Beauty guru reveals the bizarre grocery item that can help smooth skin

A beauty guru has claimed that the secret to clear skin is to use an item you may have in your pantry - rice paper.

The TikTok user, who goes by MilkyDew, showed herself applying the mask, writing that rice paper has several healing properties for the skin.

In the short clip, the beauty enthusiast dipped a rice paper wrap into water so it softened, and then arranged it on her face.

She carefully cut out space for the eyes, nose and mouth before smoothing it out evenly over her skin.

'Oil control,' she wrote on the video. '[It] absorbs excess control from the skin.'

The content creator, who is based in New York City, also credited the mask for helping dark spots fade and soothing acne, advising people to leave it on for between 10 to 15 minutes.

'Skin feels hydrated,' she gushed.

The comments ranged from people desperate to try it and others advising against the practice.

'LOL happened to me, a friend wanted to try it out… made my acne WORSE,' one user wrote.

'I tried the rice mask trend and it was the worst decision ever,' shared another. 

'This been my skincare for the past four years,' chimed in someone else.

Stephen Humble, medical director of the Hedox Clinic in London, told Newsweek that there is no harm in applying the mask but it won't work miracles.

'This has been around for a few years and although it is a relatively safe thing to do, I am not massively impressed by it,' he said.

'At the end of the day, it is just rice paper and water.'

The health expert added that any improvements to the skin would likely be to exfoliation rather than ingredients in the rice paper. 

'[Skin improvements are] probably down to exfoliation from pulling off the rice paper which has stuck to the top layer of skin,' he explained.

The exert also responded to a viral video of TikTok user @jamiesskin, who claimed the rice paper is full of antioxidants, saying it's 'hard to substantiate.'

'The claims that it is rich in antioxidants and has lots of benefits for skin I am skeptical about,' he admitted. 

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Beauty guru with 'glass skin' reveals cheap two-ingredient DIY face mask that she claims is 'BETTER than Botox'

'Essentially, it is a sticky mask, and you are pulling it off your face, which takes a layer of the skin and looks smooth.'

The internet is rife with DIY method to improving your skin.

At the start of the year, TiKTolk user MehGlow revealed a simple DIY product that she claimed will leave you with perfect glass-like skin - without having to fork out big bucks on Botox.

She shared a video as she applied a simple clear gel mask, which she had made herself, to her face.

The ingredients included a spoonful of ultra-hydrating aloe vera gel and a spoonful of coconut oil mixed together in a mug, until it develops a jelly-like consistency.

According to Heathline, coconut oil can help with inflammation and acne while keeping skin hydrated, while aloe vera absorbs easily into dry skin and can seal moisture in for that 'glass skin' effect that's all the rage on social media. 

The gel within the thick leaves of the plant is known for its many soothing benefits, including preventing wrinkles.