Rose Skin Benefits & Recipes

 

Rose petals inside a mortar. Photo Credit: Photo: Gregor Schuster/Photographer's Choice RF (Getty)

For centuries roses have been a symbol of love.  A bouquet of roses along with a heart-shaped box of chocolates has become synonymous with St. Valentine’s Day.  The fragrance of roses is hypnotic—making it both calming and sensual. Plus there’s a bonus: the oil and water extracted from roses has numerous skin care benefits.
Several ancient civilizations used roses, rose oil and rose water for medicine, in rituals and even in cuisine.
There are four varieties of rose used for the production of rose oil and rose water:  rosa damascena, rosa centifolia, rosa gallica and rosa moschata.   Rosa damascena is mentioned the most frequently because it is the most fragrant and yields the highest oil content.
Rosa damascena is said to have originated in the Middle East in Iran (known then as Persia), where bottles of rose water was given as gifts and even paid as tribute to the treasury in Bagdad.

5 Ways to Reap Rose Skin Benefits

• Rose Water – a by-product from distilling rose petals and water to make rose oil. Rose water is used in religious ceremonies.  It is used in mosques during funeral ceremonies to calm the mourners.   The aroma is calming, relieves anxiety and promotes emotional well-being.
•  
• Rose Oil - also known as otto and attar of roses is extracted through distillation. Rose oil has emollient properties and also helps reduce inflammation.
• Rose hips seed oil  - is actually from the fruit of the rose plant (the small bulb that is left when the rose petals fall off the stem.)  Rose hips is good for mature and photo-damaged skin and skin conditions like dermatitis and eczema.

• Rose Petals - Rose petals alone are not only beautiful and fragrant, but were used by Ancient Greeks and Romans used rose petals to perfume baths.  Egyptian queen Cleopatra had rose petals sprinkled onto the floors of banquet halls and was well known for her bathing and beauty rituals which included rose petals in the bath and in facial masks.

8 Beauty Recipes Using Rose Petals
 
Oily Skin Bath – Mix ½ cup of rose petals powder with a handful of mint powder and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.  This bath helps remove excess oil and prevent blemishes.  (If you find lemon juice irritating you can substitute with white vinegar).
To reduce blemishes and oily skin - Mix mashed rose petals with sandalwood powder and add a little rosewater and a tablespoon of honey into a paste.  Apply to the face and neck.  Leave the mask on for 15 minutes.  Rinse with cool water.  This facial mask helps reduce blemishes and oily skin.   You can also replace the honey with turmeric to help remove dead skin cells, reduce discoloration and brighten the skin.

Rose Petal & Yogurt Mask - Mix the rose petals powder with besan (gram flour or chickpea flour), yogurt and rose water to make a thick paste.  Apply to face.  Let dry and rinse with milk and follow with cold water.

Soothing Rose Facial Cleanser  - Soak 8 – 10 petals in 3 – 4 tablespoons of distilled or filtered water for 3 hours.  Mash the petals into the water and then add 2 tablespoons of honey.  Mix and apply to the face.  Leave on for 20 minutes, and then rinse with cool water.
Honey Rose Mask
Fresh Rose Petals (6-8)
2 tablespoons rose water
1-teaspoon plain yogurt
1-teaspoon raw honey
Soak rose petals for an hour.  Crush the rose petals in a bowl or mortar.   Mix the yogurt and honey with the rose petals and apply to face.  Leave on for 10-15   minutes.  Rinse.  If you have oily skin you can add a little lemon juice to the mix.

Rose Petals Exfoliating Scrub
Soak rose petals for 30 minutes.  Crush the petals and then mix with ground oats.  Gently scrub onto face and neck using circular motions.  For extra exfoliation, you can wash off the scrub with water and milk.  Put a little rose water on cotton balls and apply to face and neck.  Rinse with cold water.

Refreshing Lavender & Rose Bath (from Veria.com, the online extension of TV Network Veria Living): Mix together equal parts of fresh lavender and rose petals in a muslin bag.  If you don’t have a muslin bag, you can cut a sock or stocking and tie the opening with string.  Run a warm bath. Let the bag steep in the water for 5 minutes.  The scents of lavender and roses are very calming and this floral bath is a great way to unwind and de-stress.

Rose Petal Face Pack
1-quart water
Peel from one orange
8 teaspoons fresh rose petals (or 4 teaspoons dried)
6 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons rose water
2 teaspoons honey
4 tablespoons whole-wheat flour
Directions: 

Boil the water and remove from heat. Add the orange peel and rose petals. Cover the pan and steep until the water is lukewarm or cool. In a separate pan, heat the milk, rose water and honey. Remove from heat.

Add the flour and whisk everything together into a thick paste. Apply the warm paste to your face and neck. Leave on 15-20 minutes. Wash the mask off carefully with the remaining rose-orange water. Pat dry.  (Courtesy of Veria.com).