Does your skin experience redness or irritation, and does it feel dehydrated? Hydrosols might be just the thing you need. These botanical wonders might just be the missing piece in your skincare routine.
So what exactly are hydrosols, they are water-based and are derived from plants (flowers, leaves and fruits). They are a byproduct of making essential oils: Plants are steamed in a still to extract essential oils. The steam condenses, and the essential oils rise to the top, and the remaining water is the hydrosol. It’s nature’s way of giving us two gifts in one!
Hydrosols vs Essential Oils: A gentle difference
While both come from plants, both are different. Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts that contain the oil-soluble part of the plant. While hydrosols contain the water-soluble components of the plant – making them even gentler on the skin, especially sensitive skin.
Why your skin will love Hydrosols
- Hydration: Hydrosols are created by distilling plants and contain water-soluble components which make them ideal for hydration
- Reducing inflammation and skin soothing: They have anti-inflammatory properties making them effective in reducing redness and irritation
- Gentle: They are derived from nature making them gentle for all skin types, even sensitive skin
- pH balance: They have been shown to have pH-balancing properties
- Skin cleansing: Hydrosols can act as natural skin toners
And the best part? Different hydrosols work differently for different skin types, for example: Rose hydrosols work better for dry and sensitive skin while orange blossom hydrosols work to rejuvenate dull skin.
Choosing the Right Hydrosol for Your Skin Type
- For dry skin: Choose hydrating hydrosols like rose or lavender hydrosols
- For oily/acne-prone skin: Choose a balancing and clarifying hydrosols like tea tree or helichrysum hydrosol
- For sensitive skin: Choose relatively gentler hydrosols like chamomile, lavender, or rose
- For mature skin: Choose hydrating and rejuvenating hydrosols like neroli hydrosol
- For combination skin: Choose a hydrosol that is hydrating and targets your specific skin concerns
Incorporating Hydrosols into Your Skincare Routine
Hydrosols are incredibly versatile! Here are a few ways to use them:
- As a Toner: Use the hydrosol after cleansing and before moisturising
- As an Essence Toner/Mist: You can use the hydrosol throughout the day for a refreshing boost of hydration.
- To set your makeup: Use the hydrosol after applying makeup, to set it
To conclude
If you experience any issues such as; redness, skin irritation, dehydrated skin or if you have sensitive skin you can look for skin products with hydrosols in them as they are gentle, and natural, and they feel like you have put nothing on your skin.
Important note: Always do a patch test before applying any new skincare products.
