Is Rose Water Good for Your Face？

Roses are one of the most cherished plants worldwide for their beautiful color and sweet scent. People gift them to each other to show affection and love. They are being added to desserts, jellies, and ice-creams to enhance their taste. Moreover, rose fragrances are also famous worldwide. 

This does not end here! There is also rose water which is used to treat certain skin conditions like skin irritation, stinging, or eczema. Is it alright to apply on the face? Is rose water good for your face? Let’s learn some of its benefits and different ways to utilize it for the face. 

Table of Contents:

• Part 1: Rose Water Composition and Properties
• Part 2: What are the Benefits of Rose Water for the Face?
• Part 3: What are the Disadvantages of Rose Water for the Face?
• Part 4: Can I Use Rose Water on My Face Every Day?
• Part 5: Is It Okay to Leave Rose Water on My Face Overnight?
• Part 6: How to Use Rose Water on the Face? (For Different Skin Types)

Part 1: Rose Water Composition and Properties

Rose water is a by-product of rose oil that is commonly used in fragrances and perfumes. It can also be prepared at home using rose petals and distilled water. It contains vitamin C and phenolics giving it strong anti-inflammatory properties. The tannins in rose water are responsible for its astringent nature while the antioxidants soothe the skin and make it look brighter.

If we look at its chemical composition, it comprises citronellol, geraniol, and 2-phenyl ethyl alcohol. Additionally, hydrocarbons such as nonadecane, tricosane, heneicosane, and pentacosane are also found in trace amounts in the rose water. 

Part 2: What are the Benefits of Rose Water for the Face?

Soothes Itchy Skin

Rose water is a strong anti-inflammatory agent that can help against various skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, eczema, dermatitis, redness, psoriasis, and itching. Terpenes and glycosides present in rose water make it helpful in soothing skin allergies and inflammation. It also provides a cooling sensation to minor burns, scraps, or cuts on the face. 

Makes Skin Glowy

Rose water helps restore the fluid balance of your dry skin thus making it look plump, healthy, and glowing. Applying the rose water multiple times throughout the day can help you achieve the perfect soft and smooth skin texture. Just add it to your little bottle, keep it in your bag, and apply it whenever you feel dryness on the face. 

Treat Sunburns 

Sunburns on the face is a never-ending story. These UV burns not only make you look a little awful but also damage the skin cells. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of rose water can help treat these sunburns and alleviate the redness on your face. However, remember that rose water can help against sunburn but can never be used as a protection against the sun. So, do not forget to wear sunscreen every time you go out. 

Maintains Skin pH Within Range

Keeping the skin pH in a balanced range is crucial to prevent it from drying out, developing infections, and combat microbes that enter the skin. However, environmental stress such as pollutants and sun exposure disturbs this balance and stimulates eczema, acne, and flakiness on the skin. Rose water can help maintain this pH in the normal range for your face to look radiant all the time and to preserve the health of your skin. 

Prevents Premature Aging 

Vitamin E, C, and flavonoids are some of the powerful antioxidants that can help slow down the progression of wrinkles. These antioxidants fight the free radicals and lessen oxidative stress to give you vibrant skin. In addition, they reduce the appearance of wrinkles and pores on the face. This enhances facial firmness and you a more youthful look. 

Part 3: What are the Disadvantages of Rose Water for the Face?

Rose water does not have any side effects as long as you do not mix it with any harsh chemicals. The harmful effects given below are very rare!

Allergic Skin Reactions

Although rose water is gentle on the skin, if you are allergic to roses, you might not be able to benefit from rose water. Therefore, it is essential to conduct a patch test first before directly applying it to the face or anywhere on the body. If you do not observe any rashes, redness, or itchiness within 24 hours of application then it is good to go. 

Stinging Sensation in Eyes

Rose water can be stinging for your eyes in some circumstances. It might be because you are allergic to the roses or any ingredients in the rose water. Therefore if you feel burning, redness, or irritation in your eyes after applying this solution, immediately splash your eyes with water. Also, visit a doctor if the eyes continue to sting even after irrigation with water.

Dry Skin

Rose water hydrates your skin in most cases. However, some cases can have the opposite effects. Due to frequent application, its astringent nature can strip away the moisture and natural oils from your face. This makes the face look dull, dry, and flaky. 

Part 4: Can I Use Rose Water on My Face Every Day?

Yes, you can use rose water on your face every day.  Is the application of rose water contraindicated for any skin type? Rose water can be applied to every skin type. 

For sensitive skin, it can help soothe the redness and irritation while for dry skin, it can moisturize the skin sufficiently and make the face look plump. In the case of oily skin, rose water can help remove excess oil from the skin and balance its oil production. 

Part 5: Is It Okay to Leave Rose Water on My Face Overnight?

Yes, it is completely right! You can apply rose water on the face at night and leave it on until the morning. It is lightweight and provides nourishment and hydration to the skin. Leaving the solution overnight on the face can prove good if you want fresh skin throughout the whole day. 

Yet you must keep in mind that an excessive amount of rose water can clog the skin pores and cause acne. Moreover, the excess amount will only be absorbed into your pillow. So take a small amount and rest your face on the pillow only when it is completely absorbed into your face.

Part 6: How to Use Rose Water on the Face? (For Different Skin Types)

As a Mask for Oily Skin

Combining rose water with tomato juice can help acne-prone skin by removing excess oil from the skin and reducing the chances of occurrence of acne. Tomatoes reduce the appearance of pores while rose water can help nourish the skin. For preparation:

• Mix one tablespoon of rosewater with one tablespoon of tomato juice then apply a thin layer of the mixture on your face and neck 
• Let it dry and wash your face and neck thoroughly. Applying it every day and seeing the results!

As a Mask for Dry Skin

For dry skin, you can mix rose water with aloe vera to treat the dryness and flakiness on the skin. Just like rose water, aloe vera also has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and skin-hydrating properties. When mixed, these ingredients improve skin texture and make it soft. For preparation:

• Take one tablespoon of aloe vera and rose water each and mix them thoroughly
• Apply the mixture to your face and let it dry for 20 minutes. Then wash it off your face

You can also use rose water for hair. To know more, read Rose Water for Hair.

As a Toner

To attain perfectly smooth skin, we must cleanse our face and moisturize it every day. To ensure that all the impurities are removed from the face, applying toner after using a facial cleanser is an essential step. Rose water can serve as an inexpensive and readily available toner.  For using it as a toner:

• Cleanse the face with a gentle cleaner and pat your skin dry
• After the skin is completely dry, apply rose water to the skin and wait for a few minutes to let it absorb completely
• Then, you can apply a moisturizer or any other product on the face

Final Verdict

Rose water is a by-product of rose oil or can be prepared at home using distilled water. It does not contain any harsh chemicals therefore every skin type can benefit from it. The solution can help remove excess oil from oily skin and hydrate the dry, flaky areas of your face. 

You can use it throughout the day to keep the skin moisturized or leave it overnight on the face to wake up fresh the next day. Furthermore, depending upon the individual requirements, it can be directly applied on the face or mixed with aloe vera gel and tomato juice