Roses brighten and soothe the skin and are also beautiful and fragrant. They offer several health benefits, which contributes to their popularity in skin care.
People have admired roses for centuries and have always been considered a symbol of romance. Think of Cleopatra, who, according to legend, used rose petals to create an enchanting atmosphere to seduce Marc Antony.
Roses are known as the ‘Queen of Flowers’ and are one of the oldest medicinal plants, with fossils dating back 35 million years, such as ferns. Roses have a long history of use for therapeutic benefits. In ancient Egypt, they boiled roses and used them in balms and fragrance oils.
Moreover, roses are edible and easy to implement into your diet. I like to make rose jam or rose syrup to give cookies a floral touch or to please my friend with a nice gift.
However, today we want to discover the numerous benefits of roses for our skin and how we can maximize their potential for our skin and hair.
Table of contents
What’s with roses?
Roses are flowering plants belonging to the genus Rosa within the Rosaceae family. If you find it difficult to identify them, you can consult a list of plants that look like roses.
Besides their enchanting rose petals and buds, their true potential lies in the small fruits that appear on rose plants in the fall after the petals have fallen. These small, berry-like fruits, known as rose hips, are a natural source of retinol. Packed with vitamins, antioxidants and essential fatty acids, rose hips provide a variety of skin benefits: they help with hydration, reduce inflammation and promote youthful, healthy skin.
Unlike rose essential oil that comes from rose petals, rosehip seed oil actually comes from rose hips.
Which roses are best to use in a skin care routine?
There is a wide variety of rose plants. However, the best for skin care is Damask Rose, in Latin Rosa Damascena. It contains antimicrobial and anti-aging compounds that are even effective against bacteria such as Staphylococcus or Escherichia coli, so ideal for wound healing (1) Rosa damascena contains vitamin C, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects (2)
Another common cosmetic variety is Rosa centifolia, known as the cabbage rose. This rose is packed with vitamin C and tannins, is an antioxidant and helps prevent aging.
Finally, Rosa Gallica has been shown to reduce inflammation and wrinkles.
I like to use wild roses (Rosa Canina) which have excellent properties for acne-prone skin.
When foraging, choose roses that are free of chemicals and pesticides.
Avoid selecting roses at flower shops, as many roses are treated with chemicals to extend their shelf life. Choose roses from your garden or from other gardens where you can trust that no harsh chemicals have been used.
Although color is unimportant, it is necessary to select fragrant flowers with a scent that you like.
Beautiful benefits of roses for the skin
Soothes skin irritation.
Roses contain natural compounds with anti-inflammatory properties. This means they can help people with sensitive skin soothe and soothe irritated skin caused by conditions such as acne or other skin problems. Additionally, it can help soothe the inflammation associated with eczema.
Relieves acne
The petals of roses have antibacterial properties that can help fight acne-causing bacteria. This can help prevent new pimples and support the healing process of existing pimples. Additionally, roses have astringent properties, which help shrink pores and control excess oil production. This is especially beneficial in treating acne by reducing the risk of clogged pores and promoting a clearer complexion.
The high levels of antioxidants and fatty acids in rose essential oil and rosehip seed oil can also help maintain a good balance of skin moisture, which is essential for effectively fighting acne!
Antioxidant
Roses are rich in antioxidants (flavonoids, polyphenols and vitamins) that protect the skin against damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals can contribute to skin aging and inflammation. Antioxidants in roses provide anti-aging benefits to the skin by neutralizing these free radicals and helping to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
Fortunately, rose essential oil and rosehip oil contain high levels of antioxidants with skin benefits that help us look younger and promote radiant skin.
Reduce skin redness
Thanks to its polyphenols and flavonoids with anti-inflammatory properties, roses can reduce skin redness. Using rose water, rose extract, or rose oil in skin care routines can help relieve redness by reducing inflammation and promoting a more even skin tone.
Anti-aging properties to reduce wrinkles
In addition, roses contain Vitamins A and C, which are crucial in collagen production. It is a fundamental protein that maintains the firmness and suppleness of the skin. Collagen levels decrease significantly as we age, leading to sagging, wrinkles and reduced volume. Vitamin C strengthens skin cells and collagen production, creating a rejuvenated and youthful complexion.
