The Magical, Skin-Loving Powers of Hydrosols: Your Guide to These Plant-Based Elixirs

What Are Hydrosols?

Hydrosols, also known as floral waters or hydrolates, are the product left over after steam distilling plant materials to make essential oils. As hot steam passes through fresh plants, it causes the plants’ beneficial compounds to be released into the water.

Hydrosols are not oils, they contain the water-soluble parts of the plants. You can think of them like a plant infusion made by capturing aromatic plant compounds in water.

Hydrosols have been used for centuries in traditional systems of medicine like Ayurveda. But they’re now gaining popularity worldwide for their versatility and skin compatibility.

The most common hydrosols are made from flowers like rose, lavender, neroli, chamomile, and jasmine. But all kinds of plant materials can be distilled into hydrosols, including leaves, fruits, seeds, roots, and bark.

How Are Hydrosols Made?

Hydrosols are created through steam distillation, which is one of the oldest and purest extraction methods. Here are the basic steps:

1. The plant material is placed in a still with water.
2. As the water heats up and transforms into steam, the steam passes through the plant material.
3. The plant’s aromatics, like phenolics and terpenes, are released from the plant and carried away with the steam.
4. The steam then cools and condenses back into water, creating the hydrosol which contains the plant’s essence.
5. The essential oil floats to the top of the hydrosol and is separated off.

 In summary, hydrosols are the water byproduct of essential oil distillation. The steam causes the plants to release their beneficial water-soluble (hydrophilic) compounds into the water.

Unlike essential oils which should always be diluted before applying to skin, hydrosols are gentle and generally safe to use undiluted. They make wonderful facial toners, body mists, and more.

Benefits of Hydrosols for Skin

Hydrosols offer a wide array of benefits by providing plants’ nutrients, antioxidants, and active compounds to the skin. Here are some of the top ways they can benefit your complexion:

• Calm irritation and redness: Hydrosols like chamomile, lavender, and rose are soothing and anti-inflammatory. Using them is an easy way to calm stressed or sensitive skin.
• Hydrate: The water content of hydrosols gives an instant hydration boost and refreshes thirsty skin. Some hydrosols also contain humectants that draw moisture into the skin.
• Cleanse: Some hydrosols have antiseptic and antimicrobial properties, making them great natural cleansers. Tea tree and lavender hydrosols can cleanse without stripping your skin.
• Balance pH: Many hydrosols have a pH around 5, similar to healthy skin. Using them can help restore your skin’s acid mantle after cleansing.
• Control oil and acne: Hydrosols like lemongrass, neroli, and rosemary can regulate sebum production thanks to their astringent tannins and acids. This helps prevent congestion and breakouts.
• Improve texture: Hydrosols deliver antioxidants like polyphenols that help build collagen, improving elasticity and reducing fine lines.
• Brighten: Vitamin C-rich hydrosols like lemon balm and orange blossom may inhibit melanin production and gradually brighten skin tone.
• Protect: Antioxidants in hydrosols neutralize free radicals from pollution and UV exposure to shield skin.

Think of hydrosols like a drink of water for your skin - they provide instant nourishment while delivering skin-enhancing active ingredients.

How to Use Hydrosols for Skin

One of the best things about hydrosols is how versatile they are. Here are some of the top ways to harness their benefits:

• Facial mists: Spritz hydrating hydrosols anytime your skin needs a pick-me-up. They instantly boost moisture and refresh dull skin.
• Toners: After cleansing, apply a hydrosol with cotton pads to restore your skin’s pH balance and provide antioxidants.
• Compress: Soak a cloth in chilled hydrosol and apply as a compress to soothe irritation and redness. Lavender and chamomile are perfect choices.
• Bath or shower: Add a splash of hydrosol to your bath or shower water for an aromatherapy boost. Try invigorating rosemary or relaxing neroli.
• DIY skincare: Mix with other natural ingredients like aloe vera gel or witch hazel to create custom lotions, serums, cleansers, and more.
• Hair rinses: Rinse your hair with hydrosols after shampooing to boost shine and fragrance. Rosemary promotes scalp health while lavender calms the mind.
• Misting spaces: Use aromatic hydrosols like cedarwood and rose to mist your sheets, pillows, or indoor spaces for a natural fragrance.

When using hydrosols on your face, stick to just 1-2 sprays at a time. You can use them 1-2 times per day after cleansing. Store them in the fridge to make an extra cooling mist.

Health and Wellness Benefits of Hydrosols

In addition to nourishing skin, hydrosols offer wellness benefits related to stress, sleep, cognition, and more. Here’s how they promote health from head to toe:

• Relieve stress and anxiety: Lavender, chamomile, orange blossom, and other calming hydrosols can reduce nervous system arousal when inhaled or used topically.
• Improve sleep: Relaxing, sedative hydrosols sprayed in your room, on linens, or on pulse points encourage restful sleep.
• Boost mood: Uplifting citrus and mint hydrosols may improve mood and concentration via aromatherapy effects on the limbic system.
• Ease headaches: Cooling, anti-inflammatory hydrosols can help relieve tension headaches when applied to the temples and forehead. Peppermint and chamomile are great choices.
• Soothe coughs: Inhaling moisturizing hydrosols like eucalyptus, pine, and tea tree may ease coughs and congestion.
• Aid digestion: Antispasmodic hydrosols like peppermint and fennel can relax the digestive tract when taken internally in small amounts.

Of course, be aware of any allergies or sensitivities you may have before trying new hydrosols. And always dilute them before ingesting internally.

