If you’ve been to a health food store recently, you’ve probably seen rose water on the shelves. But what the heck would you use it for?
Let’s break it down.
Uses for Rose Water
Rose water, at the most simplistic level, smells awesome. If you love to stick your nose in the middle of a bouquet of roses, you will probably love having rose water on hand. But beyond that, rose water is most well-known as a gentle astringent. Astringents are most commonly used as facial toner. While many facial products are full of chemicals or other ingredients that are hard on the skin, simple astringents like rose water are safe even on sensitive or dry skin. Rose water has anti-inflammatory properties, soothing dry skin.
Rose water is also used in cooking. Who knew, right?! Apparently it has a delightful, yet distinctive flavor, often used in Middle Eastern or Asian dishes and desserts (like baklava or rice pudding).
Here are a handful of ways to use rose water, but the options are endless, so be creative!
- Spritz the rose water directly on the face, acting to protect and moisturize
- Spritz yourself for a natural fragrance
- Use as a post-shower rinse (on body and hair) for moisturizing and scent
- Use directly on the face (mixed with some water) for a simple toner
- Mix with some carrier oil to use as a makeup remover
- Add to homemade lotions, scrubs or other beauty treatments
- Add directly to the bath
- Mist the bedsheets before bed (make a spray bottle with equal parts rose water and plain water)
- Add to beverages, especially tea or smoothies
Buying Rose Water
As with any product, be careful that you’re getting what your expect. Look for 100% pure rose water – no preservatives, no perfumes, just straight up. If you’re crafty, you could also make your own. You can find instructions online (including this one).
I recently bought some rose water and love the way it smells. It’s really like sticking your face into a bouquet of roses – all natural and delicious without any chemical or artificial-ness. If you are sensitive to fragrance or just hate artificial scents, this is a nice option. The scent does fade quickly so don’t rely on it as an all-day perfume, but it’s great for a morning pick-me-up.
Do you use rose water? If so, what do you use it for?: Share your experiences in the comments.
{Photo Credit: L. Seymour}