Why Hydrosols are Better for Your Skin
Ditch toners and opt for this instead…
The skin is the largest organ of the body. It acts as a protectant to our inner layers and organs. Most people don’t think of the skin as an organ, per se, rather just as something that covers our frame.
Our skin is the shield to the outside environment. Think of everything we are bombarded with in a day's time: personal cleansing products, different scents we spray on ourselves, powders, creams, detergents, household cleaning products, just to name a few. Then there are natural elements such as sunlight and UV rays, various weather elements, the heat or the cold. The list is practically endless.
Don’t you think it’s important to give your skin a little TLC once in a while?
Start with something as quick and natural as a hydrosol.
What in the world is a hydrosol and what makes them so great? So glad you asked! Let me explain.
What’s a Hydrosol?
A hydrosol is the water left after the distillation process of making essential oils. They are also called “hydrolats” or “flower water”. They are produced the same way as the essential oil and collect in the same vessel. Hydrosols fill up most of the vessel, while the essential oil is a thin layer.
While the essential oil floats on top of the water (remember from science class how oil and water separate), small amounts of the essential oil seep into the water. The water gains some of the therapeutic properties of the essential oil. The oil is then tapped off, and what’s left behind is a hydrosol.
Hydrosols are produced by distilling various plant materials such as fresh leaves, fruits, or flowers. With similar properties to essential oils, these aromatic waters are much less concentrated and carry a light scent to them. This is what makes them perfect for use in daily skincare products.
What Makes a Hydrosol so Great?
Hydrosols have many therapeutic benefits for the skin. They can be relaxing, soothing, energizing, or even calming to burns and inflammation. They are natural products and have no toxic properties. There area variety of hydrosols that are nourishing to the skin.
Three of my personal favorites are lavender, neroli, and rose.
Lavender hydrosol (also called lavandin) makes a wonderful and natural, non-toxic bed linen spray. It freshens the linen, leaves a light scent of lavender, and is good for the skin at the same time! With it’s relaxing properties, the scent of lavender will help lull you to sleep.
Neroli (orange blossom) hydrosol has antiseptic properties that help reduce sebum (oil) production and shrink pores making it effective for detoxifying oily, congested blemished, aging, and delicate skin. Neroli hydrosol helps balance the skin.
Rose hydrosol is a multi-tasking water that can be used as a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer with antibacterial properties to regenerate, soften, and improve the look and texture of your skin. Rose hydrosol helps refresh the skin and makes a wonderful after-shower body spray. You can even spritz it in your hair to give the light scent of roses.
Tips for Selecting Hydrosols
There are many ways to incorporate hydrosols into your life. One of the best ways to use a hydrosol is by ditching store bought, chemical-laden “toners”, and use a hydrosol instead. You can use hydrosols in facial washes, skincare, clay masks, and after-sun sprays. You can even use them as a base for insect repellent.
Hydrosols are gentle and safe to even be used on babies and small children.
Facial toners produced by popular cosmetic companies create their toners in a laboratory setting. Nothing natural or therapeutic is used. It’s all chemical-based. These companies are rather trying to create and mimic what nature already creates for us. This is why some people who have sensitive skin experience various reactions to these types of toners.
But don’t buy just any hydrosol on the market. Don’t select something off Amazon just for the Prime shipping. If you come across a hydrosol bottle in a huge retail store, know these massive stores don’t have organic, small-batch products in mind. There is a high probability they are not a genuine hydrosol.
Here are a few tips to consider:
- Do your research. Look for a small company that specializes in making natural products, and works with essential oils. Chances are they also produce hydrosols.
- Always buy organic-based hydrosols. These will yield the maximum therapeutic benefits to your skin.
- Read the label. If you read a hydrosol label that contains a chemical name or a synthetic solubilizer, do not purchase as it is a synthetic and lab-created hydrosol with no therapeutic properties.
After Thoughts
Hydrosols are natural waters created after the distillation process of essential oils. These waters have many therapeutic properties and benefits to the skin.
Hydrosols are relaxing, soothing, energizing, or even calming to burns and inflammation. They are natural products and have no toxic properties.
Hydrosols can be the base waters used in many wonderful DIY (do-it-yourself) skincare regimens. They can also be incorporated into the home and natural cleaning products.
Switch out chemical-laden cosmetic toners, and opt to use hydrosols instead. Your skin will thank you!
If you are interested in learning more, and where I purchase the best hydrosols, leave me a comment or shoot me an email: angelambrodi@gmail.com
