In the article you will find out what a cosmetic product such as hydrolat is, learn how to use it and how to choose it. The purposes of five popular hydrolates are also described. Despite the fact that most girls and women perform daily caring procedures, whether it is cleansing or applying a moisturizer, not everyone knows what hydrolat is.
Flower water feature
Hydrolat is a transparent or slightly colored liquid, "impregnated" with water-soluble and volatile elements of plant raw materials, which do not break down and retain their natural structure. However, the aroma of the flower water may not be identical with the aroma of the essential oil of the same plant. High-quality hydrolat contains essential oils, but these substances get into the flower water due to their volatility in the process of being extracted from plants by a stream of steam. The yield of flower water is many times greater than the amount of oil produced.
Hydrolat is a secondary distillate with a pH of 3.0 to 6.2, a product formed during the steam distillation of plants. Despite the fact that some cosmetologists call the composition of floral waters unique and inimitable, hydrolat can be obtained by mixing alcohols, essential oils and other components in distilled water. In the production of floral waters, elements that dissolve slightly or do not dissolve at all are decanted into essential oils or stearoptenes (solid components in the composition of ethers), or filled with hydrolates by infusion.
In short, the process for producing flower water is as follows. Hot steam is passed through the plant material, it can be both petals and leaves and stems, as a result of which it is enriched with valuable components, including ethers. This vapor is cooled, condensed and separated into oil and water. By the way, not all the water is taken for sales, but the first 20-30%, in which case the composition is rich in a large number of favorable components.
You can get flower water from almost any plant material that can withstand steam distillation. One month after receiving the flower water, the smell and transparency of the product usually changes. Although the constituent of the hydrolate is stable, the water can bloom, showing a film or clots on its surface. These symptoms do not indicate contamination of the product, but that self-organization of substances has taken place in the hydrolat. If such flower water is passed through a filter, the quality of the hydrolat will not deteriorate. To assess the composition of the product, to determine the quantitative content of components, chromatographic analysis can be performed.
Making flower water with your own hands
In hydrolates prepared at home and industrially, there is a difference in favor of the second, since the process of obtaining flower water with your own hands is not ideal, but nevertheless, the resulting water will still have a beneficial effect on the health of the skin and hair. If you decide to make a hydrolat at home, be aware that in this case the product is synthesized not by distillation, but by hydrodistillation.
Some women use dry herbs and flowers purchased at a pharmacy or collected on their own as plant raw materials; fresh plants, including mint, parsley, raspberry leaves, blueberries, etc., are also suitable.
Before starting the manufacturing process itself, prepare:
- Vegetable raw materials (about 100 g).
- Water (500 ml, preferably distilled or mineral still water).
- A pot with a lid without a plastic handle.
- The container where the hydrolat will be collected.
- Foil.
- Ice.
Rinse and dry the plant materials, if they are collected, and not purchased at the pharmacy, then - spread them on the bottom of the pan. Pour water into a saucepan so that it covers the flowers or leaves, and place a heat-resistant bowl in the center, this is where the flower water will flow. Turn the lid over with the handle down and cover the pan, wrap the place of contact with foil, turning on low heat for an hour and a half. Instead of foil, a mixture of water and flour can be used as a tool for better sealing.
"What will the ice be used for?" - you ask. Quite simply, ice is necessary in order for the flower water to condense faster. Place it on the lid and observe how the hot steam is saturated with the beneficial elements of the plant and flows into the container. Once the ice has melted, add a new one by removing the warm water from the lid.
If you have a steamer available, you can facilitate the process of obtaining hydrolat using this device, however, the cooking result will combine fewer valuable substances, which indicates a lower efficiency of the product.
Pour distilled or still mineral water into a steamer. Put petals, leaves or other plant materials at your discretion on the upper tier. It remains only to close the device with a lid and turn it on to the minimum mode. After the water boils, turn off the steamer and let the liquid cool completely.
Learned how to get flower water, learn how to properly store the product. Keep hydrolat in the refrigerator or in a cool dark place, preferably in a dark container with a spray bottle, so that there is no direct contact with bacteria. If the storage rules are observed, water can be saved for one to two months. If the hydrolat is frozen, it will be usable for at least a year. For the expiration date of an industrial product, see its packaging.
