6 Benefits Of Rose Water For Your Skin

Did you know rose water was a key ingredient in the first cold cream ever invented? It is one of the oldest and most widely used skin care ingredients due to its fragrant, purifying, cooling and hydrating benefits.

Rose water or rose hydrosol is a by-product made during the extraction process of making rose essential oil. It contains some rose oil as well along with other plant particles, and hence is a popular choice for cosmetics, perfumery as well as sweet delicacies. Have you ever tried a Turkish delight?

Are All Rose Waters Created Equally?

Rose waters found on the market vary not just in quality but also in the way they are produced. Steam distillation is the most traditional process as well as the best method for extracting pure, high quality rose water. For this process, a large stainless steel chamber is filled with water and rose petals and allowed to boil. The heat extracts the plant compounds from petals and the steam when cooled turns into rose hydrosol.

Unfortunately, these days rose water is also commonly made using synthetic solvents or by simply adding rose essence to water. These are more cost effective methods that allow for less fresh rose to be used. But these options lack the therapeutic properties that pure rose hydrosol can offer.

In addition, the synthetic solvents such as hexane often get left behind in the final product which is used topically or internally, and then gets into your system. These solvents are considered to be neurotoxic, meaning they can be dangerous for your brain and nervous system. Hence, it is best to use steam-distilled rosewater made using only fresh rose petals and water.

At Maia Botanicals, we only add steam-distilled hydrosols made with organic herbs to our formulations to avoid GMOs, harmful pesticides, and harsh solvents. This ensures that our products are safe for you as well as the planet.

Therapeutic Benefits of Rose Water

Rosewater is used in traditional medicine to treat issues like acidity, sore throat, digestive issues and various skin problems. According to Ayurveda, its cooling nature helps balance the Pitta and Vatta doshas.

Hence, Rose water is used in several Ayurvedic preparations to enhance their medicinal properties. Various wedding and prayer rituals in Hindu and Islamic cultures also use rose water for its purity and fragrance.

One of the best benefits of rose water is its ability to elevate your mood and reduce stress, anxiety and depression through aromatherapy. Rose water’s fragrance was highly regarded by Medieval East scientists for its calming and refreshing effects on the mind and body. You can find evidence of this in modern scientific studies too.

• A clinical trial conducted on 46 patients found that inhaling rose water fragrance for 4 weeks significantly reduced anxiety levels.
• A 2015 study conducted on 111 women found that aromatherapy of rose water reduced the intensity of labor pain.

Amazing Benefits of Rose Water In Skin Care

The most popular way to use rose water is as a toner after cleansing the skin. You will also find it in creams, lotions and cleansers as it is rich in antioxidants such as vitamin C and other biochemical compounds.

It is also a natural and safe alternative for synthetic fragrances in skincare products as well as perfumes. Here are some benefits of including rose water in your skin care regimen that will surely excite you.

1. Hydrates Your Skin

Rosewater is a popular ingredient in skincare for this key reason. It has the ability to quench the thirst of even the most dehydrated skin. Most people don’t drink enough water, and the skin is one of the first organs to suffer. Dehydrated skin can cause itching, dullness, darker circles under the eyes, and an increased appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Therefore it is important to make sure that your skin is getting the daily moisture it needs. 

2. Soothes Irritated Skin

Rose water has strong anti-inflammatory properties due to the presence of phenolic compounds like flavonoids and anthocyanins. It reduces redness and itching caused by eczema, sunburns, razor burns or even rosacea. Try storing your rose water in the fridge, and then apply it to your face after a long day at the beach. I guarantee you that your skin will thank you for it. 

3. Can Minimize Pores and Reduce Oiliness

The presence of tannins in rosewater make it a natural astringent. Research shows that astringents help reduce oil secretion and the appearance of large pores. But most astringents are alcohol-based and can dry out your skin. So use rose water as a toner instead to balance oil production in your skin.

4. Has Anti-Aging Benefits

Free radicals formed due to pollution and UV rays are a key factor behind premature aging. They damage collagen proteins that help your skin stay firm and smooth.

Antioxidants in rose water scavenge these free radicals to prevent your skin from aging faster. The Vitamin C content also aids the collagen synthesis process which will minimize wrinkles and improve the skin’s firmness.

5. Helps Balance pH levels

Conventional cleansers often tend to throw off your skin’s pH levels. And if your skin’s pH balance is too high or low, it will be prone to issues like acne, dryness, redness and even oily skin. Spritzing rose water on your face fixes this problem by bringing back the natural pH level of your skin. This makes it is an ideal ingredient for all skin types.

6. Treats Infections, Cuts & Wounds

Rose water possesses antibacterial as well as antiseptic properties. So the next time you have a minor cut or wound, dab some rose water on it to help with the healing process.

You can also soak a cotton pad with rose water and leave it on your eyes for 20 minutes to treat eye infections or soothe irritation caused by digital eye strain.

Now that you know all the amazing benefits of rose water, go ahead and add it to your beauty routine to soothe, protect and heal your skin.

Products With Rose Water

Rose Water & Aloe Body Lotion
Hyaluronic Acid & Witch Hazel Face Toner
Green Tea & Kelp Face Cream