Do folk remedies actually work for skin whitening?

My mom and people around me recommended a folk remedy of washing my face with sparkling water or rice water lol.

I’ve heard for a long time that washing with rice water makes your skin fair and is great for whitening, so I’ve been thinking about collecting the water left over from cooking rice starting tonight. However, on the other hand, I’m worried about the hygiene. Hmm... I’m conflicted. I hesitate to put it on my face because I’m afraid pesticide residue or impurities from the rice might not be properly filtered out, potentially becoming toxic to my skin and causing more breakouts. As for washing my face with sparkling water, I’m intrigued by the claims that the popping bubbles help remove impurities from pores, reduce swelling, and soothe the skin. However, my skin is already thin and sensitive, so I’m worried that the strong irritation from the carbonation might make my face redder and break out even more. So, I’m just endlessly searching the internet right now, haha.