Vitamin C also contributes to better skin clarity and tone, helps reduce the appearance of pores and helps fade acne scars. Many people have successfully addressed hyperpigmentation and sunspots by incorporating rosehip seed oil into their skin care routines.
Rose water is often found in beauty products intended to reduce wrinkles. That’s because maybe it is anti-aging effects. In addition to soothing irritated skin. It appears in toner to strengthen the skin.
Hydrate and hydrate the skin
While roses are great for all skin types, they work wonders for dry skin, thanks to their exceptional moisturizing properties that relieve itching.
Rose water, derived from roses, is a popular ingredient in skin care. It helps maintain the skin’s natural hydration and prevents excessive dryness that can worsen skin problems. Well-hydrated skin is usually more resilient and less prone to redness.
Additionally, rose-infused creams and oils, such as rosehip seed oil, are applied topically to lock in moisture, nourish the skin and promote a healthy, well-hydrated complexion. Incorporating these rose-based products into your skincare routine will support the skin’s natural moisture balance, leaving it feeling soft, supple and revitalized.
Heals cuts, scars and burns
Roses possess remarkable healing properties and provide a natural remedy for cuts, scars and burns. The soothing and anti-inflammatory properties of rose extracts contribute to the skin’s repair process, promoting faster healing and minimizing the appearance of scars.
Rose water has antiseptic and antibacterial properties that help wounds heal faster. These properties can help clean and fight infections from cuts and burns. They can also help cuts, burns and even scars heal faster. (3)
Gently astringent
Roses have a gentle astringent effect, which means they can help shrink pores and control excess oil production. This benefits those with oily or acne-prone skin as it can reduce the risk of clogged pores and breakouts.
Calming scent
The natural scent of roses has a calming effect on body and mind.
Roses include, among other things citronellol, an effective mosquito repellent, and Citral, which has a strong antimicrobial effect. Citronelyl acetate is responsible for the pleasant taste and smell of roses and that is why roses are used in many skin and beauty products and aromatherapy or as potpourri.
Using rose essential oil to create a pleasant and relaxing experience. It helps reduce stress, which indirectly benefits the skin.
Regulation of sebum production
Roses are a natural solution for people with oily skin. They balance sebum production and promote a clear and matte complexion.
Because they are deeply hydrating, roses increase water content rather than oil content. Their astringent properties help remove dirt and oil from the skin and maintain its natural pH balance.
PH balancer
Balancing your skin’s pH level is crucial to its health. The skin has a natural defense, the ‘acid mantle’, that protects against infections and environmental factors. If the skin becomes too acidic or alkaline, its ability to protect itself decreases.
Pollution, toxins and sun exposure can disrupt the skin’s pH balance. Rose water, with a pH similar to that of human skin, is an excellent choice for hydration and anti-inflammatory properties without disrupting the skin’s pH. It can be easily applied before makeup or other skin care products for quick and easy use.
Rose product that you can make at home.
You can do wonders with fragrant rose petals. Through a slow maceration process of rose petals in oil, you can create nourishing rose oil that promotes skin regeneration, soothes irritation and serves as an excellent moisturizer. Transform this rose oil into homemade soap, lotion, cream or lip balm. for personalized skin care products.
To make rose water and rosewater hydrosol to keep your skin revitalized, youthful and radiant. It has a very calming effect, lowers blood pressure, reduces depression and improves your mood.
Use Rose Water as an effective makeup remover and ensure thorough removal without any residue. Mix rose water with jojoba oil for a reliable makeup cleaning solution. You can also make a facial toner to balance the pH of your skin and improve its appearance.
Additionally, rose water can be used as a hair rinse or added to petal baths for a soothing experience, recommended for relaxation after a stressful day. Take your bath to the next level by adding bath bombs in addition to rose water, and you’ll feel rejuvenated.
Does including roses or rose hips in your diet help your skin conditions?
Including roses or rose hips in your diet may offer potential benefits for certain skin conditions due to their rich content of vitamins, antioxidants and essential fatty acids. To incorporate roses or rose hips into your diet, you can try rose hip tea, add dried rose petals to recipes or use rose hip oil as a supplement.