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Health & Fitness

Patch Blog: Beauty 101--Making the Most of Your Roses

Don't let old rose petals go to waste. For centuries natural rosewater has been considered one of the best beauty treatments.

“Everything’s coming up roses for me”  -Ethel Merman

Almost every home and garden has at least one rose bush in it. My guess is that you walk past it everyday without even knowing that you’re sitting on a beauty gold mine. Am I right? Well read on and you’ll never look at a dead rose quite the same way again.

If you’re over the age of 40, chances are you had a grandmother that introduced you to rosewater or perhaps a concoction of rosewater and glycerin. The sweet smell of rosewater will always remind me of my grandma and her ‘dressing table’. Awwwww, the memories. Grandma sure knew what she was talking about.

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There is nothing more soothing to the skin, especially dry and sensitive skin than a homemade tonic of rosewater. Used as a toner following cleansing, it will soothe and moisturize the skin, naturally. Preservative and artificial fragrance free, and if you own a rose bush, fairly inexpensive. So gather up your rosebuds, and take yourself back to a time when life was easier, and beauty treatments were simple and natural, not to mention paraben-free.

Easy to Follow Steps:

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  1. Gather petals from approximately four wilted roses or enough to firmly pack 1 cup.  Don’t bother taking them when they’re in full bloom--enjoy their beauty and when you feel they need to be pruned, remove the petals for use.
  2. Place rose petals in a heat-resistant bowl- glass or metal. NOTE: If you're using roses from a florist, rinse the petals well with cold water first, as many commercial flowers have been treated with pesticide chemicals.
  3. Pour approximately 2 cups boiling water over the petals. The water should completely cover the petals but shouldn’t fill the entire bowl. Add just enough water to cover petals with approx 1/4 inch additional.
  4. Cover the bowl with a lid, or inverted dinner plate to allow the petals to steep for 30-40 minutes trapping the beautiful natural fragrance in the water.
  5. Using a sifter or strainer, pour the water into a mason jar. If capped tightly your rosewater will keep for up to 10-12 days in the refrigerator. You can add 1 tbsp of vodka per 16 ounces of water to the mixture which will act as a natural preservative extending the life of your rosewater to 30 days. Pour half your rosewater into a small spray bottle for misting skin after cleansing or before putting your makeup on.

The benefits of rosewater are endless for dry skin.  An ancient old beauty secret it has been used for centuries by women.  Completely natural and chemical and preservative free.  Modern practices of loading cosmetics with fragrances to mask the preservatives sent women with sensitive skin on a scavenger hunt for products that didn’t irritate their skin.  Used in its basic form, it is one of the most soothing astringents and toners available.

If you have extremely sensitive skin, try mixing 50% of your rosewater creation with 50% Glycerin [available at any drug store].  It is one of the best natural moisturizers around for dry skin.  Keep in mind you’ll want to mix this in small batches as there are no preservatives in your natural cosmetics.  The little time you’ll invest each week is definitely worth the final outcome.

TIP: Use your rosewater instead of regular water to wet your makeup sponge when applying liquid or cream foundation.  It makes foundation glide on your skin.

Stay Gorgeous Girls!

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