Blooming Beauty: The Power of Roses in Your Skincare Routine

Skin Care From The Garden
I think this is where it started.
As a tiny child, the fascination with brewing up unsavoury concoctions made from mud, flowers and whatever ‘treasure’ I could find. Not to mention the alarm with which my parents viewed the mouldering concoctions saved in jam jars in my bedroom.
You will be pleased to hear that my formulation skills have improved significantly since those early days. Not to mention professional training and the many industry awards we have picked up since this.
But this is where it started - even if I did not realise it myself.
I want to share how to harness the power of roses in skin care and why I think rose can help your skin.
A Rich Heritage
Of course this time honoured creative process is not new. Women especially have for centuries followed this path. Witches. Wise women.
I find it interesting that today, this creative process has come full circle.
From gainful employment, to persecution to a renaissance of small businesses like mine built upon natural ingredients that have been part of our historical DNA for ever.
The History of Roses in Skin Care
We all recognise roses - they have been cultivated for millennia, prized not only for their glorious fragrance and vibrant blooms but also for their therapeutic benefits in skincare.
As far back as the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, roses have been treasured for their skin-healing properties.
Rose water, distilled from petals, was used as a toner to cleanse and refresh the skin, while rose oil was employed for its moisturising and anti-inflammatory qualities.
In modern skincare, roses and their derived ingredients offer a plethora of benefits for the skin, making them a favourite in our skin care here at The Rose Tree.
Rose extracts, oils, and waters are rich in antioxidants, which help protect the skin from environmental stressors and free radicals, thus improving the appearance of skin.
Their natural anti-inflammatory properties soothe irritation and redness, making them suitable for sensitive and acne-prone skin. (Organic, cold pressed rosehip oil is a key ingredient in my Facial Essence with Rose & Marula specially designed for this skin type).
Additionally, roses are hydrating and moisturising, helping to maintain the skin's moisture barrier and promoting a plump, supple complexion.
It's a really clever ingredient!
Rose Skin Care Solutions for Dry, Sensitive Skin
For my customers with mature skin, I hear lots about dryness and sensitivity and I find that rose is an ingredient that can make a visible difference to skin.
Rose essential oil, extracted from rose petals through steam distillation, is rich in antioxidants and vitamins that nourish and rejuvenate the skin.
It’s often recommended for mature skin because it is believed it can help to improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Additionally, rose essential oil possesses antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which soothe irritation and promote a more even skin tone, another thing my customers value.
Rosehip Oil for Better Skin
I think rosehip oil might be my all time favourite plant oil and most loved by my customers.
It’s packed with essential fatty acids, vitamins A and E, and antioxidants, which can deeply moisturise the skin, restoring its natural barrier function and protecting it.
Its potent antioxidants protect against free radical damage, while its vitamin A content aids in cell regeneration, resulting in smoother, firmer, better looking skin.
For mature skin, the combination of rose essential oil and rosehip oil offers a potent blend of anti-aging and nourishing benefits, helping to address the specific concerns associated with getting older, such as dryness, dullness, and loss of elasticity, while promoting a radiant and brighter complexion.
I like to combine the skin loving properties with the exquisite scent of real roses - botanical therapy for happy skin.
Rosehip Oil - Astringent & Non-Greasy
Tannins, naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds found in roses, contribute to its astringent properties, which has a toning and tightening effect.
Because of these tannins, rosehip oil has a fast absorbing non-greasy skin feel which is important to my customers. No one wants to feel greasy!
Many of my ladies find that they can suffer with both dry patches and oily patches. Tannin rich rosehip oil can help reduce the appearance of pores and control excess oil production, making it particularly beneficial for those with oily or acne-prone skin, while also improving dry skin, a great all rounder.
Additionally, tannins have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which can help protect the skin from environmental damage and soothe irritation or redness, another symptom my customers suffer with.
Overall, tannins in rose oil contribute to its multifaceted benefits for skin health, promoting a clearer, smoother complexion with a refined texture.
Rose & Menopausal Skin Care
I rate both rose essential oil and rosehip oil for menopausal skin, as I find they offer targeted solutions to address the specific concerns that arise during this transitional phase.
Customers describe increased dryness, sensitivity, and a loss of firmness and elasticity due to hormonal changes.
Rose essential oil, with its hydrating and regenerative properties, helps combat dryness by deeply moisturising the skin and restoring its natural moisture barrier.
Its anti-inflammatory properties soothe irritation and redness, providing relief to sensitive skin that may become more reactive during menopause.
Additionally, rose essential oil's ability to stimulate collagen production helps improve skin firmness and elasticity.
Rosehip oil compliments these benefits by providing essential fatty acids and antioxidants that nourish and rejuvenate the skin, promoting a smoother, softer complexion.
Together, rose essential oil and rosehip oil offer menopausal skin the support it needs to maintain hydration, resilience, and a healthy glow.
Rosehip Oil - UV Damaged Skin & Fine Lines
Rosehip oil is renowned for being rich in carotenoids, which are potent antioxidants. These carotenoids, such as beta-carotene and lycopene, play a crucial role in protecting the skin from oxidative damage caused by UV radiation and environmental stressors.
These antioxidants help neutralise free radicals, preventing premature aging and reducing the risk of sun damage, such as wrinkles, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation.
Rosehip oil also has photo-protective qualities make it an excellent repairing oil if we have not been diligent as we could have with our skincare routine in the past. It can help with UV damaged skin and improving the appearance of fine lines thanks to the linolenic acid content.
Rose Skin Care - Exceptional Quality
The caveat is that because pure rose is expensive it is often adulterated, processed or replaced with a synthetic versions which have none of the valuable skin benefits.
Rose essential oil with its intoxicating aroma is extremely expensive and rare, and is increasingly difficult to source. We use pure rose damascena flower oil with a potent concentration of therapeutic compounds extracted through steam distillation of rose petals.
Rosehip oil is easier to come by, but is often refined or adulterated with other oils to make it go further.
We use only cold-pressed rosehip oil, extracted from the seeds of rose hips through a gentle, low-temperature process that preserves its delicate nutrients and fatty acids.
It is more expensive. It is usually a deeper orange, red colour and rich in vitamins A, C, and E, as well as essential fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6.
But it also means that you benefit from its nourishing, hydrating, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.
Here's to roses - our favourite skin care ingredient! What are your experiences of roses, I'd love to hear?