Hydrolat application
It should be noted that the properties of flower waters are to some extent similar to those of essential oils. Moreover, they are able to provide a slightly similar healing effect, as if we saturated the base oils with a minimum amount of essential oil. If ethers cannot be used in their pure form (this can cause irritation or even burns to the skin), aromatic waters do not show such reactions. With regard to hair care, here you can use pure esters (aromatic combing), but they can cause an allergic reaction to the aroma, as well as dry hair. With hydrolates, the situation is different, they, being a safe remedy, gently affect the epidermis and hair.
Professional products contain a large amount of active substances, so they can be used in short courses so that the opposite effect does not come out. Aromatic water is noted for a low concentration of bioactive substances, which allows using this product for an unlimited time.
Hydrolates have found application in the preparation of cosmetic products and natural soaps. They are taken in distilled water or added to the recipe as an additional component of the aqueous phase. The scent of hydrolat is more felt in creams than in soaps, especially if the soap is made with the hot method.
Flower water can be sprayed on the skin and strands, which can be especially helpful in the summer and winter, when hair can suffer from moisture loss. Want to freshen up? And here hydrolat can come to the rescue, it also has good deodorizing properties (pay attention to the aromas of calendula, mint, grapefruit, etc.).
Flower water is also used for compresses. Warming hydrolates improve microcirculation, fight cellulite, cooling ones are used against insect bites and to soothe the skin, but fruit and berry with fruit acids in the composition can whiten the skin, fighting pigmentation, narrow pores, make blackheads less visible, etc.. and they smell great.
Application of floral water for skin care
The acidity index of hydrolates does not exceed 7, which means that floral waters help the skin retain its protective mantle. Beneficial bacteria that allow the skin to acquire a protective mechanism multiply in an acidic environment, therefore soap and other cosmetics with aggressive ingredients destroy this environment, making the skin almost defenseless. Moreover, the acidic environment prevents the multiplication of various fungi and viruses. Each hydrolat has certain properties. So for the skin with the problem of rosacea, flower waters of rosemary, calendula, witch hazel, chamomile, etc. are recommended, to reduce age spots, they buy hydrolates of parsley, pomegranate, cucumber, lemon, for dry skin, they often use products of sage, lavender, linden, jasmine, for oily skin, waters of rosemary, juniper, laurel, yarrow are suitable; to even out the tone of the face, you can use hydrolates of mint, St. John's wort, raspberry or lemon balm.
With just two ingredients, you can create a two-phase cleanser to remove dirt and make-up, and you will be more than happy with the result. Take 50 ml of flower water, taking into account the characteristics of your skin, and the same amount of base oil or a mixture of oils. It is also advisable to select base oils according to the type of skin.
Pour the ingredients into a clean bottle, close the lid and you can fully use this product by shaking it before each use and moistening a cotton pad with it.
By diluting the recipe with other components, you can end up with an even more effective remedy. So the following recipe not only removes makeup from the skin, but also nourishes it, saturating it with useful components and slowing down the aging process:
- Jasmine hydrolate - 52.7%.
- Grapefruit seed extract - 0.6%.
- Passion fruit vegetable oil - 23%.
- Jojoba vegetable oil - 23.6%.
- Vitamin E - 0.1%
The use of hydrolat in hair care
If you are not completely happy with the result of using commercial shampoos, masks or other hair care products, you can enrich these products with hydrolate. Enough 1-2 teaspoons in each serving to see the difference. True, homemade products will have the best effect.
Using flower water as a leave-in spray will moisturize the strands, give them shine, and also saturate them with a slightly perceptible aroma. Some hydrolates, after long-term use, promote hair growth, protect the strands from the hot air of the hairdryer and from the influence of direct sunlight.
To prepare a two-phase product that strengthens and stimulates hair growth, prepare the following ingredients:
- Coriander hydrolate - 71 ml.
- Panthenol (vitamin B5) - 5 ml.
- Leucidal preservative - 4 ml.
