Corn starch: what it is and how to use it
Corn starch is obtained by grinding the innermost part of the corn grain. Once the bran of the bran and the germ is removed, the remains are ground and a very fine white-colored flour is obtained: this is the corn starch, also known as cornstarch.
In the kitchen, cornstarch is used to thicken, in preparation for newborns and for celiacs, since corn does not contain gluten.
In addition, corn starch is suitable for many uses, from home care to personal care .
Corn starch has a light and volatile consistency, similar to that of powder . This quality of starch is best exploited for the preparation of face powder or body, in addition to natural pigments or without other, to counteract the tendency of oily skin to become shiny .
Corn starch also has absorbing power, equal to that of rice starch and ventilated green clay, and is therefore also useful as a remedy for problems of excessive sweating and in cases of hyperhidrosis, in addition to these natural products or alone, to use as talc .
Corn starch: soothing to the skin
The qualities of corn starch do not stop at its absorbing power and its very fine texture. Corn starch is an excellent skin soothing . It can be used for the preparation of cosmetics, as a thickener but also as a main ingredient.
It is used as a folk remedy for diaper irritations in newborns, for those suffering from skin irritations due to prolonged lying or sitting immobility.
Used as talcum or as a paste, added to water, it calms redness of the skin, absorbs any suppuration and acts as an antibacterial : it can be used as an ingredient added to aloe vera, or to natural and essential oils, to create anti-inflammatory ointments and antibacterial.
Due to its qualities, the corn starch is also useful against sunburn : in the case of sunburn a warm bath is prepared in which to dissolve two tablespoons of cornstarch. We dive in and once the bath is finished, without the use of other detergents, we dry without rinsing . Cornstarch left on the skin will keep the skin cool and will relieve the burning sensation caused by sunburn.
Even in the case of insect bites, corn starch has a soothing effect: it is mixed with a small amount of water and applied to the puncture.
Corn starch is therefore useful in all cases in which the skin is irritated : both due to rubbing and contact with external agents, and in the case of events such as eczema, acne, and dermatitis.
Cornstarch is easily found in every supermarket, in the food department, even with the name of cornstarch.
On the market, especially in the pharmacy and in specialized shops, you can find modified, or pregelatinized, corn starch : it is used, like common cornstarch, both in the kitchen and in cosmetics, but has been subjected to treatments that enhance some features rather than others.
In any case, always ask for the origin (to avoid that it derives from GM corn) and check that it is pure and does not contain other ingredients, which happens especially for the modified corn starch to be used in natural cosmetics.