As you can see, hydrosols offer holistic healing for mind and body along with skin. Next let’s explore how to choose quality products.

How to Choose High Quality Hydrosols

With hydrosols growing in popularity, more brands are offering them. But not all are created equal in terms of quality and purity. Here are some tips for selecting top-notch hydrosols:

• Reputable brand: Seek out brands known for high quality aromatherapy products. Small artisan distillers often make exceptional hydrosols.
• Ingredients: The ingredient list should contain only the hydrosol itself and perhaps a small amount of preservative. Avoid added chemicals, fragrance, and oils.
• Organic: Hydrosols made from organic raw materials are ideal to ensure purity and avoid pesticide residues.
• Pure steam distilled: The hydrosol should be extracted solely using steam distillation, not chemical solvents.
• Freshness: Look for expiration dates 2 years out from production. Fresher hydrosols retain more active compounds.
• Color: Hydrosols are generally crystal clear. Cloudiness or dark color may indicate impurities.
• Scent: The aroma should smell purely of the plant itself, not artificial fragrances. It may be subtle.
• Storage: Avoid hydrosols stored in direct sunlight which can degrade quality. Dark glass bottles are ideal.
• Make your own hydrosol at home, here is the video of the demonstration: https://youtu.be/R-HX_5r03kM
  

Formula of the video: 100 grs of herbs and 2 liters of water. Yield aprox 400ml
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Seeking out small batch, artisan hydrosols from reputable aromatherapy brands is the best way to ensure therapeutic quality. With so many to choose from, let’s look at top plant varieties.

Best Hydrosols by Plant Variety

There is an incredible diversity of single note hydrosols made from herbs, flowers, fruits, trees, and more. Here are some of the most popular and skin-beneficial varieties:

• Lavender: Soothing, anti-inflammatory, calming, antibacterial
• Rose: Ultra-hydrating, tones, brightens, improves elasticity
• Chamomile: Calming, anti-redness, relieves itching and irritation
• Neroli: Antiseptic, reduces oiliness, improves elasticity, aromatherapeutic
• Rosemary: Purifying, circulation-boosting, improves scalp and hair health
• Clary sage: Balances oil production, antimicrobial, reduces size of pores
• Peppermint: Cooling, soothing, anti-itch, clarifying for congested skin
• Lemongrass: Astringent, brightening, antibacterial, clarifying for oily skin
• Tea tree: Anti-acne, antimicrobial, helps heal breakouts, reduces oil and redness
• Orange blossom: Brightening, inflammation-reducing, provides antioxidants
• Ylang ylang: Smooths and soothes skin, provides antioxidant protection

This covers some of the heavy hitters, but there are so many options. Get creative and mix up your hydrosol game by trying new floral, herb, and tree varieties.

Easy DIY Hydrosols Recipes

One of the coolest aspects of hydrosols is how easy they are to make at home. You can create custom blends using simple kitchen tools. Try these recipes:

Lavender Orange Blossom Facial Toner

Ingredients:

• 1⁄2 cup orange blossom hydrosol
• 1⁄2 cup lavender hydrosol
• Optional: 1 tsp vitamin E oil or jojoba oil

Add lavender and orange blossom hydrosols to a glass bottle or jar. Add oil if desired. Shake gently to mix. Store in the fridge and shake before each use. Apply to clean skin with a cotton pad or spray facial mist.

Floral Bath Soak

Ingredients:

• 1 cup epsom salts
• 1⁄2 cup dried rose petals and lavender buds
• 10-15 drops lavender essential oil
• 10-15 drops rose essential oil
• 2 cups chamomile hydrosol

Mix epsom salts and dried flowers in a bowl. Add essential oils and stir thoroughly so aromas are dispersed evenly. Transfer mixture to a glass jar. When ready to use, add 1⁄2 cup of the mixture to warm bath water along with chamomile hydrosol.

Herbal Face Steam

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rosemary hydrosol
• 1 cup lemon balm hydrosol
• 5 drops tea tree essential oil

Add hydrosols to a medium saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer then remove from heat. Drape a towel over your head and carefully position your face 6-12 inches above the steaming water. Close your eyes and inhale the aromatic steam for 5-10 minutes, being careful not to burn yourself.

Hydrosols offer a simple way to harness the healing magic of plants - no complicated equipment required. They make gorgeous gifts and homemade products too.

Should You Use Hydrosols Every Day?

Most skin types can benefit from using hydrosols daily as part of a natural skincare routine. They are gentle enough for daily use on the face and body.

Those with normal to dry skin may use hydrosols morning and night after cleansing. Oily and acne-prone skin may benefit from using them 1-2 times per day as a pH balancing toner.

Hydrosols are also safe to use liberally throughout the day over makeup for an instant refresh. A quick mist can help revive a dull, tired complexion.

Thanks to their gentle nature, even those with sensitive skin can often enjoy hydrosols. So feel free to spritz away! Using them is an easy way to bring the power of aromatherapy into your self-care routines.

Ready to Unlock the Magic of Hydrosols?

Hopefully you now understand why hydrosols deserve a permanent spot in your green beauty arsenal. Their host of benefits for skin, health, and wellbeing make them an aromatherapeutic elixir worth integrating into your daily rituals.

With a rainbow of plant varieties to choose from, part of the fun is experimenting to find your new favorites. Try rose water for ultra-hydrated skin, lemongrass to control oiliness, or chamomile to calm irritation.

Or get creative and make your own custom blends to mist your space, use in the bath, or mix into DIY products. However you choose to use them, these plant-powered potions are fit for a skincare goddess.

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