3 Hydrosol Facial Mists for Healthy Summer Skin
Caring for My Skin in the Montana Sun
As summer warmly greets the Montana mountains, the landscape transforms into a canvas painted with vibrant flowers, lush green fields and trees. Along with this beautiful change comes a challenge for my skin—dealing with the hotter, drier weather and intense sun exposure.
Over the years, I've turned to a natural remedy that feels like a gentle hug for my skin: hydrosols. These delightful botanical waters have been my go-to for keeping my skin balanced, preventing dryness, swelling, and the dreaded clogged pores. Today, I'm excited to share my love for hydrosols with you, showing you how they can help care for your skin in the heat, and how to use them before, during, and after sun exposure.
You’ll discover what hydrosols are, which ones I recommend, and how to use them in 3 gentle recipes that replenish, balance, and heal your skin throughout the summer.
What Exactly are Hydrosols?
Imagine capturing the soul of a plant in a mist—this is what hydrosols are. They're created during the distillation process of plants, collecting the healing essence of the whole plant in a form that's gentler than essential oils. Hydrosols include both oil-soluble and water-soluble plant components, giving them a well-rounded profile of the plant’s benefits.
One of the things I adore about hydrosols is their versatility. Most can be sprayed directly on your skin without any worry. For instance, a spritz of Cornflower hydrosol can soothe your eyes, while a teaspoon of Peppermint hydrosol in sparkling water makes a refreshing summer beverage!
A hydrosol offers the whole spectrum of support a plant has to offer.
Hydrosols are also gentler than essential oils. Most, you can spray them directly onto your skin without concern. The amount of essential oil present is so small that it’s naturally dispersed through the hydrosol. Most hydrosols do not have safety considerations for use directly on the skin. Some, such as Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus), are safe enough to spray in your eyes. Many are potable. A teaspoon of Peppermint hydrosol (Mentha × piperita) in sparkling water makes a refreshing summer drink!
Learn more about hydrosols and how they’re made here on my blog.
How Hydrosols Heal and Balance the Skin
Each hydrosol has its unique properties. On a typical summer day in Montana, I start by misting my face with Peppermint hydrosol to keep it from feeling too dry and overheated. The fresh scent also provides an instant mood lift!
When I'm outdoors, which is often here in the beautiful Montana sun, I like to carry a bottle of Calendula hydrosol. Spraying it on my skin every hour not only refreshes me but also helps manage redness and swelling from the heat or physical activity. Plus, it's great for calming bug bites!
I use hydrosols from skin-nourishing plants, like Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and Rose (Rosa damascena), to support the resilience of my skin cells. The skin is a responsive organ. The sun, heat, cold, pollution, and allergens are everyday irritants that can stress our skin. These plants help calm inflammation, and support the skin’s healing process on a day-to-day basis.
If I’m spending time in the sun, I’ll often take along a hydrosol and mist my face with it every hour or so. It’s refreshing, and can prevent my skin from getting too red and swollen (from physical activity or heat). Try Calendula (Calendula officinalis)! Along with calming inflammation, it has the added benefit of soothing bug bites or stings.
After I’ve been outside, I like to treat my skin to nourishing Carrot Seed hydrosol (Daucus carota), or perhaps another spritz of Calendula. If I’m sunburned, I’ll reach for Helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum) or Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) hydrosol, and mist it on my skin every half hour or so until the heat fades. These are among the healing champions in the world of aromatherapy, perfect for dealing with sunburn by providing soothing relief and promoting skin recovery.
A Summer Skincare Trilogy: 3 Hydrosol Recipes
I’ve crafted three simple hydrosol-based recipes to help you enjoy the benefits of these plant essences. Most of the following recipes don’t include any essential oil.
I often use hydrosols on their own because their full spectrum of plant-based benefits is simply too valuable to overlook!
That said, I’m going to include a version of the last recipe (for sunburn) that includes essential oils.
For each recipe, you can adjust the levels of the hydrosols based on your preference. If I have listed equal amounts of two hydrosols, but you like the scent of the first one better, feel free to use more of the first than the second.
Also, each of these recipes are kid-friendly—except for the one that includes essential oils. I don’t recommend spraying essential oils on a child’s face.
Each recipe makes 2 fl oz (60 ml) of Facial Mist.
You will have a sanitized 2 oz (60 ml) spray bottle . . . or three spray bottles, if you’re going to make the full trilogy.
Pre-Sun Balancing Facial Mist
1.5 fl oz (45 ml) Lavender hydrosol (Lavandula angustifolia)
.5 fl oz (14 ml) Rose hydrosol (Rosa damascena)
Out in the Sun Fun Mist
Nearly 2 fl oz (60 ml) Calendula hydrosol (Calendula officinalis)
Splash of Peppermint hydrosol (Mentha × piperita)
After-Sun Care Facial Mist
If you’re very sunburned, I recommend staying with the hydrosol-only version of this recipe until the worst of the burn fades. Then, you may want to add a few drops of essential oil to your facial mist.
1 fl oz (30 ml) Carrot Seed hydrosol (Daucus carota)
1 fl oz (30 ml) Helichrysum hydrosol (Helichrysum italicum)
Hydrosol With essential oil
Solubol is a natural dispersant—it helps us blend essential oils safely into water-based carriers, like hydrosols. Solubol’s label calls for 4 drops of Solubol for every 1 drop of essential oil.
Nearly 1 fl oz (30 ml) Carrot Seed hydrosol (Daucus carota)
Nearly 1 fl oz (30 ml) Helichrysum hydrosol (Helichrysum italicum)
2 ml Solubol dispersant
4 drops Helichrysum essential oil (Helichrysum italicum)
4 drops Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
My Takeaway
Hydrosols are my summer skincare saviors! They offer a simple yet profound way to keep skin healthy, balanced, and nourished. Whether I'm trekking through the Montana wilderness or just soaking up some sun in my backyard, these plant-derived mists are my go-to for keeping my skin cool, calm, and collected. Here’s to a summer filled with radiant skin and endless outdoor adventures!
If you find yourself captivated by the gentle power of hydrosols, I have some exciting news! I've created a workshop that dives deep into everything about hydrosols—from their healing properties to practical applications. I had a fantastic time putting this together, driven by my profound respect for what these simple yet powerful essences can achieve.
Join me for a journey into the heart of plant-based skincare. It's informative, fun, and full of insights that will change the way you view skincare.
