Rosewater Toner
Those beautiful roses from my garden turned into a bottle of homemade rosewater toner!Rose water, a liquid made from the steam distillation of rose petals, is a homeopathic beauty treatment that's been used for a variety of skin treatments since ancient Egypt. But it's not just fancy for the sake of it—rose water has stood the test of time because of its one-of-a-kind skin-healing benefits. Here's five things you never knew about rose water—and why it should be a part of your everyday skincare routine.
Equipment
- large pot, a glass lid, a saucer, a small bowl,
Ingredients
- 6-8 blossoms of fragrant roses organic
- ice cubes 2 cups
- 1 1/2 cup distilled water
Instructions
- Start by picking 2 to 3 fresh organic roses and separating the petals from the stems.You want to make sure that the roses are clean and pesticide-free, which is why I recommend using organic roses.
- Even when you're using organic roses, be sure to give them a quick rise beforehand to remove any dirt.A little trick to speed up the petal-plucking process is to grab the stem at the base of the rose, tear it out and separate the rose petals.
- This will save to time from having to pluck each individual petal, one at a time.Place a heat-safe saucer upside down in your large pot and, then, a heat-safe bowl on top of the saucer.
- Arrange the rose petals around the saucer and the bowl and cover them with distilled water.Add just enough water to cover the petals, because adding too much water will dilute the rose water.
- Next, you want to cover the pot with a glass lid.Place the lid upside down, that way you can put ice on top of it.This will help to speed up the distillation process.
- This method will give you two types of rose water.The first you'll find in the small bowl that we've placed inside the pot.This is the purest form of rose water.
- During the process, as the water simmers, steam collects on the lid and drips into the small bowl.The second form of rose water is the one in the pot with the roses.Although this rose water isn't as pure, it still has many benefits and uses.
- Let the roses simmer until they lose their colour completely.This can take anywhere between 30 to 45 minutes.Once the roses lose their colour, you can take the small bowl out of the pot and remove the pot from the stove.
- Pour the rose hydrosol that has collected into the bowl into a glass container.This rose water is perfect to use as a toner.All you need to do is spray it directly onto cleansed skin, before applying your serum and your moisturizer.
- Use the rest of the water in the pot by straining the rose petals from the water.As I mentioned before, this rose water isn't as pure, but it still has many benefits and you can use it in a variety of different ways.Rose water has anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce redness and calm the skin.
- It's also extremely refreshing and hydrating.You can use it as a toner, a mixing medium for powdered masks, a hair rinse, and in many other different do-it-yourself beauty recipes.
Video
Notes
1. IT’S JAM-PACKED WITH ANTIOXIDANTS
Antioxidants are necessary to prevent damage to our skin caused by oxidative stress. When used in skincare, rose water can help our skin combat harmful free radicals and damage caused by UV rays, pollution, and stress.
2. IT COULD HELP WITH ACNE
Because rose water has antimicrobial properties, it could serve as an all-natural treatment for acne. We recommend choosing a mist or serum that contains rose water, because they are super-concentrated and allow for better penetration of ingredients into the skin, whereas creams can be diluted with emollients and humectants.
3. IT HAS ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES
Whether you have skin conditions such as eczema or rosacea, or simply have irritated and red skin from harsh products, rose water will help soothe this redness because of its anti-inflammatory benefits.
4. IT’S A GREAT HYDRATION BOOSTER FOR BOTH THE SKIN AND HAIR
Rose water doesn’t just soften your skin when used in skincare; it can also hydrate your hair without adding extra weight. Add a few drops of rose water into your shampoo or conditioner for some added moisture. If you’re not a fan of DIY, choose a shampoo and conditioner duo with rose extracts already included.
5. IT REDUCES STRESS
The reason rose is in so many fragrances isn’t just because it smells delicious—that scent can actually have mood-boosting benefits. Rose water is known to reduce stress and can help promote a calmer and more relaxed state. According to studies, breathing in rose water lowers the amount of cortisol (a.k.a. stress hormones) in the body.
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