Among the many wonderful (not to mention useful) flowers which inhabit our little blue planet, roses have gained some well-deserved attention. This post is our look at rose water toner benefits for the skin.

Rose Water Toner Benefits

Roses can be soothing for your skin.

Roses conjure all kinds of associations. No doubt, they make heart-warming gifts, beautiful floral centerpieces, and lovely fragrant perfumes, candles, and diffusers. As soon as I hear the word ‘roses’ I am immediately transported back to the home I grew up in, and the beautiful red and fuchsia roses growing in the front garden. Next comes to mind the elderly lady who would regularly bend over the low brick fence circling our garden and carefully cut off a handful of roses with her garden scissors. My siblings would complain every now and then after witnessing the open theft. My parents laughed it off. I know one thing: if roses are worth stealing, that means they must be really good. 

It wasn’t too long ago that I learned that, in addition to their lovely aesthetic qualities, roses have a variety of health and cosmetic benefits.

Toner Explained

Toners balance the pH of the skin, cleanse the skin, remove excess oil from the skin, and minimize pores. They are essentially water, although they contain more than hydrogen and oxygen and have benefits beyond just hydrating the skin.

Toners are a great addition to your morning and evening skin care routine. Their cleansing and hydrating properties are excellent when used alongside a face cleanser and moisturizer. They are not strong enough to replace cleansers and moisturizers.

To incorporate a toner into your skin care routine, spray the toner on your face right after cleansing your skin, before applying moisturizer. There are many toners out there; rose water is one of them, and a good one to try as it is natural and gentle on the skin. 

Rose Water Explained

Essential oil being poured into rose water.

Roses are probably more known for their aesthetic and fragrant purposes (roses always look beautiful in a vase, and they are a lovely addition to perfumes!) than for their health benefits, however, their benefits for health and beauty are abundant. Rose water has historically been used for its medicinal properties and cosmetic benefits. For hundreds of years, women have been concocting rose water toners to be used for various cosmetic purposes. Rose water toner dates to Egyptian Queen Cleopatra’s days. It was a staple in Cleo’s beauty routine and has continued to garner attention for its incredible benefits for beauty and health. 

Today, you can find several varieties of rose water toners on pharmacy shelves, although you really shouldn’t need to buy rose water; it is incredibly easy to prepare yourself at home. Rose water contains two ingredients: rose petals and distilled water. That’s it! (See recipe details below.) If you do choose to buy rose water, look out for an all-natural rose water so that you can reap the ultimate benefits of the healing potion.

You might be wondering: why is rose water so good for you?

Roses contain antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. This makes it particularly effective at helping to treat skin conditions, heal wounds, and enhance skin appearance.

Benefits Of Rose Water Explained

Not convinced that you should be putting roses on your face? Rose water has multiple health benefits, both when used topically and when ingested.

Reduces Acne

The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties in rose water make it an excellent natural remedy for clearing acne and reducing scarring brought on by acne. Rose water is also great for oily skin, reducing excess oils in the skin that can contribute to acne. Spray your face with some rose water at night or in the morning after cleansing your skin and enjoy a clearer complexion!

Heals Wounds

The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties in rose water also make it great for healing wounds. You can apply the rose water to burns or cuts with some cotton or spray it on to keep the area clean and bacteria-free, helping it to heal faster.

Relieves Stress

Roses are often used in aromatherapy, and for good reason. The lovely aroma of rose water can enhance your mood and relieve stress and anxiety. Its calming effects may relieve stress-related migraines and headaches, and its beautiful fragrance on your pillow or near your bed might also help you sleep better at night. 

Reduces Puffiness 

Are those late nights showing under your eyes? Of course, the best fix would be to get enough sleep, but if that’s not going to happen as soon as you’d like, rose water could help meanwhile. Simply soak a cotton pad in rose essential water and apply around your eyes to reduce the puffiness. 

What Is Rose Water Toner?

Rose water toner is essentially the same thing as rose water, except that it is marketed for cosmetic purposes. The rose water toners sold by cosmetic brands commonly contain added ingredients and are for external use only (ergo, no ingestion). You can prepare a 100% natural rose water toner yourself using just rose petals and distilled water. 

DIY Rose Water Toner Recipe And Guide

DIY bottles and flowers.

Preparing rose water toner is incredibly simple!

Ingredients

• 1 cup rose petals
• 1 cup water

Directions

Boil water in a pot over the stove, shred the rose petals and add to the hot water, continuing to boil the mixture for several more minutes. Allow the mixture to cool before straining. Store the rose water in a small spray bottle and keep in the refrigerator or a cool place. That’s it!   

Side Effects Of Rose Water Toner Explained

Side effects of rose water are rare, but as with anything, it’s good to be aware. Rose water may cause irritation, stinging, or redness for those who have a skin sensitivity to it. To avoid skin irritation, patch test the rose water on a small part of your skin before applying it to a large area. (If your skin reacts to the toner, do not proceed with applying it to a larger area.) If you’re buying a rose water toner, check that it is alcohol-free so that it doesn’t dry the skin. 

Conclusion

Rose water toner can make a lovely addition to your beauty regimen. If you don’t see much improvement in your complexion, at least it doesn’t do any harm. You can still enjoy the beautiful fragrance and refreshing feeling of the cold rose water on your skin.