Rice bran extract benefits for hair and skin: beyond the viral fads

The enduring use of rice bran extract in cosmetic formulations stands out against fleeting sensationalist trends, highlighting its genuine benefits and effectiveness. 

A plant-based ingredient packed with numerous nutrients and unique properties for skin and hair, it has been at the center of many successful treatments thanks to its moisturizing, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Rice bran extract viral trends reached a particular peak in 2024, with videos with the “rice water” tag reaching more than 25K posts in October. The trend sparked interest in the benefits of rice bran extract, promoting the idea that rinsing hair in water that has been used to soak or clean rice is beneficial for hair growth.

At Provital, we strive to put our cosmetic expertise to work to develop advanced plant-based cosmetics. As such, we share some of the key potential rice bran extract benefits from a precise, science-backed perspective; a knowledge that is supplemented by our in-depth study to develop our Kerarice™ active ingredient.

What is rice bran extract?

Rice bran extract is a natural ingredient derived from the outer layer of the rice grain. This layer (called “bran”) is left over after the milling process, and is rich in bioactive compounds, vitamins, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids. 

Often discarded during the polishing of rice, it contains a wealth of nutrients that make it a highly valued ingredient in skincare and haircare formulations.

Rice bran extract benefits for skin

Antioxidant properties

A number of potent antioxidants can be found in the rice bran extract, with ferulic acid, gamma-oryzanol and phytic acid having been particularly important in skin care formulations. 

More specifically, research by Laokuldilok et al. (2010) identified γ-oryzanol (39−63%) and phenolic acids (33−43%) as “the major antioxidants in all bran samples”, while also citing several differences between varying pigmentations of rice bran.

These bioactive compounds are key in protecting the skin from damage caused by free radicals, harmful molecules that are highly reactive and can damage skin cells and thus lead to premature aging, inflammation and increased risk of skin diseases. 

Hydration and moisture

Rice bran extract has also been shown to improve skin hydration and elasticity, thanks to its rich composition of fatty acids and natural oils, among other beneficial compounds.

Key in this benefit are fatty acids such as linoleic acid contribute to maintain skin’s barrier function, while oleic acid enhances the skin’s ability to absorb moisture. Additionally, natural oils present in this extract such as squalene are able to provide a deep hydration thanks to its biocompatibility with the skin’s own lipid production, thus mimicking the action of other plant-based ingredients such as amaranth oil.

Brightening and tone-evening

Thanks to its unique combination of antioxidants, natural acids and other beneficial compounds, rice bran extract can help brighten the skin and even out skin tone.

Such is the case of ferulic acid, a powerful antioxidant that promotes a more uniform skin tone; as well as gamma-oryzanol, a unique compound that inhibits the production of melanin (responsible for skin darkening). In the case of phytic acid, it acts as a gentle exfoliating agent, removing dead skin cells.

Tocopherols and tocotrienols present in rice bran are also helpful in fading dark spots while also promoting skin repair, which ultimately leads to a tone-evening effect.

Anti-aging properties

Rice bran extract can also be instrumental in reduce the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles. This is primarily due to the rich content of powerful antioxidants like the ones mentioned above. 

A combination that, working synergistically, stimulates collagen production, leading to improved skin elasticity. For instance, the gamma-oryzanol antioxidant is known to reduce the breakdown of collagen, and ferulic acid protects existing collagen and elastin fibers from degradation.

Rice bran extract benefits for hair

Hair growth and strengthening

Specific scientific literature has looked into the issue, including a paper by Yu-Mi Kim et al. (2017) which claimed rice bran extract “may be particularly useful as a natural ingredient for hair loss prevention and hair growth enhancement” through prolonging the anagen phase.

The impact on scalp health is behind key hair growth claims. This includes its Vitamin E content, an antioxidant that also improves blood circulation to the scalp, which has been marked as a key hair growth strategy. Additionally, other compounds such as gamma-oryzanol aid in soothing the scalp through its anti-inflammatory activity.

Besides, is linked to improved health of hair strands and a reduction in breakage. This is mainly due to the protein and amino acid content of this ingredient, which strengthens hair strand structure; but also to the moisturizing effect of compounds such as vitamin B Complex or squalene, also present in rice bran extract.

Improved hair shine and texture

Rice bran extract’s rich content of natural oils, fatty acids and antioxidants (which we’ve described above) acts as an ally to improve hair shine and texture, working together to moisturize, condition, and smooth the hair.

Scalp health

Scalp health is behind some prevalent hair problems, including dandruff or itchiness, as well as certain hair loss issues. The compounds present in rice bran extract work together to soothe and nourish the scalp in a variety of ways, including 

• Anti-inflammatory properties of gamma-oryzanol and tocopherols.
• Improved blood circulation for nourishing skin cells thanks to the extract’s niacin and vitamin E content.
• Adequate moisturization due to essential fatty acids such as linoleic acid (Omega-6) and oleic acid (Omega-9) as well as squalene.

How to incorporate rice bran extract wisely into beauty routines

Rice bran extract can be introduced into skincare routines in a variety of ways.In the case of haircare products, both shampoos and conditioners have been known to incorporate rice bran extract contents for formulas aiming at hair strengthening, improved texture and shine.

For results, a high-quality rice bran extract option should lie at the center of any of these formulations. At Provital, we developed Kerarice™, a cosmetic active ingredient that  underwent exhaustive in vitro and in vivo tests to guarantee top quality and consistent results for haircare.

Obtained from the grain of Oryza sativa L., the active has shown ex vivo efficacy in the following areas: 

• Improved mechanical properties of hair, increasing rupture energy 29% versus hair treated with placebo 

• Protection against hair protein degradation, with results showing it decreases the percentage of degraded proteins due to UV radiation.
• Avoids tryptophan degradation in 48% compared to the placebo.
• Protects hair fibers against lipid peroxidation
• Recovers hair brightness, compared to the respective placebo to each type of sample:
  • 48% in untreated hair
  • 103% in dyed hair 
  • 18% for bleached and dyed hair 

All in all, Kerarice™ stands out as a high-quality, science-backed active ingredient to make the most of the rice bran extract trend while also offering added value in terms of enhanced protection and improvements of various hair health parameters.