The true beauty of rose water

Roses are truly a thing of beauty and the floral scent sends you to a calm and happy place.

A glance back in time we can just picture Cleopatra bathing blissfully in her rose petal water. The healing properties of rose water make it the ideal natural solution to keep skin youthful and rejuvenated. Time to pick those petals and discover the true beauty of rose water for your skin.

What is rose water?

Cleopatra enjoyed a fragrant water bath adorned in rose petals but these days it definitely is a bit more of a process in actually making this sweetly perfumed water.

Rose water is made by steam distillation of rose petals in water. The distillation process is necessary to create the essential oil. This aromatic water that is left behind is known as a hydrosol and differs to rose scented water which is water containing rose essential oil. The hydrosol is the more favored option to enjoy for your skin. Although it doesn’t mean if you only have the scented water option it is bad, it also has its healing benefits.

What is good to know is that the hydrosol is mainly used in beauty products and skin care and the rose scented option you can use not only for beauty and skin care needs but also for cooking and religious purposes.

How rose water helps your skin

The main benefits of the rose plants are that they are naturally rich in antioxidants including flavonoids, plus a number of vitamins. This is why rose water is considered a gentle astringent, cleanser, skin soother and a magnificent moisturizer.

Gentlemen, please don’t shy away from this “holy ancient herb” as it is fondly known. A floral scent on a man is just as appealing and is great to use as a natural aftershave. If you pick the petals even further on how this is amazing hydration for your skin you will definitely be hunting for it after read through to the end:)

Rose petals are packed with these wonderfully healing compounds:

• Geraniol, which has been shown to have antioxidant and anti-cancer effects
• Citronellyl acetate, which gives rose its pleasant flavor and aroma
• Citronellol (also found in citronella)
• Eugenol, a powerful antioxidant that fights oxidative stress
• Methyl eugenol, a natural antiseptic and anesthetic
• Nerol, a natural antibiotic compound
• Citral, which has antimicrobial properties
• Carvone, which acts as a digestive aid

The two main reasons to include rose water in your natural skin care toolkit :

Helps to sooth and heal irritated, dry and inflamed skin

Whether you are suffering from very dry, flaky skin or going through a bad acne spell rose water comes to the rescue!

Packed with all those healing compounds mentioned above it fights bacteria, soothe dryness, reduces redness and also helps to heal razor burns.

Helps to reverse the signs of aging

Such a dreaded moment, when you discover fine lines and wrinkles! The anti-oxidants in roses ( eugenol mentioned above in those super hero compounds) fight off all the bad elements that cause dark spots, wrinkles and thinning skin. It helps to keep the skin hydrated and turns a dull complexion into a more even and rosy one!

You can use rosewater to lower your oil levels or to boost the moisture when needed. Its great to combine with other natural products to maintain the pH balance and be gentle on sensitive skin types. This you can achieve simply by dabbing on a cotton pad and sweeping over your face or spritzing.

Make your own rose water

If you are not sure that the rose water you found in the pantry is effective enough to use on your skin try to make your own using his very easy method:)

You will need:

• 6 to 8 organic roses
• 1 to 2 litres of distilled water

1. Remove petals from stems and run them under lukewarm water to remove any leftover residue.
2. Add petals to a large pot and top with enough distilled water to just cover (no more or you’ll dilute your rosewater).
3. On a low to medium heat bring the water to a simmer and cover.
4. Let simmer for 20-30 minutes or until petals have lost their color and are a pale pink.
5. Strain the mixture to separate the petals from the water.
6. Discard petals and place water in a glass jar to store.

*Organic roses simply mean ones you may have grown in your garden free of pesticides or if you can pick from a rose farm. Most store bought flowers will have a certified organic label to confirm its origins*.

*Using distilled water will ensure a clean and organic end product free of the unwanted compounds and bacteria normal tap water contains.*

*Once you have made your very own rose water you can use it to make your own face toner:

For the Homemade Rosewater Face Toner:

1. Combine all ingredients in spray bottle and shake.
2. To apply: spray directly on face or spray a cotton pad and wipe face to remove any residue.

*Note: Using 8 stems makes around 1.5 litres of rosewater. This seems like a lot but it keeps for a long time in the fridge. Just store in a sealed, glass container until ready to use:)

More petals to ponder

Whether you use on your face or body there are a number of natural botanicals to use rose water along with.

FACE

• To keep skin hydrated leave rose water on your face overnight by adding some to your serum. An amazing DIY moisturizer I have used was combining a few drops of coconut oil and 2 tbsp rose water with a few drops lavender essential oil and smoothed over onto my face. Coconut oil mixed with rose water also makes a good cleanser or makeup remover.

• As a natural face mask you can try this:

Mix together tsp pure turmeric and 3 tbsp rose water with 1 tbsp aloe vera gel, then let it sit on your skin for about 15 minutes before rinsing with warm water and applying coconut oil.

The end result for both these DIY tips will leave you with a youthful, bright and rosy complexion 🙂

BODY

• If you have dry skin, after showering, spritz rose water from a spray bottle all over your body, then apply your favorite body lotion.
• Design your own fragrant rose water spray that you can apply to your skin by combining it with essential oils like bergamot, lavender, lemon, lemongrass or rosemary.
• Pour several drops of pure rose water to your bath to help hydrate and soothe your skin. It may also leave you in a sensual mood but more on that here.
• Do you have a headache? Place a rose water-soaked compress to your forehead for 30 minutes, or try diffusing rose oil as an alternative.
• Do your laundry with a few drops to your laundry detergent (this works best if you use an unscented detergent). Or replace fabric softener with rose water:)

Stop and smell the roses

Rose water is such a refreshing natural ingredient to use as part of your daily cleansing ritual.

You can buy rose water in many health food stores, beauty supply stores and online. Pure rose water can either be used on its own or mixed with a number of other natural ingredients. If you prefer to make your own the process is extremely easy and you will come up smelling like roses:)

The true beauty of rose water lies in its powerful healing compounds that help to hydrate, soothe, clean and protect skin as well as reduce redness, acne, inflammation and burns.

Are you convinced enough to start using rose water ? Let me know your thoughts and ideas below.

Love your skin naturally!