3 DIY Rosewater Beauty Tonics to Minimize Pores and Get Soft Hair

Not only does rosewater have a delicate floral fragrance that won’t overpower your sensitive sinuses, it also offers a number of beauty benefits for the hair and skin. I bought a bottle without being too certain what I would do with it just because I was intrigued, but upon careful consideration of the ingredients, I decided to start making my own. It’s now one of my top four absolute beauty essentials (along with castile soap, baking soda and coconut oil.) Its use for topical preparations goes back centuries, and there are any number of ways to incorporate it into your routine. My favorite uses include a facial mist, light leave-on conditioner spray and pore-tightening toner.

You can easily make rosewater yourself. There are two basic ways to do this. The first is to add a few drops of pure 100% essential rose oil to a few ounces of distilled water. Alternately, to get more of the benefits of the petals themselves, steep one packed cup of organic rose petals in two cups of distilled steaming-hot (but not boiling) water until it reaches room temperature, before straining out the petals. The former method will stay shelf-stable longer and have a stronger fragrance. The latter will be good for about a month, if kept in the refrigerator, and can be used in food and beverages, too.

Rosewater Facial Mist

It doesn’t get much simpler than this: just pour some of your rosewater in a small spray bottle capable of producing a fine mist. Spritz it onto your face before you go to bed, after applying your makeup to set it or whenever your skin is feeling dry. Something about the scent feels absurdly luxurious. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself compelled to spray it onto all kinds of things, like your lingerie.

Rosewater Toner

If you have delicate skin, pure rosewater without anything added to it may be a good bet for a facial toner. However, I use toner to tighten my pores and keep my skin soft and clear, so I like to mix it with a few other ingredients. This recipe will fit in a standard 8-ounce bottle; adjust the quantities as necessary to fit into whatever size bottle you have on hand.

• 4 ounces distilled water
• 2 ounces witch hazel
• 2 ounces rosewater
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

I simply pour all four ingredients into a bottle and shake it well before each use, applying the mixture to my skin twice a day.

Rosewater Leave-On Hair Conditioning Spray

This simple rosewater beauty recipe makes use of conditioner you already have, and if you heat style your hair, the scent intensifies.

• 2 ounces of your favorite conditioner (lightweight is best)
• 4 ounces rosewater
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Pour all ingredients into the bottle and shake well. The vinegar will add a little shine and help keep the bottle from clogging.

Photos: candie_n, goodiesfirst