All about Hydrosols: Uses and Benefits

June 24, 2020 3 min read

Hydrosols are one of the first things to add to your routine if you haven’t already. This is simply because they are easy to use and require little preparation.

What Is a Hydrosol?

A hydrosol is a water that is obtained when an essential oil is extracted. Simply put, it is the water used to distill this essential oil. It contains few aromatic molecules and is very gentle on the skin. If you are having trouble distinguishing various plant extracts, read our article entitled Understanding the Difference Between Plant Extracts, which explains the difference between essential oils and hydrosols, among other details.

Contrary to common belief, hydrosols are not a mixture obtained by adding drops of essential oil to water. They are not flowers infused in water either. They are an actual product.

Hydrosol or floral water?

When the distilled element is a flower, it is also possible to use the term floral water. For example, rose flower water and rose hydrosol mean exactly the same thing.

How to Use a Hydrosol?

The reputation of hydrosols is well established in dermatology. Each hydrosol has its own virtues based on the essential oil it comes from and, because it does not require the same precautions as an essential oil, it is gentler and easier to use. It is suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin, and fragile baby skin.

In cosmetics, hydrosols are used on the face, body, and hair.

Hydrosols as face toners or cleansers:

Using a hydrosol as a toner is ideal in the morning before applying makeup or in the evening after removing makeup. Apply it with a pad or cloth previously soaked in the hydrosol or spray it directly onto the face to cleanse and tone the skin.

Hydrosols for body care:

Use a hydrosol to simply refresh your skin on a hot summer day. It can also be used to calm minor skin traumas: infections, superficial burns, redness, and wounds.

Hydrosols for hair and scalp care:

On the hair and scalp, hydrosols are used as rinsing water after shampooing, as a spray for the scalp to prevent dandruff, as a daily hair detangler for easy styling or to redefine curls, or even to replace water in ghassoul clay hair masks for oily hair.

Hydrosols for tired eyes, dark circles, puffy eyelids:

Wild Cornflower hydrosol is the ultimate hydrosol for dark circles. Simply spray it on a cleansing pad or sterile pad, then apply around the eyes. Do not spray the hydrosol directly into the eye.

Hydrosols for homemade cosmetic preparations:

In general, you can replace the water you use in your homemade preparations with any hydrosol that you like. For instance, in your clay mixtures or for the aqueous phase when making your homemade masks.

Which Hydrosol to Choose?

Each hydrosol has specific benefits. Here is a list of well-known hydrosols to use based on your needs:

Rose Hydrosol	Dry skin, sensitive skin, mature skin
Wild Cornflower Hydrosol	Tired eyes, dark circles, puffy eyelids
Lavender Hydrosol	Skin traumas: (acne, superficial burns, irritations, and eczema), anti-inflammatory, scaring properties
Rosemary Hydrosol	Oily skin, skin with imperfections, acne, greasy hair
Tea Tree Hydrosol	Problematic skin, acne, feet fungus
Chamomile Hydrosol	Sensitive skin, baby skin, hair loss, blond hair
Witch Hazel Hydrosol	All skin types
Orange Blossom Hydrosol	All skin types
Basil Hydrosol	Dull, lacklustre skin, hair loss

Purchasing and Preserving Hydrosols:

Hydrosols are sensitive to light, heat, and pollution. It is strongly recommended to keep them in the refrigerator. Choose hydrosols packaged in tinted or aluminum bottles. It is also better to choose them as a spray to reduce the risk of pollution caused by opening and closing the lid, which exposes the product directly to the air or to germ-carrying objects.

Caution is required when purchasing hydrosols because it is common to find floral waters diluted with water or alcohol. Read the ingredient list carefully and prioritize organic hydrosols or ones that come from wild plants.

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