one green planet
one green planet

I am slightly obsessed with anything rose. I love rose because it is the ultimate symbol of beauty and love and has endless benefits for health and beauty. I think that the rose and its amazing properties should be in every woman’s beauty regimen.

Here are a few amazing benefits of the rose:  it is moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant-rich, astringent and is a natural perfume! As Emilie Davidson Hoyt explains, there are two different types of roses used in most natural skin care: these include “rosa damascena and rosa centifola. The former, often hailing from Bulgaria, has a deep, potent scent; the latter, known as the cabbage rose or the Moroccan rose, has a lighter, clean and sweet scent. Both are valued for their pure essential oils, derived from the rose flowers.” Organic Authority reports that “rose water is also known for its health and beauty benefits. You can use rose water to treat acne, add to a tea to calm sore throats, and of course, pour it in a bath for a luxurious experience, and more.”

I am currently using multiple rose-infused products but I wanted to talk about my pure rose water and vegetable glycerine duo. There are many rose water and glycerine products out there, so I thought I would try to make my own concoction.

I purchased pure Cortas Rose water and Wow vegetable glycerine. Both are great products, and the rose water smells divine! “When used aromatically, rose calms and soothes the mind. In fact, rose petals are a staple in Ayurvedic medicine to detoxify and calm. Glycerine is also one of the most moisturizing ingredients you can use on your skin.”

The process for making this DIY toner is quite simple. I just place a small drop of glycerine on a cotton pad with a splash of rose water and put it on my skin after cleansing. I use circular motions for gentle exfoliation and for deeper penetration of the glycerine. Afterwards, my skin is pleasantly soft and comfortable, I do not find the need to use a moisturizer, but it would be fine if that is your fancy! As a natural astringent, rose helps tighten pores and restore suppleness for a glowy complexion. Unlike conventional alcohol-based toners, rose leaves skin feeling smooth, not dried out. This means you can use this mixture more often than the store-bought, drying formulas.

In addition, this mix might help you get through the warm summer months coming up. Rose contains high amounts of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant. This important vitamin can help protect skin cells from damage, such as from staying out in the sun too long. Some evidence even suggests that rose water can help prevent sunburn.

Be sure to give this mixture a try to help tone your skin in the months going forward. We’d love to know how it works out for you — please let us know in the comments! What other ways do you use rose in your DIY beauty mix?

Image source: Shirley / Pixabay