Roses are red, violets are blue, blah blah blah — we all know the rhyme. But did you know that roses have major skincare benefits? Well, they do, and the magic of roses for your skin is def worthy of a cheesy love poem.
When it comes to skincare, I have two main goals. My first goal is to combat my bizarrely oily, and yet also dry, acne-prone skin. It’s something I write about a lot as a self-proclaimed skincare obsessive. My second goal (and this one is somehow a more difficult goal) is to find something affordable that can make that first goal happen. When it comes to skincare, I’m not afraid to delve into ~fancier~, aka pricier, products, like this freaking face laser and this celeb-worthy magnet mask (yes, it really is that good). But it’s really, really nice to not have to shell out a zillion dollars just to feel more comfortable in my own skin.
That’s where my very beloved $3 skincare-that’s-not-even-skincare product comes in.
In the old downtown I used to live in, there’s a Mediterranean market where I came across a $3.25 bottle of rose water. It’s by Cortas, and it’s so good that I’ve literally traveled hours to get it (I moved, and easy access to this stuff is one of the main reasons I miss my old place, tbh).
I’d been dying to get my hands on rose water for years, but I was too hesitant to pay the cost of shipping to ever try it out. Now, I’m 100 percent obsessed, and I’ll buy ten bottles at a time to ensure I don’t have to go without. Yes, I’m serious. You should see my fridge.
Why it works.
According to Medical News Today, rose water “contains numerous, powerful antioxidants” allowing it to protect against damage from free radicals like UV rays and pollution. Also, rose water has anti-inflammatory properties, so it helps calm skin down. This really helps a lot when it comes to acne because it almost helps dull the redness, or prevent it in the first place, so even if I have a zit or two, it’s way less drastic than it would be if I was using a harsher product.
How it went down.
I use rose water in two main ways. The first is that I use it as a toner. After I wash my face, I apply rose water to a cotton ball and gently wipe my face from the bottom up to avoid dragging my skin and encouraging wrinkles. I’ll also use it as a toner when I’m too lazy to fully wash my face (hey, it happens). Instead of using cleanser, I just splash rose water in my face, rub it in (again, gently), and then wipe with a wash cloth. Throw on a moisturizer and roll into bed.
The second way I use rose water is as a spritz. I’ll keep a spray bottle on my desk and just lightly spray my face throughout the day to keep it hydrated. Another thing I love, love, love doing, especially during warmer weather, is keeping a small spray bottle of rose water in the fridge and then using it to cool off. After an intense workout it feels so good.
When it comes down to it, there’s no one skincare product that’s going to work for everyone. I WISH. But if you’re someone who’s looking for a gentle, delicious smelling product to add to your routine, this is definitely worth a shot. And at less than $4, it’s way less risky than a ton of products out there.