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neroli hydrosol, organic cleanser, organic skin toner, rose flower water, rose hydrosol, witch hazel hydrosol
Hydrosols, hydrolats, floral waters or plant waters, whatever you want to call them, their effects on our beautiful skins are AMAZING and, much to the beauty industry’s loss, little known & used.
With a bit of research and the right combination of hydrosols added to your beauty regime, you could both say “good-bye” to all those expensive creams and lotions that can only claim to do the same thing, as well as adopt a more organic & holistic approach to beauty.
But first a little bit about the savvy hydrosol:
Hydrosol, derived from “hydro” meaning water and “sol” meaning solution, is a chemistry term meaning “water solution”. In Aromatherapy they refer to the “distillate” produced during the distillation of an essential oil, either from steam of hydro (water) distillation. It is produced when roots, bark, branches, wood, needles, leaves, fruits, seeds and flowers are distilled for their essential oils. The process is explained by the brilliant diagram below taken from Gabriel Mojay’s brilliant book* Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit:
A highlight of some of the BEST beauty hydrosols, staples on any bathroom shelf:
- Clockwise from bottom left: Witch Hazel, Roman Chamomile, Rose, Neroli
Hydrosol of Witch Hazel hamamelis virginiana:
The all round beauty miracle. The most anti-oxidant of the hydrosols and one of the most important anti-aging substances. Add to any skin care product or spritz on face & decollete between cleanser and moisturiser. Astringent but also good for mature and damaged skins. You can also use it for ANY skin complaint and even mosquito bites! Avoid commercial witch hazel as it is mixed with alcohol (bet. 1 – 30%) which renders it’s therapeutic properties virtually useless. Check your labels.*
Hydrosol of Roman Chamomile chamaemeleum nobile
The best all-in-one makeup remover, skin cleanser and toner. Very astringent so not for dry skin. Very good for acne and oily skin – great when combined with witch hazel for mature skin. Great for burns, sun burn, rashes, rosacea, heat rash, redness, sensitivities. Also a great aid in stress reduction, depression, relaxation, insomnia and aggravation* See Beauty tips for oily skin
Hydrosol of Neroli citrus aurantium var. amara
Amazing for delicate, sensitive and oily skin as it is astringent. For dry skin, only use on combination with another hydrosol like Lavender, rose or geranium as it is very astringent. An amazing toner, clears acne and irritations. Combine with clay and honey for the most luxurious face mask. Also spritz as a natural perfume. It’s also great for stress and very calming *
Hydrosol of Rose rosa damascena
As Suzanne Catty states, this is what rose is supposed to smell like! Not only does it make us beautiful, it is also the ultimate woman’s hydrosol as it balances our fragile and erratic hormones! Great for dry, mature, sensitive and “devitalised” skin. It is cooling, astringent and great for wrinkles, as well as relaxation and rejuvenation. Oh, and it also supports balance, aids emotional processing and supports your decision-making.* How could you not want to use this every day?! See Skin care treatments for dry skin
SPRITZ AWAY!!
If you liked this post, you might also like Beauty tips for glowing skin and Easy tips for beautiful skin, perfect skin
Suggestions for suppliers:
UK Avicenna, The English Chamomile Company, Essentially Oils,
Australia New Directions and Bush Sense +61 (2) 4727 6707
US & Canada Nature’s Gift, and Acqua Vita
New Zealand Aromaflex
All do mail order.
See also: Renegade Beauty #1: Luscious Lips
* Sourced from the amazing and inspirational books by Gabrial Mojay (Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit) and Suzanne Catty ( Hydrosols, The Next Aromatherapy)
I’m already using the rose hydrolat (as you may know ?): is it essential to change to another as time goes by, as I’m using Frankincense in jojoba/borage as a moisturiser. Ideally, is it okay to mix and match?
With the hydrosols, you can experiment with them – use them however you wish and have fun with them!
You can alternate your favourites daily (or when each bottle finishes) or even combine 2 or 3 of them in another clean, dark blue spray bottle to make sure you reap the benefits of the different waters. They each have slightly different qualities and therapeutic benefits, so very beneficial to use different ones now and again for this reason.
Your combo of rose hydrosol and your moisturiser of Frankincense with Jojoba and Borage sounds beautiful! Once you’ve spritzed, apply the moisturiser while your skin is still wet; this will help the skin stay moist longer while balancing the overall condition and texture. Both substances will emulsify and be rapidly absorbed in the process. I do this with Witch Hazel prior to my face blends both morning and eve; it is amazingly nourishing and enriching for the skin. I don’t even need eye cream as the delicate skin around the eyes absorbs what it needs from the face. Enjoy!
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