IDEAS OF HOW TO USE ROSE WATER

Did you get some roses for a special occassion?  Do not, I repeat, do NOT throw those roses in the trash.  There are literally HUNDREDS of recipes you can use rosewater for...here are a few you could scroll through.  The first half are FOOD recipes and the bottom half are SKIN CARE recipes.  NOTE: MAKE SURE YOUR ROSES HAVE BEEN FARM GROWN as many imported roses have harmful pesticides that can cause serious problems!


SCROLL DOWN TO THE VERY BOTTOM TO SEE MY FAVORITE LOTION RECIPE!



FOOD RECIPES:


1.  Rosewater Lemonade
  http://globaltableadventure.com/2012/08/12/recipe-rosewater-lemonade/

2.  Rosewater Rasperberry Cupcakes  http://www.celebrations.com/content/raspberry-rosewater-cupcakes

3.  GLUTEN FREE Rhubarb and Rosewater Crumble  http://www.cookrepublic.com/recipe-archive/rhubarb-and-rosewater-crumble/

4.  White Chocolate and Rosewater Cupcakes http://tastedbytwo.com/2009/11/04/recipe-white-chocolate-and-rosewater-cupcakes/

5.  Rosewater/Plum Compote  http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/rosewater-plum-compote-recipe.html

6.  Rosewater Icing (for your favorite cake or cupcakes)  http://www.homelife.com.au/homes/food/raspberry+cupcakes+with+rosewater+icing,3595

7.  Watermelon and Rosewater Punch (or use any other kind of red fruit such as frozen strawberries/raspberries, etc)  http://sumptuousspoonfuls.wordpress.com/2012/06/09/watermelon-rosewater-slushies/

SKIN CARE IDEAS:

1.  No-Nonsense Daily Facial Scrub (I use this all the time!)  http://www.crunchybetty.com/no-nonsense-daily-scrub-for-any-skin-type

2. Rosewater and Coconut Milk Relaxing Bath Treatment: Rosewater and coconut milk make the most relaxing and soothing bath. The therapeutic scent of the rosewater is so relaxing and the creamy coconut milk will make your skin super soft and silky. Throw a quarter cup of rosewater into your bath with a quarter cup of coconut milk and soak the stress away. 

3.  Lavender Rosewater Mist:  Use on face, sheets/linens, room spray

uses

This basic recipe has so many uses! Use it to freshen linens, as an herbal air freshener, as a hair tonic, or as a facial spritz (try refrigerating it). 

ingredients & directions

1 ½ cups distilled water
½ rosewater (available in pharmacies)
50 drops lavender essential oil

Combine all ingredients into a clean spray bottle. Shake before use. 


4.  Honey and Rosewater Facial Mask  http://pixiwishesforeheadkisses.com/2012/09/04/diy-beauty-toning-rosewater-and-honey-mask/

5.  Rose Lip Balm  Lip balm ~ Melt 15 g beeswax or shea butter. Remove it from the heat, add 12 ml sweet almond oil, about 5-10 ml rosewater and one drop of essential lemon oil. Pour it in small pots and allow to cool.

6.  Royal Rose Face Toner  http://www.totalbeauty.com/content/gallery/spring-skin-care-recipes/p84022/page5

7.  MISTY'S FAVORITE LOTION/CREAM RECIPE:

Though this recipe appears "easy" at first glance, it takes practice to get it just right...but trust me when I say, it is WELL worth it.  Not only is it WAY cheaper than storebought creams/lotions, it is TONS better.  My skin "drinks" it in and it is safe to use on body AND face.  Package your cream in glass jars.  I use mason jars or glass jars I purchased from Hobby Lobby for just a few dollars.  IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE STORED IN FRIG but in summer it feels fantastic and it will HAVE A LONGER SHELF LIFE if you do store it in the frig.  I put about a weeks worth in a small jar in my bathroom and put the rest in our refrigerator.

WATERS:

2/3 cup of rosewater or distilled water

1/3 cup aloe vera gel (NOT the blue junk...real, pure aloe)

1-2 drops essential oil of your choice

a little splash of Vit E oil

OILS:

3/4 cup of apricot, almond or grapeseed oil

1/3 cup of coconut oil or cocoa butter

1/4 tsp of lanolin

1/2 to 1 oz of beeswax (you can purchase online...I use our own from our bees but you can buy off amazon or mountain rose herbs website)

1.  Combine the waters in a glass measuring cup.  Set aside.

2.  In a double boiler over low heat, combine the oils.  (I put the oils inside a mason jar and then set the jar in boiling water on the stove).  Heat them JUST ENOUGH TO MELT.

3.  Pour the oils ONLY into a blender and LET THEM COOL TO ROOM TEMPERATURE.  This cooling process is IMPERATIVE.  The mixture should become thick, creamy, semisolid, and cream colored.

4.  When the mixture has cooled, turn on the blender ON THE HIGHEST SPPED.  In a slow, thin drizzle, pour the water mixture into the center of the vortex of the whirling oil mixture.

5.  When most of the water mixture has been added to the oils, listen to the blender and watch the cream.  When the blender coughs and chokes and the cream looks thick and white, like buttercream frosting, turn off the blender.  You can slowly add more water, beating it by hand w/ a spoon but DON'T OVERBEAT.  The cream will THICKEN as it sets.

6.  Pour cream into glass jars.  Store in a cool location.

NOTE:  If you have problems w/ seperation of the water/oil, it is more than likely due to the oils not cooling completely to room temperature.  You can start the process all over again in the blender or just give it a vigorous shake in the jar.