Rose Oil and Rose Water: How effective are they in your Skincare Routine?
Rose Oil - One of the most expensive essences in the world
Production
Rose oil is expensive not only because of its unique effect, but also because of the complex production and the associated costs. If you want to extract the oil from the fresh flowers, you need already 5 tons of rose petals for just one liter of rose oil. The best types of roses for obtaining high-quality oil are the Provence and Damascene roses. These are grown on a large scale in Bulgaria, France or Turkey. Rose blossoms can be harvested from May to June. Already during the harvest, care must be taken to harvest the rose flowers in the morning hours, when the first rays of sunlight shine and the flower bud opens. This is the time when the flowers present their highest possible content of essential oils.
Then they are put into a kettle with distilled water, which is heated. The oil is extracted by steam distillation. In this process, the resulting water vapor is then transferred to a cooling system so that the condensate can settle in liquid form. Afterwards, the oil is in its highest possible concentrated form and is also called green oil. However, the process is repeated so that less concentrated yellow oil is produced.
A very time-consuming and laborious procedure, therefore, until you get to the finished rose oil. In the finished product that you can buy in the store, there is not only the pure rose oil, but usually over 300 other ingredients are present, which ultimately make up its particularly healing effect.
SEE ALSO: In the Name of the Rose: An olfactory Classic inspires Fragrance Makers
Effects and Application
On the one hand, rose oil has a strong effect due to its aromatic scent. This has, among other things, positive influence on our state of mind, and can also help with depressive moods or sleep disorders. The scent of rose oil should help to a euphoric and harmonious state and is therefore often used in aromatherapy. The other positive property of rose oil is that it can penetrate well into the skin layers and thus spread its effect in the body. It has an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effect. Likewise, it is said to provide relief from muscle tension and minor aches and pains.
No wonder, then, that rose oil is used in skin care. In facial care, rose oil mainly causes skin tension, moisturizes and helps blood circulation. Likewise, the oil is said to have a cell renewal function, which is why more mature skin benefits from it through anti-aging care. This is due to the unsaturated fatty acids in rose oil.
The application is simple, one to two drops of the oil can be gently massaged onto the cleansed face. If necessary, you can use a moisturizer afterwards. You can also apply a drop of rose oil on blemishes or pimples before going to bed. This is said to boost the healing process.
Otherwise, the expensive rose oil is used for dry and brittle hair. Here you can massage a few drops directly into hair ends or use combined with shampoo when washing hair. It gives the hair and scalp a lot of moisture.
Rose Oil Alteya Organics – 100ml 2.767,44 EURO
Rose Oil Grown Alchemist – 100ml 311,80 EURO
Rose Oil Korres – 100ml 176,33 EURO
Rose Oil Tiroler Kräuterhof – 100ml 10.450,00 EURO
When buying rose oil, you can consider some important things. First, it is always advisable to pay attention to an organic cultivation of the roses themselves. This is important to make sure that no harmful pesticides have been added. The scent itself can also be an indicator of a particularly high-quality oil. This should not be intrusive and penetrating but have a gentle rose petal fragrance. Further one can pay attention to special markings, which indicate professional manufacturers. Among them is the freshness content, also called peroxide value. In addition, you can check the composition of the oil to see how much pure rose oil is really contained. It is true that the more pure rose oil is contained, the more expensive the final product. So when buying rose oil, it is better to go for the more expensive variant in order to get a correspondingly good quality.
SEE ALSO: AHA, BHA and Retinol: Active Ingredients for a Flawless Complexion
Rose Water
Production
The commonality of rose oil and rose water is obvious. They are both made from rose petals. However, the rose water is actually only a by-product that falls off during the production of rose oil. Therefore, it is cheaper, but not less valuable in its scope of action. The manufacturing process is the same as for rose oil. The rose petals are mixed with distilled water and heated in a kettle, which produces water vapor. This water vapor is passed to condensation. The rose oil settles to the bottom in a viscous form, while the rose water is the condensed water vapor. While the rose oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and fat-soluble active ingredients, the rose water consists of the water-soluble parts of the rose blossom.
Effects and Application
The areas of application and effects of rose water are very similar to rose oil. While rose oil is only offered in small quantities in the trade and also gets by with only one to two drops per use, the rose water is available in larger quantities. Depending on the product, with rose water you either already have a spray head to put the water on your face or hair, or you use a cotton pad to apply it.
Especially younger skin tends to benefit from rose water, as it is considered very anti-inflammatory and can therefore be used daily for skin blemishes, blackheads and pimples. A great advantage of rose water is that it does not degrease the facial skin and thus does not attack the top, sensitive skin layer. Rose water also reduces redness on the face and can help with puffy eyes and dark circles under the eyes. To do this, simply place cotton pads with rose water on the eye area and leave for 5-10 minutes. The facial skin looks immediately fresher afterwards, as the rose water is said to have an invigorating effect here, which should also help against fatigue. If you tend to very sensitive and delicate skin, you should definitely use rose water than alcohol-based facial toners, which in the long run damage the skin barrier.
SEE ALSO: Facial Toner: The Perfect Addition to your Beauty Routine
Just as with rose oil, rose water can also be used in the hair. It is also very moisturizing for dry ends and can also be massaged on the scalp. A small amount is enough to provide relief for itchy and dry scalp.
Rose water is also known for its aromatic scent. This is, of course, not as intensely as with pure rose oil. Nevertheless, the scent of the water, just as with rose oil, is said to help with restlessness, anxiety, nervousness and depressive states of mind. Here too, however, it can be assumed that in aromatherapy the higher-dose rose oil has a more effective outcome.
A new advantage of rose water, which has less to do with cosmetics, is that it can be used for cooking and baking. This comes from the oriental area and gives the food a unique taste. Oriental dishes such as baklava traditionally contain rose water. Rose water is said to not only add a special flavor to the dishes, but also to be helpful for digestion by relaxing the stomach nerves and relieving the feeling of fullness. Rose water is equally popular in refreshing summer drinks. However, when consuming it, be careful not to use rose water, which is intended exclusively for cosmetic purposes.
Rose Water Junglück – 100ml 8,00 EURO
Rose Water Alteya Organics – 100ml 10,50 EURO
Rose Water Rosense – 100ml 10,99 EURO
Rose Water Saint Charles – 100ml 18,80 EURO
Whatever you want to use rose oil or rose water for, whether for aromatherapy, skincare or hair care, you should pay attention to high quality when buying. The products should provide transparent information about origin, production and ingredients. Thus, you can ensure that you avoid unnecessary intolerances or even deterioration of your skin situation. After that, nothing stands in the way of your aromatic feel-good moment and a pleasant beauty routine.