Shakespeare was right about roses smelling sweet no matter what you call them, and not just in a bouquet. Rose water was first prepared in the 10th century, and the essential oil was first extracted in the 16th century — rose extracts were highly prized in Babylon, Assyria, China, Egypt, Rome and Greece for their healing properties. Shakespeare could easily have been spritzing rose water on his face in the late 1500s (who knows if he was, but we like the mental image).
Chalk it up to the returning popularity of effective natural skincare ingredients, but all things rose-related are having a major skincare moment. Read on to get the scoop on the most common oils and extracts, and discover how exactly this delicate floral can benefit your skin.
Rosa damascena and Rosa Centifola
Rose essential oil
Rose water
Sometimes called rose hydrosol, rose water is a part of the “distillate” (mix of extracted oil and water) that’s created during the distillation process of rose essential oil. The droplets of essential oil float to the top of the distillate, where they are mostly skimmed off, leaving behind the rose water, which also contains compounds from the plant. In the past, these essential waters were often considered a byproduct, but are now considered an important co-product, because they retain bits of the essential oil. Remember: rose water that is distilled only once will retain more droplets of oil, and therefore be more beneficial to your skin. Look for the words “rose distillate,” “hydrolat,” or “hydrosol” in the ingredient list to be sure your rose water was made using a distillation process (and is not just rose extract mixed with water).
Rose water has many of the same benefits as rose essential oil, but because it’s naturally diluted and spritzed on skin, we recommend using it as a hydrating and cleansing toner or a soothing facial mist. It helps fight redness and balance moisture levels, while antioxidants protect and heal the skin. (You can also spritz it on before and after applying makeup for a moisture boost, and to help set the products).
Rosehip oil
Rosehips are the little berries produced by pollinated roses after the petals have fallen off—the dried pods are pressed, and the oil is extracted. Since the flowering part of the rose isn’t used, there’s usually no classic rose smell (which is either a bummer or a bonus, depending on how you feel about the scent). Rosehip oil is composed of nearly 89% essential fatty acids, including omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9, which help encourage the regeneration and new production of collagen and elastin (read: promote skin’s firmness). Vitamins A and C help to brighten skin, and tocopherols and carotenoids act as anti-oxidants. The icing on the cake? This powerhouse oil is suitable for all skin types—no wonder Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Middleton are such big fans.
Evening primrose oil
Despite its name, the evening primrose plant is actually not closely related to primroses or roses. Native to North and South America, its yellow flowers open in the evening—hence the nam—and the oil is derived from the plant’s seeds. The fact that it’s not a close rose relative hasn’t hurt its reputation, though: evening primrose is sometimes called the “King’s cure-all” due to the belief that its “majestic” benefits made it fit for royalty. The key ingredient is gamma-linoleic acid (GLA), which, alongside other fatty acids and Vitamin E, helps to soothe and moisturize the skin. Evening primrose oil is great for all skin types, but is especially effective for older or sensitive skin—it will help to give you a more even, youthful glow.
So—what kind of rose extracts does PROVEN use in its products?
We use the essential oil and wax forms of rosa damascena_—depending, of course, on what your skin needs, these ingredients can be great additions to a day or night cream. A rose by any other name may smell as sweet, but because this varietal has been around for thousands of years, and because a fair amount of scientific research has been done on _rosa damascena, that’s the one we use.
