A Few posts ago I talked about the different types of oils that can be used for glowing, dewy skin. In the article, I suggested that you start out with a few drops of oil and massage it in using more or less depending on your skin type.
This sounds all well and good, but I’ve received a few questions about how they can get the oil to work properly because, for many people, the oil just wants to hang out on the surface instead of soaking in. Soooooo, I came up with the Rosewater and Oil Method! It honestly works wonders in helping get those stubborn oils to soak in.
Facial Oils Not Working Out For You? This is How Rose Water Can Help!
Why Mix Rose Water With Your Facial Oils?
So chances are you wash your face before applying your oil of choice. Even if we only rinse our faces with water, the pH balance of the skin becomes disrupted. Normal skin pH is between 4.5 and 6.2 which is considered an acidic environment. This acidity is really important because it inhibits the growth of bacteria like the kind that contributes to acne. Soap and water are alkaline. When we wash our face, it’s very easy for the acid mantle (the protective acidic layer on the skin’s surface) to get out of balance. When this happens, oils can have a very hard time sinking into the skin.
So how do we solve this issue? What is rose water good for?
The pH of rose water is very close to 5.5 which just so happens to be what your skin’s pH should be. Coincidence? I think it’s a match made in heaven!
Using rose water will balance the pH of your skin after you’ve cleansed it. Once the acid mantel’s pH is back to normal (usually around 5.5 for most people), your beauty products (hopefully natural ones!) will absorb MUCH better into the skin. This means that your facial oils will make your skin glow, not look like an oil slick.
Rosewater is also very healing for the outer most layer of the skin and helps repair damage that causes dehydrated skin that can no longer hold in water. In a few weeks of using rose water along with the right facial oils for your skin type, that outer layer should be healed and balanced once more.
If you want to learn more about barrier repair, check out this article.
How to use the Rose Water and Oil Method
Whether you’ve made your own rose water/hydrosol or have purchased it at the store, just make sure it’s good quality. It should smell just like it would if you breathed deeply from a fresh fragrant rose and contain no additional ingredients. Many companies try to pass their rose water as real when all it is is water and rose absolute/essential oil. This is not the same!
Pure rosewater that lacks a true rose scent will not have the proper pH we’re looking for. A good quality rosewater or “hydrosol” that I like to use is by Evan Healy, a brand that can be found at Whole Foods Market. You can also get a really good rose hydrosol by Plant Therapy.
So now that you have a good rose water, let’s get to it!
• Spray your face liberally with rose water…breathe in the calming rose scent
• Gently press the rose water into your skin. Be sure not to rub too firmly
• Put 1-3 drops of your favorite facial oil into the palm of your hand (I like this facial oil)
• Spray 2-3 sprays of rose water into the oil and rub your hands together to mix them
• Gently press the rose water and oil mixture into the skin
• Be sure to get even delicate skin around the eyes to achieve a refreshed look
• Allow the rose water to air dry
Your skin should feel smooth and silky. If it feels tacky, spray another spray or two of rose water on your face and massage gently. The trick is to see how many sprays of rose water to how many drops of oil is right for you.
Once you get it right, your facial oil should soak in and create a silky, refreshed, glowing, and dewy look to your skin! You can even use this for your hands.
Using this method is the perfect way to get oils working properly and you don’t have to be limited to only rose water. There are many different hydrosols to choose from like lavender, melissa, and chamomile.
If you’re interested in learning about how to make rose water at home, check out my article: The Benefits of Rose Water and How to make Rose Water and Rose Water Infused Witch Hazel.
Have fun exploring the realm of hydrosols!
You may also enjoy reading:
Chai Rose Lip Balm
Rose Milk Bath Bombs
Rose Petal Body Scrub Recipe
DIY Smith’s Rosebud Salve
Rose and Spearmint Exfoliating Cubes
