Indeed it is! Distilling rose petals with steam is the process that results in this rejuvenating water, which is naturally a little bit thicker than the stuff that comes out of your tap.
Such a concoction has been utilized by the beauty industry – and even our ancestors before us! – for generations.
There are several key reasons for rose water’s continued success:
- It’s an anti-inflammatory: rose water is fantastic at reducing redness and soothing the skin, making for less puffiness and a smoother complexion overall
- It’s packed full of antioxidants: given both the petals of a rose and the oil extracted from one are full of helpful skin-protecting substances, this can only be good for your skin
- It reduces irritation: as well as minimizing red patches, the antibacterial properties of rose water can also be effective against itching, dry patches or even eczema and rosacea
- It has antiseptic properties: though you should use a proper antiseptic for cuts and wounds, if you have any cuts or spot scars on your face, rose water could help them to heal up a little faster
Can I apply rose water on my face overnight?
Absolutely – in fact, it is advised that you incorporate it into your bedtime skin routine where possible, especially if you’re looking to unclog your pores and reduce the amount of oil, dirt, and debris on your face. Oily and combination skin tones, we’re looking at you!
This will help you to ensure that any impurities that have gathered on your face during the day are totally removed. Of course, you should also be cleansing, toning, and moisturizing, as well as using rose water in this way.
Perhaps the easiest way to use rose water at night is simply to mist it over your face before you’re about to sleep. Use the tips of your fingers to rub it in and enjoy how soft and plump your skin feels afterward.
However, if your rose water contains glycerin – which many do – then you should avoid regularly using it overnight. This is because that ingredient is what’s known as a humectant, pulling out moisture from the inner layers of your skin.
This results in said layers drying out, resulting in your external face looking dry and potentially causing unwanted advancement of the aging process. If you’re desperate for a rosy spritz, rinse it off after between fifteen and twenty minutes, then go to bed.
Outside of this, there should be nothing in your rose water that could prompt a reaction out of the blue – unless you’re allergic to flowers! – and there’s also no need to rinse it off afterward, so sleeping with it on is absolutely fine.
The majority of people will wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, kind of like having a facial while you’re dreaming!
Can rose water cause pimples?
No – in the majority of cases, anyway. Rose water is actually considered good at reducing your pimples, rather than causing new ones to appear, though everybody’s skin is different and it’s difficult to say with 100% certainty that everybody will be fine.
The only possible downside of rose water is that geraniol, one of its primary ingredients, could possibly be quite irritating if it comes into contact with your eyes. As long as you avoid throwing it into your retinas, there shouldn’t be any adverse effects on your skin from using rose water.
It is important to note, however, that as with pretty much any ingredient on Earth, there will be a small fraction of the population for whom rose water results in breakouts.
When you’ve recently added rose water to your routine and suddenly start seeing zits everywhere, it’s a pretty big indicator that you’re one of those unlucky few. If you’ve been using rose water for ages, think about other products you use, as it may well be something else that’s responsible.
Can rose water remove pimples?
Not instantly, nor one hundred percent… but it certainly helps! Although it’s not the most effective product in the world when it comes to completely get rid of pimples, rose water certainly helps you in achieving a clear, clean face when used on a regular basis.
Scientific studies have indicated that rose oil – of which rose water is approximately 40% – 50% composed – is highly effective at reducing facial inflammation. This, combined with the fact it’s also a gentle, natural astringent, means bacteria is also eradicated by using rose water.
Given that pimples are red, angry, and fuelled by your pores being filled with things that shouldn’t be in there, rose water is only going to be beneficial for helping to reduce the swelling of your pimples and help them clear up a little quicker.
That being said, there are other more effective ways to treat pimples – just because rose water works, doesn’t mean it’s the best thing to use for the job. You should also be regularly cleansing and toning to ensure any breakouts will disappear.
It’s impossible to completely clear your face of acne – everyone gets spots from time to time, so don’t fret if you’ve occasionally got a few scattered across your face. Despite what Instagram might suggest, we all have pimples, 24/7, no filter. Although drinking water can certainly help acne.
Does rose water darken the skin?
Nope – it does quite the opposite! It’s difficult to know where this rumor started, but despite what people’s search histories might tell you, that’s exactly what it is – a rumor. It has many useful properties, but this is not one of them.
Rose water is actually known to lighten the skin’s pigmentation if you find it is darker in certain areas. That being said, this only goes for skin with clogged pores and an imbalanced pH, though, and not anybody with naturally dark skin.
Don’t worry. It doesn’t interact with your melanin in any way – there’s no way we would be promoting it as a skincare superstar if it did! – but what it can do is clean up any dirt, debris, and other impurities from your skin.
This will help to even out your overall complexion, so there aren’t any patches of discoloration in certain areas. What rose water absolutely will not do, though, is darken the skin. It doesn’t contain anything which could possibly achieve that!
For darkening the skin, you’ll probably want to stick to foundation and self-tan, though if you’re white it’s best to avoid going too dark, given that we don’t want to accidentally infer we’re doing blackface. Not a cute look, no matter what anyone tells you!
Is rose water good for combination skin?
Yes, it is! Rose water is regularly recommended for all skin types, even those with especially sensitive skin, because its primary properties are that it is both naturally anti-inflammatory and also contains plenty of important antioxidants.
In areas where you have dryness, it will offer deep moisturization, penetrating through layers of the face to provide some well-needed nourishment where you need it most. This should also help to relieve any itching you might be experiencing.
Where skin is red and irritated, rose water will help to soothe and reduce this discoloration, as well as hopefully make your face feel cooler and less tight in areas that are affected. A perk especially useful right before you go to sleep!
Being a gentle astringent, it will also remove unwanted oils, as well as clear off any dirt that has accumulated on your skin during the day. This should help with parts of your face that are particularly shiny, oily, or acne-prone.
Likewise, oily faces actually need hydration more than you might expect, so the hydrating nature of rose oil is also great for combination skin as it helps to regulate the production (or lack thereof) of oil in equal measure.
As you can see, all of the goodness inside rose water is more than good for combination skin, it actually sounds like it will tackle all of your problems, just by using one simple product, alongside your usual cleansing, toning, and moisturizing.
Is rose water good for an oily face?
Definitely! The amount of sebum, or oil, in your skin, is actually determined by how hydrated it is amongst other things. As a result, the added water that using this product brings to your face is ideal for keeping your oil levels where they should be.
Bonus: Combine the rose water use with coconut oil for your face. Applying oil to an oily face… I know but there’s reason to the madness. Sometimes you need to fight fire with fire.
Naturally astringent, you’ll find rose water removes oil, dirt, and other detritus gently, all whilst maintaining your skin’s naturally balanced pH, as well as offering a toning effect if necessary. These are all great at ensuring your oiliness is kept at bay.
As oily skin is quite conducive to regular breakouts, you’ll notice that rose water also helps to minimize the appearance of zits – though it won’t be able to completely eradicate them – and reduce redness around them, so they catch the eye less.
This also means that whiteheads, blackheads, and other problematic skin conditions are also reduced, which for those with too much oil production on a regular basis will come as a great relief. Oil really is the cause of many skin-based evils!
Do remember that it isn’t enough just to use rose water, especially if you have an oily face – you need to follow a proper skincare routine in order to ensure that you’re giving your skin everything it needs to be in the best possible condition.
Again – anybody with any skin tone can make use of the anti-inflammatory, antibacterial properties of rose water. A small percentage of people will find it does more harm than good, as with any product, but for the most part, it’s helpful.
