The First Wash Rice

For centuries, Japanese women have rinsed the delicate grains of rice in preparation for cooking and have repurposed the leftover milky water within their beauty rituals. Known as the first wash of rice, this nutrient-rich byproduct serves as a vital source of vitamins A, B2, B12, and E, as well as moisturising proteins that soften and boost the luminosity of hair and skin.

The Importance of Purification in Japan

Kiyome means purification in a general sense; cleanse in a literal sense. From traditional ceremonies to everyday life, it is threaded throughout Japanese culture. Whether cleansing the hands and mouth to make one’s self pure before entering a temple or washing your face at the end of the day, it’s a physical act that cleanses mind and soul and shows respect for yourself and others.