Rose Facial Toner
Toners are a beneficial part of a skincare routine, that are often over looked or forgotten. Using a toner daily can help balance the pH of your skin, clean and tighten pores and help remove excess makeup. They can also be especially helpful for oily skin, removing leftover dirt and oil from the skin. It’s best to apply toner directly after cleansing your face, to help remove any remaining dirt and oils and prep the skin for moisturizer or any anti-agin treatments.
I first made this facial toner without the rose water, for my husband who’s skin is on the oilier side, and he’s been using it morning and night, or at least he says he is :)
Since the roses are in abundance in the garden right now, I thought they would be a prefect addition to his facial toner, and not just because they smell amazing.
Why this toner is a lifesaver for oily skin:
Rose Water: Anti-inflammatory actions of the rose petal can help reduce redness and skin irritation, astringent and antioxidant properties can help cleanse the pores, tone the skin and help strengthen skin cells. Roses are also rich in vitamins A, B3, C, D and E so sipping on homemade rose water can help your skin from the inside out.
Witch Hazel: Made from the bark and leaves of the Hamamelis virginiana shrub, witch hazel’s anti-inflammatory properties have been shown to help treat mild to moderate acne. It also has strong astringent properties, which help the skin contract, closing the pores and drying up excess oil.
Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil’s antibacterial properties can help lower bacterial levels on the skin, which can reduce the swelling and irritation.
Vitamin E Oil: An important antioxidant for the skin, vitamin E is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and is often used for its anti-aging benefits. Adding it to the toner, can help keep the skin hydrated.
For this recipe, you’ll first need to make a quick and easy batch of rose water.
To Make Rose Water:
Collect rose petals, either homegrown or from an organic source. You want to be sure to avoid any that may have been sprayed with pesticides, as we definitely don’t want stuff absorbed into our skin. I only wanted to take from my rose bush what I needed for this recipe so I used two full roses, and removed and rinsed the petals. Add the petals to a pot, and cover with filtered water (for my two roses it was about 2 cups of water). Bring the water with the roses to a boil and turn down to a simmer for 7-10 minutes. Remove the petals using a cheese cloth, and strain your mixture into a glass jar.
Once your water has cooled, mix equal parts rose water and witch hazel, I used Thayers, followed by the remainder of the ingredients.
5-6 drops tea tree oil
2-3 drops vitamin E oil
Your fresh rose water should last in an air tight container in the fridge for about a week. With the addition of witch hazel, your facial toner should keep for about a month. Once combined, store your toner is a dark brown glass dropper bottle and apply to face 1-2 times daily.
It’s important to note that while this toner can really help sooth and relieve inflammation on the surface of your skin, many skin issues like acne, eczema etc. can often be the cause of something out of balance internally. So investigating possible internal issues can help you uncover any underlying issues that could be causing your acne or skin inflammation.