Wake up and smell the roses—literally! Instead of putting roses in a vase, try using them on your face for their many skin benefits. Rose water, made from filtered water and rose oil from the petals, along with rose hip oil and rose essential oil, can soothe and reduce inflammation. Whether in a cleanser, toner, moisturizer, or serum, rose-based products are beneficial for all skin types.
Roses are becoming a popular ingredient in skincare, and it’s easy to see why. For those interested in natural remedies, herbs for skin care like roses offer a timeless appeal. Legend says that Cleopatra filled her rooms with rose petals before meeting Marc Antony so that he would always think of her when he smelled roses. She even soaked her ships’ sails in rose water so the scent would follow her wherever she went!
While roses are a symbol of romance and commonly used in American homes on Valentine’s Day, they offer more than just a pleasant scent. Roses provide many great benefits for the skin.
FREE RADICAL NEUTRALIZERS
Roses and rose water are great for the skin because they are packed with antioxidants. Antioxidants are molecules that protect the body by stopping free radicals from causing damage.These antioxidants strengthen skin cells and help regenerate skin tissue. They also neutralize free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that try to steal electrons from other molecules, making them unbalanced.
In the skin, free radicals can weaken its structure and cause premature aging. Luckily, rose essential oil and rose hip oil are rich in antioxidants, which neutralize free radicals and help keep your skin looking young. For added benefits, consider incorporating lavender skin care into your routine, as it also provides antioxidant protection. Learn more about antioxidants and free radicals here- News Medical.
Wrinkle Eraser
As we age, collagen levels decrease, leading to sagging, wrinkles, and loss of volume. Rose water for face and rose oils are not only rich in antioxidants but also packed with vitamins A and C, which are great for aging skin. These vitamins help smooth wrinkles, reduce age spots, and support collagen production. While rose essential oil and rose water come from rose petals, rose hip seed oil comes from the small fruits on rose plants and is a natural source of retinol.
Vitamin C also brightens the skin, improves its tone, reduces the appearance of pores, and can fade acne scars. Many people have found rose hip seed oil effective for reducing hyperpigmentation and sun spots.
Healing Hydrator
Roses are great for all skin types but are especially beneficial for dry skin due to their strong moisturizing properties. They help soothe itchiness and keep the skin hydrated. Rose essential oil is particularly good at moisturizing the skin, preventing moisture loss, and maintaining a strong moisture barrier. Even if you don’t have dry skin, the hydration from roses can help balance your skin’s moisture levels.
Using harsh cleansers can strip your skin of moisture, causing it to produce more oil to make up for it. Rose oil helps balance skin hydration, which can prevent excessive oil production.
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
Roses have many anti-inflammatory benefits that can help reduce redness on the skin. Their moisturizing properties also soothe redness and irritation. Sea moss in skin care and rose hip oil, in addition to its anti-aging benefits, contain antioxidants and fatty acids that help calm skin inflammation, including eczema.
Unlike rose essential oil, which comes from rose petals, rose hip seed oil is made from the small fruits on rose plants. It is the only natural plant oil that contains retinol, a powerful anti-aging ingredient!
Rose hip oil is a great alternative to retinol treatments because it’s gentler on the skin but still very effective. Its high levels of fatty acids and antioxidants make it excellent for soothing skin inflammation, including eczema and severe redness.
Regular use of rose hip oil can help reduce acne scarring by inhibiting pigmentation, while keeping the skin hydrated and youthful. It can also help reduce the appearance of capillaries due to its astringent qualities.
THE ULTIMATE BALANCER
Rose water helps to balance moisture in the skin, which can control excess oil production. It deeply hydrates the skin, increasing its water content rather than oil levels. Rose water also has astringent properties that lift dirt and oil, helping the skin maintain its natural pH balance.
Maintaining the right pH balance is crucial for healthy skin. The skin has an “acid mantle,” a thin layer that protects against infection and environmental factors. If the skin’s pH is too high or too low, it loses some of its protective ability.
Pollution, toxins, and sun exposure can disrupt the skin’s pH balance. Luckily, the pH of rose water is very similar to that of human skin, making it ideal for hydrating and soothing the skin without causing imbalances. You can easily apply rose water before makeup or other skincare products.
Rose water also provides a quick hydration boost and helps fight free radicals when used daily.
ROSE PRODUCTS AND ACNE TREATMENT + PREVENTION
Roses have several benefits for fighting acne. Their antibacterial properties can reduce bacteria on the skin without irritating sensitive or damaged areas, unlike harsh chemicals in some acne treatments that can cause discomfort.
Rose water makes a great toner for acne-prone skin because its balanced pH helps avoid redness and irritation. Additionally, rose essential oil and rose hip seed oil are rich in antioxidants and fatty acids, which maintain the right moisture balance in the skin—important for controlling acne. The high vitamin C content in these oils can also help fade acne scars and prevent new dark spots from forming.
How to Use Rose Products in Your Skincare Routine
Damask rose essential oil and rose hip seed oil are great additions to moisturizers due to their many benefits. Aloe vera skin care products also complement these oils well. You can buy rose essential oil on its own, though it is quite expensive, or look for moisturizers and products that already include rose extracts.
For acne, rose water works well as a refreshing and antibacterial toner. Follow it with a night moisturizer containing rose essential oil to enjoy its antioxidant and antibacterial benefits. To boost moisture and help fade scars, add a few drops of rose hip seed oil to your moisturizer each night.
If you have dry or sensitive skin, look for a balm with rose waxes and extracts to help keep your skin moisturized for longer. You can also find products with shea butter, which has vitamin A and helps with collagen production, and black rose extract, which is rich in Omega-3s. Additionally, rice water for skin care can be a great option to enhance hydration.
