Jack of all trades or myth: is rose water good for the skin?

Article last edited on 12/12/2023

Today we're taking a look at rose water : a floral hydrosol that's currently quite trendy. Wherever rose water is mentioned, it's promised amazing effects or even cures. It's said to moisturize the skin, soothe it, reduce inflammation, and diminish redness. Rose water is also supposed to be well-suited for sensitive skin or rosacea . And a whole host of other beneficial properties are promised for rose water.

You probably know this: some trends are complete nonsense. But some trends also have something good about them.

Rose petals are distilled to create a hydrosol. The result is rose hydrosol, also known as rose water. It has a pleasant rose scent – ​​if you like rose fragrances. The INCI name for rose water, which you may find on products, is Rosa Damascena Flower Water .

Rose water is water containing natural fragrances from rose blossoms. It contains a fragrant alcohol that occurs naturally in rose hydrosol. For those who want to know the exact name: 2-phenylethanol . The INCI name for 2-phenylethanol is phenethyl alcohol . However, phenethyl alcohol does not have to be listed separately in rose water because it is a natural component. Some cosmetic brands therefore claim that their rose water contains no alcohol or fragrances.

This alcohol is also what gives rose water its lovely rose scent. That's why it's often said that rose water doesn't require preservatives. No wonder: the drying alcohol takes care of that.

The fragrance can irritate your skin and trigger contact allergies. When fragrances break down upon contact with light and air, it can even irritate your skin to the point of increased oil production. This is particularly unpleasant for sensitive skin prone to inflammation and breakouts. Tip: Don't confuse rose water with rosehip oil . That's the oil from the seeds or pulp of the rosehip. It's also called rosehip oil or rosehip oil .

But does rose water perhaps also have a positive effect on the skin? Here you can find out what rose water is good for – and what it isn't.

And if you're currently using rosewater to moisturize your skin, this might be a little disappointing. Pure rosewater unfortunately doesn't contain any real moisturizers. It only contains small amounts of sugar, which might provide a little moisture. Without additional moisturizers, water can't be retained in the skin. On the contrary, water can actually dry out your skin.

And unfortunately, the fragrant alcohol in rose water also belongs to the group of drying alcohols. So, if you apply rose water to your skin, you would actually be stripping your skin of even more moisture instead of giving it some.

There are many good moisturizers that really help:

And what about redness? Can rose water soothe it, as is so often advertised? Rose water and rosacea – it sounds like they belong together. If you're prone to redness or have rosacea, it would be great if rose water could reduce it. Unfortunately, scented water isn't capable of this. Quite the opposite is likely to be true: if you react directly to the fragrances, it can exacerbate redness. Furthermore, if the rose water is a spray, it could irritate your airways. Allergy sufferers and asthmatics, in particular, should always be cautious with scented sprays. Here's how to find the right skincare for rosacea.

Rosewater is said to regulate pH levels. We can only answer this with a qualified yes. Our skin has a slightly acidic pH of around 5.5. This protective acid mantle can be disrupted when alkaline products with a pH above 7 are applied to the skin. Soaps, in particular, are problematic for the skin. Once the acid mantle is disrupted, the skin is less protected for a period of time.

In the past, rosewater toners were used to restore the skin's pH balance. The pH of rosewater is not the same as that of the skin. It's scented water and therefore has a neutral pH of 7, just like regular tap water. Since soaps, which are always very alkaline, were the only option for facial cleansing back then, rosewater, with its neutral pH, could somewhat mitigate the irritating effects of soaps. Water would have worked just as well, but it probably wouldn't have sold as well.

Today, however, water or rosewater is no longer the ideal solution for balancing the pH level. There are now mild, skin-friendly cleansers and syndets that are pH-balanced for the skin. Therefore, thankfully, we no longer need to harsh soaps on our skin. If you were to apply rosewater to your skin, the effect would be exactly the opposite. The pH level would shift upwards towards 7. And if you still want to regulate your pH level, for example, after showering or because you washed your face with soap, there are now more suitable products available to restore your skin's pH to its natural state.

Facial toners with a pH value between 5 and 6 and moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid or natural glycerin are much more suitable and gentler on your skin. Unfortunately, caution is still advised, as the pH value of many toners is not adjusted. Furthermore, natural toners often contain rose water, other flower hydrosols, or fragrances.

Rosewater is also said to have an astringent effect, meaning it can shrink pores and thus contribute to a smoother complexion. Well, there's actually some truth to that: Alcohol can indeed create the visual impression that pores are contracting. However, this effect is short-lived. So, have we found a positive effect of rosewater after all? It seems so. But why does this effect occur in the first place? The skin contracts to protect itself from the harmful irritant. This creates the impression of smaller pores. So, not exactly ideal for healthy skin. Of course, there are differences in the quality of rose waters. There is organic rose water and conventional rose water. Then there are also differences in production: "Real" rose water, which is obtained by distillation from real, natural roses, and rose water, which consists of water and added rose fragrance, 2-phenylethanol.

For many ingredients , it makes a difference whether they are organic or not. Whether rose water is organic or not, it still contains fragrances and alcohol and therefore unfortunately has all the negative effects on our skin listed above.

The fact remains: rose water is simply a water or organic hydrosol that smells lovely and unfortunately won't give your skin what it needs. So be skeptical if skincare products smell too floral. Don't irritate your skin with such fragrant products. Soothe and moisturize your skin with a suitable moisturizer that matches your skin type. This way, your skin always gets exactly what it requires.

You can look for low-irritant hydrosols, such as cucumber water , rice water , green tea , black tea , white tea . or aloe vera . As a general rule, you can assume that hydrosols from flowers are usually not very suitable. Either you use products without any plant hydrosols at all, such as thermal water. This can feel pleasant on the skin and also provides some moisture. Or you look for a skincare product that specifically contains soothing and moisturizing ingredients.