It moisturizes and provides a natural glow – and that's not all that rose water does for the skin. However, the quality differences are significant. There are a few things you should consider when buying and using rose water.
In this article, you will learn, among other things, what hydrosols are and how they work, how floral water is produced, and how to distinguish real from fake hydrosol. We will also show you what makes our Adaptogen Toner Serum with rose water so special.
Excursion: The History of the Rose as a Medicinal Plant
The rose has been a symbol of love and femininity for centuries, but the "Queen of Flowers," as the Greek poet Sappho described it as early as 600 BC, fascinates not only with its delicate appearance and irresistible fragrance but also with its significant role in medicine and beauty care. The Damask rose, also known as Rosa Damascena, is particularly sought after. This special genus is approximately 3,000 years old and originally bloomed in Persia, present-day Iran. There, the Damask rose is still considered one of the most important medicinal plants.
The plump pink blossoms of the Damask rose emit an intense fragrance and are rich in essential oils. Therefore, they are often used by the cosmetic industry for the production of precious rose oil and rose water. The Damask rose blooms twice a year: in spring and in autumn, but only the roses that bloom at the beginning of the year are of interest for rose oil and rose water production.
Hydrosols – Indispensable in Your Beauty Routine
Hydrosols like rose water are at the top of the list of popular skincare active ingredients in natural cosmetics. But what exactly is behind the term hydrosol?
What are Hydrosols?
Hydrosols, also known as floral waters, plant waters, essential waters, or aroma waters, are ideal for facial care. They are particularly suitable as a facial toner to regulate the skin's pH value and prepare it for subsequent care.
Rose Water – Effects and Application
Rose water – especially the hydrosol of the Damask rose – is a true all-rounder for every skin type thanks to its rich antioxidant cocktail. We recommend applying rose water directly after facial cleansing as a preparation for a face oil. It provides the skin with a lot of moisture, soothes it, and ensures a beautiful natural glow. At the same time, the hydrosol helps subsequent facial oils or oil serums to be better absorbed by the skin – without leaving an annoying oily film on the skin.
Other Hydrosols
Other popular hydrosols come from lavender, mint, chamomile, and witch hazel. Lavender is particularly used to soothe reddened and stressed skin. Mint, chamomile, and witch hazel help with impure skin with blackheads and pimples and associated inflammations.
How is Floral Water Produced?
The coveted floral water is usually a by-product of the steam distillation of plant parts (buds, flowers, leaves, stems, or roots) to extract essential oils. The hydrosol is the condensate that remains after the distillation vapor cools down. It contains valuable water-soluble ingredients from the plant.
In addition, hydrosols usually contain only minimal traces of the essential oil of the plant used, which makes them particularly well-tolerated by sensitive skin. The history of floral water as a beauty care product goes back many centuries and originated in Iran as well as in Eastern Europe (Bulgaria), Southern Europe (France), and Turkey. Today, after Turkey, Bulgaria is the second-largest exporter in the world.
What are the Benefits of Rose Water for the Skin?
The effect of a hydrosol is always based on the properties of the respective mother plant [3], in the case of rose hydrosol, on the specific characteristics of the rose. Rose extract is rich in secondary plant compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and vitamin C [2] and, according to scientific studies, has important benefits for your skin:
According to a 2018 study, rose extract has a significant anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect. [1] Therefore, particularly stressed and sensitive skin with redness, flaky patches, or impurities benefits from the anti-inflammatory properties of rose water.
The slow-aging effect of the rose is also impressive: the same study shows that rose extract is rich in antioxidants, which can slow down skin aging because they are strong free radical scavengers.
Real Hydrosol or Distilled Water with Rose Oil?
But be careful: not all rose water is the same. There are significant quality differences. Real rose water is produced by distillation and contains valuable water-soluble plant compounds that are good for your skin.
However, products that consist only of distilled water, rose oil, and added alcohol for preservation, and sometimes even synthetic rose fragrances, are also often described as rose water. These mixtures do not correspond to a real hydrosol and can irritate your skin. As always, the list of ingredients (INCI) provides information.
Is Rose Water Suitable as a Standalone Beauty Care Product?
One might think that rose water, due to its many positive properties, is perfectly suited as a standalone beauty care product. Unfortunately, no! Because: if you spray pure rose water on your skin without subsequently locking in the moisture with a face oil, it will evaporate immediately and can even draw moisture from your skin. The result: your outer skin layer (epidermis) dries out.
