Rose water has many beauty benefits, both for the skin and for the hair. It has the following properties.

Moisturizing, invigorating and illuminating

Rose water promotes radiance, awakens, smooths, tones and brightens the complexion and also acts on the hydration and revitalization of the skin.

Purifying, astringent

Rose water helps to gently purify even sensitive skin and is an astringent, sanitizing and balancing asset for combination to oily or acne-prone skin, especially when used in the morning on clean skin and / or in the evening after a make-up removal and skin cleansing. 

Anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and soothing

Its composition rich in vitamins and polyphenols gives it effective anti-inflammatory properties on acne, skin irritations, scalp inflammation and dry dandruff. Spray on the skin or scalp then massage delicately, relief is often immediate. 

Healing, soothing and regenerating

By its softness, rose water helps to calm itching, irritation and redness (eczema, rosacea, psoriasis…) as well as to regenerate very dry or flaky skin. Its healing action greatly helps reduce acne, acne spots or recent scars. It also soothes skin reddened by the sun.

Anti-aging and protective

By its richness in essential fatty acids and antioxidants, rose water helps protect the skin from the deleterious effects of free radicals and therefore fights against premature skin aging. Its action helps to maintain an optimal concentration and quality of skin collagen and thus promotes elasticity, resistance, the “plump skin” effect and masks fine lines.

Refreshing and decongestant

Rose water is great for swollen skin and eyes, dark circles and bags under the eyes, eye irritation. This decongestant and refreshing effect is all the more effective when water is used when it comes out of the fridge.

Olfactory therapy

The subtle, intoxicating, delicate and characteristic scent of rose gives its floral water a soothing, relaxing, positive and emotional harmonizing power. The exterior beauty is also maintained on the interior. Rose water can also help flavor your homemade cosmetics and treatments (as well as your favorite drinks and desserts).

Rose hydrosol is the result of a steam distillation process. 

The rose petals are placed in a still and distilled with spring water. From this vapor will result two precious liquids:

• hydrosol (or floral water);
• essential oil. 

Focus on hydrosol

The hydrosol has the same virtues as the essential oil but less powerful since its concentration of active molecules is lower. The concentration of aromatic molecules varies from one hydrosol to another depending on the quantity of flower per liter of water during its distillation.

Many varieties of roses can be used for hydrosol but the most common are: Damascus rose and Rosa Centifolia (“one hundred leaves”). They are now cultivated all over the world and mainly in Turkey, Morocco, Bulgaria, Iran and of course in Syria.

It is important to choose an organic hydrosol, made from organic roses grown without pesticides, to favor the quality of its benefits.

Rose water is essentially composed of:

• vitamins A, B, C and E;
• rose oil (about 10%) rich in essential fatty acids;
• polyphenols (terpenes, anthocyanins, flavonoids);
• de glycosides.

Use of rose water

Rose water can be used alone on the skin, sprayed or applied with a cotton ball to the face and neck as a tonic or after removing make-up and cleansing the skin, to perfect them. . 

Sprayed on a clay mask, rose water helps to rehydrate it during installation. Applied to the scalp in massage, it soothes irritation and stimulates blood circulation and therefore promotes hair growth, strength and health.

It can be added (in aqueous phase) in creams, masks, make-up removers, body lotions or even in the bath to perfume and deploy its properties. Finally, for its olfactory-therapeutic virtues, it can be added in a mist, a room mist or a diffuser without heat.

Contraindications of rose water

Rose water has few contraindications, apart from some of its components which can irritate very sensitive skin. It is therefore recommended to test rose water on a small area of ​​the skin before using it.

As specified a little above, it is important to favor 100% rose water pure and organic, from flowers grown without pesticides or other chemicals, which would nevertheless be found in the final composition of the hydrolate. The word 100% pure should appear in order to avoid water and alcohol type mixtures mixed with a few drops of rose essential oil.

It can therefore be bought in an organic store, in a pharmacy, at a small organic producer or on the internet while ensuring the origin. It costs around € 15 per liter.

It is perfectly possible to make it at home (see the recipe below).

Rose water is ideally stored in an anti-UV bottle, protected from light, preferably in a cool place, and should be consumed within approximately two months after opening.

Recipe for making your rose floral water:

• 100 g of rose petals (organic);
• 25cl of spring water or distilled water.

Boil the water then pour it over the previously cleaned petals, in a closed glass container with an airtight lid. Leave to infuse then cool for a few hours. Filter using a natural gauze then store in an anti-UV bottle (blue) and in the fridge. Note the date of manufacture on the bottle.

Some ideas for synergies:

• irritations, redness: oily macerate of calendula, Italian helichrysum or chamomile, Aloe Vera, lavender essential oil;
• dull complexion: organic honey, pink clay, oily carrot macerate, orange blossom hydrosol;
• dry, reactive skin: borage, calendula, evening primrose or rosehip oil, orange blossom hydrosol, cistus, lavender or linden, essential oil of cistus;
• acne: aloe vera, tea tree hydrolate, black seed oil, green clay;
• anti-wrinkle action: borage oil, evening primrose, argan or musk rose, essential oil of Geranium or Ho wood, cistus hydrosol, honey.