Less concentrated than essential oils, hydrosol is a gentle care product applied to the skin. It is obtained by steam distillation of organic plants or flowers and is appreciated for its soothing, regenerating, healing or regulating properties. This care is suitable for all skin types.
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How To Store Your Hydrosol?
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Published March 4, 2024,
by
Stéphanie, Doctorate in Life and Health Sciences
—
5 min read
What Is a Hydrosol?
A hydrosol is the remaining water obtained by steam distillation of an aromatic plant from organic farming to obtain the corresponding essential oil. It is much less concentrated in aromatic molecules, between 0.1% and 0.5%, and therefore much less active than an essential oil. It is good to know that a hydrosol is also known as floral water or hydrolate.
To obtain essential oil and hydrosol, the plant parts (flowers, roots, leaves) are placed in a still. The volatile compounds of the plant are carried by the steam to the condenser. This steam is then cooled. This produces the essential oil on the one hand, and on the other hand a water loaded with active molecules, namely the hydrolat. In the essencier, the two products are clearly separated: the essential oil, often lighter than water, floats on the surface, while the hydrolat, heavier, remains at the bottom of the container.
Hydrosols have the same properties as essential oils. However, they are characterized by their mildness and require almost no precautions for use. Indeed, they are excellent for soothing all skin problems and are suitable for sensitive skin, children and often also pregnant and breastfeeding women. This is in contrast to essential oils, which are in their great majority proscribed.
Which Hydrosol for Which Skin?
In cosmetics, hydrosols are used as cleansing and toning lotions for the face. Depending on their origin and the active ingredients they contain, hydrosols are suitable for all skin types, are easy to use and safe. For dry skin, you can use orange blossom or lime blossom hydrosol to gently cleanse the skin. Rosemary, bamboo or hazelnut hydrolate is used to normalize excess sebum and reduce the visibility of dilated pores on combination to oily skin, while tea tree, sage or bay leaf hydrolate purifies and eliminates visible imperfections on acne-prone skin. For the treatment of sensitive skin, you can opt for a lavender or chamomile hydrosol with soothing and softening properties. To take care of mature skin and fight against the signs of skin aging, you can turn to hydrosols with toning and astringent effects such as Damask rose hydrosol. When your skin lacks radiance, you can opt for lemon or geranium hydrosol to revitalize the skin and complexion. To soothe and repair the skin after shaving, use peppermint hydrosol. For dark circles and puffiness, use cornflower hydrosol to reactivate local circulation, deflate puffiness and reduce the bluish appearance of dark circles.
How To Store a Hydrosol?
Even if hydrosols share some similarities with essential oils, their preservation method is quite different. Indeed, hydrosols are more fragile. They are very sensitive to light and heat, but also to oxidation and microbial infections. Being water-based, they favor the proliferation of bacteria. Therefore, it requires more precautions, especially regarding its storage. To preserve the properties of hydrosols, it is important to keep them in a dry and cool place, away from heat, humidity and light. We therefore advise you to keep them in the refrigerator, combining both darkness and cold temperatures. Moreover, the latter allows to limit the development of bacteria. You should also use dark glass containers to protect the organic matter from UV rays. Before opening the bottle, hydrosols can be kept on average between 12 and 24 months after extraction. On the other hand, after opening, they must be used within 6 to 12 months. However, if your hydrolat has an unpleasant odor due to the degradation of aromatic molecules by micro-organisms, or deposits testifying to contamination, it is then preferable not to use it anymore and to throw it away.
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