Rose Water 2.0 at ruhi: The Adaptogen Toner Serum
The good news: With our Adaptogen Toner Serum, we have formulated a product based on rose water that does not dry out your skin but is a true moisture miracle.
Deep Hydration Without Drying Out
It contains three potent and completely natural moisture retainers: vegetable glycerin and pentylene glycol from corn and sugar cane, as well as silver ear mushroom, a purely botanical alternative to hyaluronic acid. These effectively bind the moisture of the hydrosol in the skin, thus preventing moisture from evaporating on the skin.
The result: long-lasting and intensive hydration for your skin.
You can therefore use our Adaptogen Toner Serum as often as you like as a cool refreshment in between. Our summer tip: Especially when it comes fresh from the refrigerator, the subtly rose-scented face serum is the ideal freshness kick for hot summer days.
Organic Rose Hydrosol of the Highest Quality
Of course, for the Toner-Serum, we use rose water of the highest quality: natural, distilled organic rose hydrosol from the pink Damask rose. Thanks to its elaborate distillation process, it is particularly well tolerated – even by sensitive skin. To make the serum even gentler for sensitive skin, we have added soothing aloe vera juice to our formulation, which further enhances the positive properties of rose water.
In addition, in accordance with our own strict formulation principles, we dispense with the usual alcohol for preservation and rely on the 100 percent natural moisturizer pentylene glycol from corn and sugar cane, which also has very good antimicrobial properties. Good to know: Our mild formulation is considered preservative-free according to the Cosmetics Regulation.
What Makes the Adaptogen Toner Serum So Special?
Our innovative Toner-Serum is a new type of hybrid skincare combining toner and active ingredient care. It unites the strong effect of a serum with the refreshing, invigorating, hydrating, and balancing properties of a facial toner.
The product is 100 percent natural and vegan, with 84 percent of the ingredients being organic quality. The toner serum has a pleasant, subtly rosy scent that (aromatherapeutically speaking) has a balancing effect on the mood and ensures a better disposition.
Goji Berry Stem Cell Extract Slows Down Skin Aging
However, the Toner-Serum gets its name from its adaptogens. Adaptogens (derived from the English "to adapt") are biologically active plant compounds. They protect the skin from potentially harmful environmental influences such as UV/HEV light. They also strengthen the skin barrier. As a potent adaptogen, ruhi has chosen the award-winning active ingredient "PhytoCellTec™ Goji" based on goji berry stem cells.
According to researchers and dermatologists, the revolutionary cosmetic goji stem cell extract has a revitalizing effect on mesenchymal stem cells. Mesenchymal stem cells are a subtype of epidermal stem cells that are responsible for regeneration – especially for wound healing. This leads to increased collagen and elastin production, which can reduce lines and wrinkles and increase skin density.
Scientific Studies Confirm the Slow-Aging Effect
Clinical studies confirm that a twice-daily treatment with 0.4 percent of this goji berry stem cell extract reduces wrinkle depth by 11 percent after 56 days and increases skin firmness by 6 percent after just 28 days. Ruhi's Adaptogen Toner Serum contains 1 percent goji berry stem cell extract, which ensures optimal results.
Paired with the positive and complementary properties of rose water, the Adaptogen Toner Serum is a real powerhouse for slow aging and ideal for preventing premature skin aging. It is suitable for all skin types and is particularly recommended for dry, stressed, mature, and sensitive skin. As a tribute to our Persian roots, Damask rose water is a must-have for us in product manufacturing – your skin can only benefit from it!
Sustainability at ruhi
As always, when sourcing our ingredients, we pay attention to particularly sustainably operating suppliers. Our rose water supplier supports Iranian rose farmers in Kerman in pesticide-free rose cultivation and in the reuse of waste products from rose production through several projects. Our packaging is almost plastic-free; only the inside of the aluminum pump dispenser contains a small plastic element. The glass bottle is 100 percent recyclable.
Do you have any questions? I will be happy to answer your questions about rose water and the Adaptogen Toner Serum.
Sources
[1] Skin anti‐inflammatory activity of rose petal extract (Rosa gallica) through reduction of MAPK signaling pathway, 2018 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6261181/
[2] Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 2015, Pharmacological Effects of Rosa Damascena https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3586833/
[3] https://olionatura.de/kosmetikrohstoffe/wirkstoffe/hydrolate/
[4] An enriched polyphenolic extract obtained from the by-product of Rosa damascena hydrodistillation activates antioxidant and proteostatic modules, 2021 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34619431/
