I never considered adding rose water to my skincare regime. Then I received two dozen roses on Valentine’s Day and wanted to turn them into more than compost. Making DIY rose water has not only transformed my daily ritual but has also proven worthwhile for my skin’s health. In time, I learned so much about rose water’s healing effects on the body. Through research, I’ve discovered how to source the most potent and effective rose water for its daily use. You can store it in your fridge for extended periods and can easily create new batches often. If you have yet to incorporate rose water into your life, you need to start, like today.
Why Rose Water
- Great for balancing your skin’s PH
- Anti-inflammatory which assists in healing acne, redness/rosacea, and eczema
- Anti-bacterial/anti-septic: expedites the process of wound and scar healing on your face
- Antioxidant (prevents and helps reverse the damage of aging skin; reduces free radicals in the body)
- Acts as an astringent: gets deep into your pores and really cleans dirt and oil from your skin→ thus preventing the occurrence of breakouts
Why You Should add Rose hip essential oil to your DIY Rose Water
- Anti-aging: this benefit comes from the antioxidants and the ability of the oil to penetrate into deeper layers of the skin
- The vitamin C and A stimulate collagen production in the skin which allows for a firmer and tighter appearance and feel of the skin
- Protection from age spots because the oil combats free radicals that lead to sun damage
- As a top source of Vitamin C, rosehip oil can increase immunity
For thousands of years, rose water has been utilized for its various medicinal benefits. It was primarily used for its anti-bacterial properties among other things. Ancient Romans used rose water as an air freshener in their homes, while even bathed in it to remedy depression! Ancient Egyptians, Mayans, and Native Americans used rosehip oil to treat and heal various ailments and benefits. It is said to have originated in what is now Iran. In recent years, using rose water on the face and hair seems to be trending with no end in sight. It’s a definite must-have for all, regardless of the type of skin you have.
How to Make Your Own Rose Water
I personally used ornamental roses for my first attempt at rose water. I have now learned more about the best types of roses to source for your water. Flowers are commercial when you buy them from a store. They are bred to last a long time and they are often treated with pesticides. Often, these types of roses don’t contain the high amounts of naturally-derived essential oils that make this water so effective. Since your skin is your biggest organ, it’s important to use only the highest-quality products you can source on it.
Opt for your local, organic nursery when carefully selecting the roses you will be making your water with. Despite using commercial roses, I still noticed a significant improvement in my skin. Others regularly ask me about my skincare routine and tell me that my skin is radiant.
The Process
Remove all rose petals and wash them thoroughly. Place them into a pot of hot (not boiling) water. You can use purified or distilled water. Start by placing one part water to one part petals to make sure your water is not too diluted. You want it to be potent enough for its intended use. Ideally, you want to put enough water in the pot so they just cover the rose petals. Since the petals are naturally buoyant, they will float to the top. Combat this by placing a bowl in the pot to weigh them down. Just make sure this bowl doesn’t touch the bottom of the pot.
Cook your rose petals on low heat for 4-5 minutes. We don’t want to bring it to a boil since this will kill some of the vitamins and antioxidant benefits. When your water has taken the color of your roses, remove from heat and strain the liquid with a colander. Press down on the rose petals to extract all liquid possible.
Have a bowl of ice water prepared to chill your rose water immediately. You can also cover your rose water at this time. If you don’t do this, the steam that escapes will carry out some of the essential oils and nutrients with it. The quicker you can cool it, the higher-grade rose water you will have. At this time you can add your rose-hip oil to the mix as an optional addition. You can add 1 tsp rosehip oil to a one-ounce bottle of rose water.
I prefer to make my own rose water, despite there being an incredibly lavish market. There are prices ranging from the low-end to really extravagant brands of rose water. By opting for your own concoction, you avoid the risk of heavily watered-down rose water. Store-bought rose water can often be 90% water with some added rose fragrance that may very well be artificial.
How to use
After cleansing in the morning and at night, use it as a toner. You can use it as a makeup primer, setting spray, or to give your skin the boost it needs throughout the day.
I have been using my DIY rose water for six months now since I received my roses on Valentine’s Day. I store my water in a glass spray bottle on and douse my face, neck, and chest area immediately after cleansing twice per day. Sometimes, I’ll spray my entire facial area thoroughly, allow my face to air-dry, and repeat the process another time. This helps my face to have a natural and beautiful glow and enables me to go makeup-less with confidence.
Overall, you can expect your skin to be more hydrated, radiant-looking, glowing, and smell like roses! After six months of use, I have noticed significantly fewer breakouts, diminished sun spots, and a natural glow. I have noticed my wounds fade away faster and my skin has a tighter feel and appearance. My skin just feels really amazing all day, every day!
You Want to Use Rose Water but You Don’t Want to Make It
A rose that has the most research done on it is the Bulgarian rose. It’s high in essential oils, vitamins, antioxidants, and flavonoids. It will serve as the best type of rose that you will be using on your facial area. Some say that its oil exists as the highest vibrating substance on earth at 320 MHz (megahertz)! This oil helps rejuvenate the body and prevent oxidative stress.
Bulgaria is where most rose water comes from. If you want to buy, look for a brand that is sourced from there. Whatever you choose, start using rose water today. Your skin will thank you!
If you liked this post, check out some other DIY hacks our POP Style Team shared.
