Using organic hydrolats in skincare

Hydrolats have gained their popularity in skincare and haircare many years ago and they are still an extremely popular addition to our beauty routine. Often used as toners, refreshing mists or as a base for serums or creams, they are extremely versatile products with amazing benefits that typically suit all skin types, including sensitive skin.

What are hydrolats and what is the difference between hydrolats and floral waters?

Hydrolats are pure, aromatic waters produced during the steam distillation of plant materials (leaves or flowers) to extract essential oils. Unlike essential oils, which are concentrated and require dilution, hydrolats are the co-products of this distillation process and contain trace amounts of essential oil along with water-soluble components from the plant. These natural elixirs are known for their therapeutic properties and have been used for centuries in skincare rituals. The words hydrolats, hydrolates or hydrosols are used interchangeably, however floral waters are typically products that contain water with an addition of essential oil and a solubilised that helps to disperse this essential oil in water. Although essential oils are amazing therapeutic ingredients as well, they create a very different product to pure hydrolats, therefore floral waters should not be mistaken for hydrolats. How to tell a difference between hydrolats and floral waters? The best way to tell the difference is to look at Ingredients/INCI names of your product. If the INCI name says Flower Water or Leaf Water, for example Rosa Damascena Flower Water than a pure hydrolat has been used in a product. If you cannot see this, and instead you find the INCI name that says - Agua (Water), and Oil, for example Rosa Damascena Flower Oil (Rose Oil), than it is a floral water.

Telling the difference by looking at each product can be close to impossible, as they are both very similar in colour, smell and consistency. If you've checked the INCI name and you're still in doubt you can always reach out to the brand or producer you bought it from and ask them about the production method of their product. What are the benefits of using hydrolats? Hydration Boost As they are water based products they will provide a hydration boost. Just make sure to cover them with something oil based, like a cream, oil or oily based serum to ensure this moisture gets locked in and doesn't evaporate. Brings back the skin's natural pH Hydrolats are typically slightly acidic products and have a similar pH to the natural pH of our skin (around 4.5 to 5.5). Using them after cleansing or showering will ensure that our skin goes back to its natural pH faster than it would have done on its own. Treatment Different hydrolats can have different functions in treating certain skin conditions and benefiting your skin types. For example, Rose Hydrolat has anti-ageing properties and is an excellent choice for mature, dry skin, Peppermint Hydrolat has cooling and anti-inflammatory properties and is great for oily, acne prone skin, Chamomile Hydrolat has calming and soothing properties and will help to calm down redness, irritation and will benefit a sensitive skin. Antioxidant boost Hydrolats contain antioxidants that help protect the skin from free radicals, environmental stressors, and premature aging. Antioxidant-rich hydrolats like rose, neroli and chamomile can assist in neutralizing harmful free radicals, promoting a youthful and vibrant complexion. Improved absorption of products Using hydrolats, and toners in general prepares our skin for next products we apply on the skin. To boost the performance of our skincare routine, I recommend that you apply next products on a slightly damp skin. This will ensure the hydration and lock in moisture and it will increase the product absorption even further. Therapeutic properties The smell they carry can really lift your mood, energise or help to calm down stress and anxiety. Other uses Hydrolats are fabulous products to be used on face, neck and décolletage, but their benefits don't end there! They can also benefit your hair, reduce eye puffiness or work as a refreshing mist on hot summer days. You can spritz some on your pillow before you go to bed for a better sleep! How to use hydrolats? Skincare It goes well right after cleansing - step 2. Spritz some on your face, neck and décolletage and follow with the rest of your skincare routine. 1. Cleanse 2. Tone 3. Water Based Serum or Essence 4. Cream 5. Oil/Oil based serum Haircare Spritz on your hair after wash or as a pre-wash treatment. Allergens in hydrolats Some cosmetic products, mostly essential oils, hydrolats and preservatives may contain allergens that, when over a certain limit in a product, need to be listed as part of the ingredients list to ensure compliance with the UK and EU laws and to warn customers who show allergic reactions to those allergens. Although, allergic reactions are rare, this is very important for customer safety. The allergens will show in bold at the end of the ingredients list, typically followed by a note that states 'naturally occurring'. These allergens are naturally occurring substances and they have NOT been added separately when making a product. Preservatives in hydrolats To my surprise, many hydrolats sold by cosmetic brands in the UK are unpreserved. If a hydrolat is not a sole component of the product, it will be preserved, however when it's a single ingredient product it comes unpreserved. This is very different to my home country Poland, where the vast majority of hydrolats sold directly to consumers are preserved. Why does it matter? Generally speaking, with a few exceptions, water based products, such as hydrolats, need to be preserved to prevent microorganisms from growing in a product over time. When it comes to hydrolats, they can be produced at sterile conditions at a distillery and bottled right after production, in which case they can be left unpreserved. These bottles require an airless packaging, for example a bottle with an atomiser to ensure the product has no contact with air. This can be done safely and many hydrolats are produced this way. There are a few disadvantages of this production method. 1) The hydrolat cannot be opened. Consumers don't know this, and some will open the bottle for example to make a clay mask using a hydrolat, and they will unknowingly introduce microorganisms to the product. 2) There is no guarantee the hydrolat was bottled at the distillery If you're a cosmetics brand owner, like me, or you're a formulator, you will have a testing kit that can detect any microorganism growth in a product, but as a consumer, you basically cannot know how the hydrolat was made and whether it's microorganism free. It's much safer for you to buy preserved hydrolats for that reason. 3) The transport of bottled hydrolats has a bigger impact on the environment It's a lot heavier, more costly and less environmentally friendly to transport thousands of bottled hydrolats from Bulgaria to the UK, than to transport a large container, and bottle & preserve them in the UK. As always. My blog posts only serve you as a guide, and whatever you wish to do you shall do :)

Summary As the demand for clean and natural skincare solutions continues to rise, organic hydrolats work by promoting skin health and well-being. Their gentle yet effective properties make them suitable for a wide range of skincare needs, offering a holistic approach to beauty. By incorporating organic hydrolats into your daily routine, you not only nurture your skin but also contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly beauty regimen.