- Mustard vegetable oil - 10 ml.
- Squalane active - 10 ml.
Pour hydrolate, vitamin and preservative into the bottle, shake the container and add the rest of the ingredients to the product. Coriander hydrolate fights dandruff, cleanses the scalp and promotes hair growth. Provitamin B5 provides repair assistance to damaged hair. Apply the shaken to the hair and scalp and leave it on for 5-10 minutes, then rinse off with a mild shampoo.
Where to buy flower water
Creamer companies produce a wide variety of hydrolates, including roses, rosemary, cornflower, chamomile, pine, lavender, mint, bergamot, basil, cinnamon, eucalyptus, lemon, lemon balm, grapefruit, sandalwood, etc.
Often, hydrolates are made only from natural raw materials, but you can also find products on sale from synthetic components that are imitations of more expensive fragrances; they are not recommended for use for cosmetic procedures or personal hygiene.
When choosing a hydrolat of industrial production, pay attention to the composition of the product, which ideally does not contain alcohol, any dyes or additional flavors. When comparing prices for products, pay attention to the quality of water that was used for distillation; it should not be tap water, but spring or artesian. For the manufacture of high-quality hydrolates, plant raw materials are grown in environmentally friendly conditions without treatment with chemicals.
Hydrolat liquid is transparent and does not contain impurities, but it has a smell that corresponds to the smell of plant materials from which the flower water is obtained. The level of aroma depends on the type of plant, if rose hydrolate has a characteristic strong smell, then for example, this cannot be said about linden hydrolate. The aroma also depends on the type of raw material, fresh smells stronger.
We present for your attention the following popular hydrolates, which are used for cosmetic purposes:
- Rose hydrolat, Heritage Products. This product tones the skin, is suitable for the care of any type of skin, including sensitive skin, fights wrinkles, reduces redness and has a pronounced pleasant rose scent. Natural cosmetics manufacturers include Rose Hydrolat in eye bags and dark circles removers, anti-aging creams, and mild body lotions. Rose water is sensitive to pollution, so it is recommended to store it in a cool, dark place. Volume - 240 ml, price - 461 rubles.
- Hydrolat cornflower, "Marislavna". The composition of this water is similar to the composition of sandalwood hydrolat. The product, together with a hydrolate of Roman and German chamomile and myrtle, forms a list of waters suitable for use on the skin of the eyelids. Such a remedy reduces the symptoms of skin fatigue, prevents the appearance of wrinkles, perfectly affects the skin with the problem of rosacea, removes dark circles and swelling, makes the skin more elastic, even in tone, slightly whitening age spots. You can add this product to shampoos or conditioners if you want to give your hair more shine and strength. Volume - 100 ml, cost - 180 rubles.
- Mint hydrolat, Miko. This invigorating and refreshing liquid can help those with oily skin types to cope with the problem of enlarged pores. Hydrolat evens out, refreshes the tone of the face, reduces itching, being an antiseptic, it is recommended for the care of oily skin prone to inflammation. The tool also boasts anti-couperous and anti-edema properties. If you want to make a cosmetic product after shaving or after hair removal procedures with your own hands, you can safely include mint soothing water in the recipe. This hydrolat can save you from motion sickness in transport, because it refreshes the air well, relieving nervous tension. It is good even after overheating in the sun. Volume - 50 ml, price - 310 rubles.
- Ylang-ylang hydrolat, "Zeytun". Due to the distillation of fresh flowers, ylang-ylang hydrolat has a characteristic scent that can give cosmetics a delicate and subtle scent. The product tones the scalp and promotes the growth of the strands, making them less brittle and dull. Recommended in facial care for all skin types. Ylang-ylang hydrolat is also used in the care of weak nails. Volume - 150 ml, price - 610 rubles.
- German chamomile hydrolat, "Aroma-Zone". Suitable for relieving allergic reactions and irritation, hydrolat reduces redness, restores skin, including very sensitive skin. This product can be a salvation in the fight against allergies, hives and eczema, it is also recommended for strengthening fair hair. Volume - 200 ml, price - 4, 9 €.
Video description of hydrolates:
