weight as powder does.
Because of this, it will show the texture of your skin more than powder would. If you have really smooth skin, this is not a problem!
However, if you have acne or textured skin, this will show that too. It will take some practice to master using rice flour for face makeup, but once you get it down, you will be proud of the finish!
Another tip? Use less rice flour to create the same coverage as powder. This way, you are using less of the product and spending less money while still achieving the same effect.
Difficult to blend
Because of its very fine texture, rice flour is difficult to blend into a face mask mixture. Other, coarser flours like wheat flour blend in easily and quickly, making a more solid mask.
Because it takes longer to set, your face mask may be wet for longer, allowing more moisture to be pulled out of the rice flour. This is not what you want in a face mask!
Because it is such a light grain, it may also make your face mask lighter in color. A darker color such as brown may seem almost gray due to the lack of pigment taken into it. A brighter color such as pink may not stick as well due to the lack of glue components.
When making a solid face mask with rice flour, make sure to mix it very well to avoid these issues. Also, use less rice flour than other types to prevent these problems.
Dark undertones will appear lighter with rice powder on
One of the best features of rice powder is that it can help conceal darker undertones in the skin. Because it is a light powder, it can be brushed over the skin to cover some of the redness or unevenness.
Because it is a very fine powder, it will easily blend into the skin, hiding some of the deeper red blood vessels. It will also set your makeup in place longer, helping with longevity!
Since rice powder is not naturally white like other powders, you have to be careful how much you use. Too much and your face will look pale instead of toned and tan. Just enough and you will conceal the underneath colors better!
Rice powder is not suitable for oily skin due to its natural starch content. If used on oily skin, it may lead to more dry patches or flakes due to pulling away moisture to absorb the rice flour.
May stain clothing
One of the biggest disadvantages of rice flour for face is that it may stain your clothes. If you are careful, this can be minimized, but it is always a possibility.
Because rice flour is a powder, it is easier for it to stain clothing than if it were a liquid or cream. As long as you are careful to apply rice flour makeup with a brush or your hands instead of pouring it on, you should be fine.
However, even if you get some on your clothes, it should not stick very well due to its powdery nature. Just give it a good wash and it should be gone!
Another thing to watch out for is applying too much makeup. Because it is more dense than other powders such as bronzer or blush, you may want to use less to avoid looking too thick-faced. This will help prevent staining of your clothing.
Hard to remove without oil or water-based products
One of the biggest disadvantages of rice flour for face is that it is hard to remove. Because it is a heavier powder, it takes a lot of effort to remove it.
You would need to use water or oil-based products to remove it. Since it is a powder, it would be hard to really massage it into the skin. It would probably feel very dry as well.
People with sensitive skin may also see some irritation or redness after using rice flour foundation. This is because you would have to work harder to apply the foundation, so there may be some pulling and tugging on the skin.
Because of this, many people use less foundation than usual when using rice flour makeup. This can look nice for photo shoots or events, but can be problematic for everyday use.
