so i have been using rose water as a toner because i recently discovered i have sensitive skin(explains alot)
and i love how it makes my skin feel and everthing.. but... is there any other type of flower that i could make a toner out of? i really like my rose water.. but it smells like my great grandma's bathroom. i'd rather smell like cinnamon, or cloves, or sage, or rosemary. or almost any other flower(not geraniums.. i hate geraniums)
so does any body know? i am willing to go buy the flowers to make it myself, but i'd like to make sure somebody else has tried it first (i'm worried my skin will get really bad again)
i saw "orange flower water" but i was hesitant to buy that since i use orange oil cleaning stuff and to me oranges make me think of cleaning the toilet.
and,if i make my own flower water, will it last? if i, for example, make a ton of apple-blossom water this summer, will it be good until i can make it again next spring?
i considered adding things to my rose water- so far i've done witch hazel and lavender EO.. i cant help but think cinnamon or clove would be a mistake... i seem to remember the apothecary i bought the oil from telling me they were caustic.
any help is greatly appreciated!
and i love how it makes my skin feel and everthing.. but... is there any other type of flower that i could make a toner out of? i really like my rose water.. but it smells like my great grandma's bathroom. i'd rather smell like cinnamon, or cloves, or sage, or rosemary. or almost any other flower(not geraniums.. i hate geraniums)
so does any body know? i am willing to go buy the flowers to make it myself, but i'd like to make sure somebody else has tried it first (i'm worried my skin will get really bad again)
i saw "orange flower water" but i was hesitant to buy that since i use orange oil cleaning stuff and to me oranges make me think of cleaning the toilet.
and,if i make my own flower water, will it last? if i, for example, make a ton of apple-blossom water this summer, will it be good until i can make it again next spring?
i considered adding things to my rose water- so far i've done witch hazel and lavender EO.. i cant help but think cinnamon or clove would be a mistake... i seem to remember the apothecary i bought the oil from telling me they were caustic.
any help is greatly appreciated!
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Re: rose water
Mon, June 30, 2008 - 8:33 AMActually the orange blossom water doesn't really smell like oranges at all. Its a heady, almost tropical scent. I use orange blossom water mixed with witch hazel (50/50) that has had orange zest infused in it. I actually rather like the bitter orange scent. But you can make really nice toners out of different combinations of flower waters, witch hazel, and cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is very balancing for the ph of the skin. I make a lavender/lemon verbena infused vinegar, then mix that with either rose/neroli water, or the infused witch hazel. Very gentle and nice for sensitive skin.
Good skin herbs to use are:
lavender, rosemary, chamomile, calendula, lemon verbena, tangerine/pineapple sage, thyme
Lavender, calendula, chamomile and rose are very good for sensitive skin. Rosemary, thyme & lemon verbena (and lavender) are good for oily/acne prone skin, as they are antiseptic and astringent. Have fun experimenting! -
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Re: rose water
Mon, June 30, 2008 - 9:01 AMawesome! thanks! i think i'll try chamomile and rosemary, since i have sensitive AND acne prone/oily skin.
to infuse, you just let it sit in the witch hazel for a while, right?
and i know i've heard the vinegar smell goes away... does it really? i dont want to walk around smelling like salad dressing -
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Re: rose water
Mon, June 30, 2008 - 11:01 AMYes, the vinegar smell goes away as soon as it dries. And when you mix it half and half with the rosewater or witch hazel, the smell is significantly diminished. To infuse the witch hazel, chop up the fresh herbs and cover in a mason jar with the WH. Let steep for 2-4 weeks, then strain and bottle. If using dry herbs, use about 1/4 the volume of fresh herbs, same amount of liquid. I like to steep mine for one full moon cycle...just feels like a good rhythm. Same with vinegar infusions.
Another neat recipe:
Mix your infused vinegar with honey 1:1 part, and use that to hydrate a powdered oatmeal or clay mask. Clay might be a bit harsh for your skin, but grind up some oatmeal in a coffee grinder (you can add dry herbs to this too, chamomile would be nice) until it's finely powdered, and mix it into a paste with the honey-vinegar. You can use this as a simple scrub, or let it dry as a mask, then wash off. Your skin will feel baby soft and happy after this treatment! -
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Re: rose water
Mon, June 30, 2008 - 11:04 AMYou could also try using cold chamomile tea (get organic, of course!) as a gentle toner after using other treatments (masks, washes, steams, etc.) It will be wonderfully soothing while very gently closing pores as a finisher. -
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Re: rose water
Mon, June 30, 2008 - 11:33 AMthat works, i'd be tempted to drink it though. which reminds me- i saw an ad for a new product from proactive.. a green tea moisturizer. they were saying that green tea has soothing properties etc.. i have never heard of green tea as soothing unless you drink it, and thats only if you dont think it is gross.
i wonder if that would work at all? honestly i'd rather smell like chamomile than green tea, but i am curious about it now -
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Re: rose water
Mon, June 30, 2008 - 11:46 AMI wouldn't think of green tea as soothing, persay, but it does have some anti-oxidant (anti-aging) properties that makes it very marketable nowadays. I doubt it would be very effective topically, though. Tea itself is very astringent (black tea moreso than green), so I guess it work as a pore tightener, but I'd be concerned it would be too drying. -
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Re: rose water
Mon, June 30, 2008 - 12:06 PMthank you! i wont use it then. i dont need to dry out my skin.. i just recovered from years of oily patches and flaky patches.. no need to go back to any of that crap. much happier with my sort of dewy thing going on. the chamomile will help to calm down the zits i have, so that'll be great -
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Re: rose water
Sat, July 5, 2008 - 3:06 PMjasmine water is a good alternative to rose water.... we sell it in our health food store... however that might remind you of gramma's, too.
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