by Stephanie Roche, LMT
Confession time: I used to be a big hater of all things rose-scented. Something about it was always very off-putting to me… very fake, in a way. So when I first started seeing clients at The Spa Room and was the guinea pig for our Wild Rose Face Cleanse, I was a bit tentative. Add that to the fact that I have sensitive skin – especially when fragrances are involved – and it’s easy to see the cause for my nerves.
However, I am happy to report that wild rose-infused products are incredibly soothing and enticing, and much less floral that many traditional rose scents. Most importantly, natural, but my skin soaked it up and loved it, too! No irritation, no breakouts…just a smooth, supple, and radiant face. (And I promise I’m not making this up.. I wouldn’t be raving about its amazingness if I didn’t mean it!)
It turns out that wild rose oil (aka rosehip seed oil) has several different therapeutic uses, both topically and aromatically. Overall, it is touted for being a relaxant, boosting the immune system, smoothing fine lines, and increasing circulation.
When used topically, rose cleanses pores, reduces wrinkles, and decreases inflammation. Its high concentration of antioxidants helps fight skin damage from free radicals and promotes new cell growth. Fatty acids found in the oil also help keep the skin well nourished and support its elasticity. In fact, rose oil has been shown to mildly contract the muscles of the face when applied, thus leading to subtle toning and tightening. Some studies even show that rose oil is a fairly effective antibacterial that can help reduce the severity and longevity of breakouts in acne prone skin, as well.
You can smooth the oil–or a product infused with the oil–over your face and neck to improve skin quality, dab it on your fingernails to increase strength, or dab it under your eyes to lighten dark circles. (As with any new skincare product, always do a small patch test to make sure skin doesn’t react poorly!)
When inhaled, rose oil can be especially useful for calming the mind and promoting relaxation. Studies show that it significantly inhibits cortisol, the hormone most commonly tied to both stress and inflammation in the body. For this reason, rose is ideal for people who experience anxiety and panic – even more-so when combined with calming massage or meditation. You can simply inhale the aroma from a bottle of the oil, or add a few drops to an oil diffuser.
With all the evident benefits of rose oil, it’s no wonder that the Wild Rose Face Cleanse is one of The Spa Room’s most popular enhancements to add to a massage. The Weleda products we use in the cleanse, including the Cleansing Milk and Rose Face Cream, each excel and shine in their own gentle, natural ways, and the beneficial effects (soothing, smoothing, relaxing, regenerating, etcetera) are countless! We’re also big fans of Weleda’s commitment to using purely certified natural ingredients, so in addition to the benefits of the wild rose oil, we know we’re not putting anything unnatural on our skin.
Have you used rose oil in the past? How did you use it, and what did you think?