Understanding Hydrosols: Are They Worth Using In Your Skincare Routine?

Written By Jennifer Raskin / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

If you enjoy the benefits of essential oils for your skin and overall wellness, you might want to tune into hydrosols. Essentially, these are floral waters that are created in the same way as essential oils with one notable difference.

The chemical makeup of hydrosols are composed of hydrophilic compounds from the plants with a smaller number of the compounds from essential oils.

How Hydrosols Are Created

Hydrosols are created by way of steam distillation. This means they are a diluted form of essential oils.

While you get the benefits of those essential oils via hydrosols, they will be more potent in their original form. Still, hydrosols aren’t entirely without benefit.

All kinds of plants, both aromatic and non-aromatic, can be created as hydrosols. For those with aromas, they may have a different scent than you’re used to in its essential oil form.

If they’re less potent though, why use them? Good question!

Hydrosols might benefit those that are more sensitive when used in aromatherapy and skin treatments. Think expectant mothers, babies and kids, and the aging population since these take the components of essential oils and convert them into a water base.

With less concentration than an essential oil, it provides a less potent dose. Not everyone will want to use hydrosols, but they can really help sensitive skin types get the benefits of essential oils without any side effects.

How Can You Use Hydrosols?

You can buy hydrosols or make them yourself by steam distillation. It’s much easier than making essential oils and really only requires a good stainless steel pot, fresh herbs, and spring water.

The process is time consuming, but it is a cheaper alternative to buying hydrosols.

Once you have hydrosols, you can use them in a number of ways:

• Tame inflammation on tender skin
• Attend to wounds
• Create a natural perfume
• Use as a chemical-free air freshener
• Dab on with an organic cotton pad to tone skin after cleansing
• Enhance your skincare products with deeper hydration from cleansers to cream
• Use safely on baby skin in baths
• Freshen linens or garments

The Most Common Hydrosol Might Already Be In Your Home

If you have witch hazel in your bathroom vanity, then you already have a hydrosol that is ideal for healing. It has astringent properties from its natural tannins and compounds which makes it ideal for skin care.

However, not all witch hazel can be classified as a true hydrosol if it has any additives to it. If you want to find a pure witch hazel hydrosol, read the labels to make sure it has no preservatives.

There are plenty of other hydrosols out there that could benefit your skin and your life, especially if you have sensitive skin. You might find it’s the solution you’ve been after if essential oils are too irritating for you.

Looking for 100% chemical-free, all-natural nourishing face and body oils? Check out Earth & Elm Nourishing Face Oil and Earth & Elm Nourishing Body Oil. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral care, skincare, body care and foot care. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list. 

Written By:

Jennifer Raskin is a freelance writer, wife and mom that loves cold weather despite her location in Florida, cooking, reading, watching ‘80s movies, weight-lifting, and wine tasting.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.

Image by William Adams from Pixabay