Best Floral Waters For Sensitive Skin

I’m in love with floral waters. Also called hydrosols, floral waters have multiple uses and can be beautifully incorporated into your skincare ritual.

Hydrosols are produced by the steam distillation of aromatic plants; the steam extracts the aromatic molecules from the plant while retaining the aroma and therapeutic properties of the plant. They’re also gentler than essential oils, which makes them safe to use on sensitive, rosacea-prone skin.

Benefits Of Hydrosols

Floral waters have remarkable cosmetic and therapeutic properties. They can tone, tighten pores, promote healing, soothe and freshen – but above all, they are wonderful to hydrate the skin.

Choosing the right floral water for your skin

It’s important to do a bit of research before purchasing a floral water as you’ll want to make sure you’re usig the right combination of flower essence for your skin. My advice is to always look beyond the hype of a “cult” product. Read customer reviews and ask if you can purchase a sample. There’s nothing worse than investing in an expensive product and once you get home, your skin reacts badly to it. If you’re working with a trusted aesthetician, ask for her recommendation according to your skin’s needs and keep in mind that your skin will need different care through the seasons.

Last tip before we jump in, always read the ingredients on the label! You’ll want your floral water to be as clean as possible! (See my comments below on alcohol free hydrosols.)

Witch Hazel (Hamamelis)

Witch hazel contains anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, which helped tremendously with my rosacea “bumps” / breakouts on my cheeks.

I battled with these pimple-like breakouts for YEARS and I tried many products on the market and nothing really worked. When I started using witch hazel as a toner and a blend I made with pure essential oils I started to see major improvement. In this free guide, I share with you 3 serums that have rehydrated my skin and helped me tackle those annoying little breakouts on my cheeks.

I no longer have these “bumps” on my cheeks and I’m suspecting that witch hazel and essential oils played a big part in my skin healing.

Another HUGE difference I see as a result of using witch hazel is that my pores finally came back to normal. One of the side-effects of rosacea (or inflammation on your skin) is enlarge pores. Witch hazel acts as an astringent, causing tissues to contract, therefore shrinking pores. (Can I get an AMEN?!)

Because witch hazel is astringent (reduces excess oils), it can also be drying, which is why I often blend it with a rose hydrosol.

In this video, I share why I like Witch Hazel, why finding a hydrol without alcohol is best for sensitive skin and how to blend it with hydrating floral waters.

By the way, witch hazel is very hard to find without added alcohol (alcohol is used as a preservative agent), and it just wouldn’t have a long enough shelf life without it. If you can, find a brand or supplier that makes it pure. Pure hydrosols have a significantly lower shelf life and those with added alcohol.

Rosewater

Another favorite is Rosewater, which has anti-inflammatory properties and works great to soothe irritation or itch. It’s also beautifully hydrating, and it smells divine!

Got reactive skin? Think ROSE.

Quick note: Extracting the essence of rose is extremely pricy, so most hydrosols will use Geranium rose.

The main ingredient in my pure, Soothing Flower Water is organic Rose hydrosol combined with Helichrysum , Melissa, and carrot seed oil. 

Orange Blossom (Neroli)

I fell in love with Neroli the first time I rolled its intoxicating scent on my wrists. Neroli — the essential oil and hydrosol —  has been part of my plant medicine cabinet ever since.

Orange Blossom gently purifies, and it’s anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant.

The antibacterial properties of Neroli can be effective in treating acne and other skin-irritating conditions like eczema and psoriasis.

Neroli is regenerative to skin cells and regulates moisture. Any type of skin can benefit from Neroli essential oil, although it is particularly good for mature, dry, irritated or sensitive skin.

Just like witch hazel, Neroli can tone the skin and minimize enlarged pores because of its astringent quality.

Here’s how I use hydrosols and why:

FIRST THING IN THE MORNING

When chatting with Skincare Expert Sara Sumic of Healthy Skin Glows, I realized that I was over-cleansing, which was leaving my skin feeling “tight” and dry.

So, lately, I’ve been skipping the full face wash in the morning and opting for a gentle cleanse with floral water.

In the morning, I love a blend of Rosewater (hydrates and soothes redness) and Witch Hazel for its astringent quality.

Basically, I just spritz my face with this blend, then wipe off any excess using an organic cotton pad. Then, I spritz again but leave the essence on.

I love taking a moment during this morning ritual to close my eyes and center myself as I inhale the floral essence. It’s a beautiful way to get centered as you send love to your skin and set an intention for your day.

BEFORE & AFTER MAKEUP

Before applying makeup, I’ll mist rose or neroli water then apply my essential serum, then lock the moisture in with a hydrating cream.

I usually use a pressed mineral powder from Jane Iredale to even out skintone or use RMS UnCover foundation (less drying than powder). A great way to “set” powder is to spritz floral water once you’re done applying your makeup. This will also make the powder look less “powdery” and add a glow to your skin.

THROUGHOUT THE DAY

I always have a bottle of floral water on my desk. I love taking breaks to either sniff an essential oil or mist floral water on my face. This is a moment to breathe deeply and tune inwards — even if it’s just for a minute.

AT NIGHT

Once my makeup is removed (I’m currently using a blend that I made myself with doTERRA essential oils in a base of Camellia, Rosehip, Argan, Macadamia, and Tamanu oils), I use Witch Hazel as a toner, which leaves my skin feeling really “clean.”

(Witch Hazel can be a little drying in the winter, though, so feel free to alternate with Rose, Neroli or Jasmine.)

I then apply my Anti-inflammatory Serum. (The recipe is in my Essential Radiance Guide.)

Mixing Your Own Blends

Depending on the brand, natural, organic floral waters can be a bit costly, and it’s often hard to find the exact combination of essences I’m looking for to rebalance rosacea-prone skin.

So, I like to purchase 1L of Rose, 1L of Witch Hazel and 1L of Neroli from a trusted, local organic supplier and make my own blends.