Get to know rose water, a magical ingredient that’s sure to sweeten your skin, space, and cooking rituals.
– KEYS SOULCARE
Few things inspire us more than simple, multi-tasking ingredients that can be used to help soothe, energize, and delight multiple senses. That’s exactly why rose water gives us some serious heart eyes.
What is Rose Water?
Derived from steeping rose petals in distilled water (like you would a made-to-drink tea), rose water has been used for centuries to add a little oomph to beauty and home rituals. Today, we’re rounding up popular ways to keep rose water in fresh rotation in your soulcare rituals and your daily life.
Typically, it’s the Rosa damascena you’ll see used in beauty, perfumery, and culinary rituals, but there are hundreds of varieties of rose flower in the natural world.
BENEFITS OF ROSE WATER ON SKIN
Rose water’s many uses date back to the days of ancient Rome, and this fragrant ingredient has been a skincare favorite of Keys Soulcare Goddess-in-Chief Alicia Keys for quite some time. After all, rose water is an antioxidant-rich hydrator that helps replenish dry, dull skin.
In addition to filling the air with goodness, our rose-infused offerings like Let Me Glow Illuminating Serum, Reviving Aura Mist, and Tranquil Essence Hydrating + Soothing Toner help to replenish your skin.
Spiritual Uses of Rose Water
Trust us, rose water has got a lot more to offer than simply a gorgeous scent. Alicia Keys herself considers rose as a go-to for opening her heart and third eye to a clearer sense of self.
Beyond this energetic benefit, a splash of rose water can be a perfect culinary accoutrément to your favorite desserts or dishes.
Just ask food stylist, health coach, and chef Carla Contreras, who says: “Rosewater brings a floral note to food, and enhances the natural sweetness in a dish. And, like a perfume, a little goes a long way.” Contreras notes to make sure to use food grade rosewater, versus the kind you’d find in the health or beauty aisle.
Want to bring a little bloom into your daily rituals? Whip up this easy (and tasty) beverage:
Fresh Fruit with Rose Water — Serves 1*
- 1 cup fresh seasonal fruit
- 1/8 tsp. rose water
- 1/8 tsp. honey or coconut sugar
- 1/16 tsp. sea salt
- 3-4 mint leaves, chopped finely
Mix the fruit, rose water, honey, sea salt, and mint together. Enjoy immediately or store in the fridge to consume within 24 hours.
*Be sure to use food-grade rose water, not the kind you’d find in the health or beauty aisle, for this refreshing recipe.
WHAT SKIN TYPES CAN USE ROSE WATER ON SKIN?
Rose water is a gentle ingredient and generally well-tolerated by a variety of skin types. Before introducing rose water infused offerings into your daily skincare ritual, be sure to do a patch test to make sure your skin has no irritation or allergy to the ingredient.
If you aren’t a fan of fragrance or sensitive to scent in general, some rose water-infused formulas may not be right for your ritual. Remember, it all ultimately comes down to your own personal preference.
HOW TO USE ROSE WATER IN YOUR SKINCARE RITUAL
Rose water isn’t just destined for the kitchen; it’s also a beloved skincare ingredient often found in skincare products that help to replenish dry skin, like hydrosol sprays, moisturizers, and toners.
CAN YOU USE ROSE WATER DAILY?
A spritz of your favorite rose water toner or face spray every day is a great way to enjoy the olfactory perks of rose.
CAN YOU MIX ROSE WATER WITH OTHER INGREDIENTS?
Yes! You’ll see rose water in the mix with other skincare super-star ingredients, including brightening niacinamide or revitalizing witch hazel. Rose water also pairs well with moisturizing ingredients that help soften and hydrate skin, like squalane.
KEYS SOULCARE OFFERINGS WITH ROSE WATER
Ever notice how lush and supple fresh rose petals feel against your fingertips? That’s a hint of why rose water is a beloved ingredient in many of our favorite skincare offerings.
REVIVING AURA FACE MIST
Our dermatologist-developed Reviving Aura Face Mist Spray features rose water to help deliver an infusion of hydration to dry skin.
The formula also includes Rose of Jericho. Not to be confused with the fragrant damask rose, which is commonly used for rose oil extraction, the Rose of Jericho is a hardy plant that lives, adapts, and thrives in a totally different environment from the flowering kinds of rose.
Plus, Rose of Jericho has distinct spiritual properties, and records of its use in traditional medicine date back thousands of years.
“The rose of Jericho is known to bring in protection and good luck, as well as to help balance negative energies in our lives,” says Jenelle Kim, master herbalist and doctor of Chinese medicine.
Reviving Aura Mist is a gentle face mist spray that helps restore your skin and chakras to a higher state of balance and alignment, all while multitasking as a hydrating toner. Simply close your eyes and generously spray the face mis from six inches away, letting the gentle scent of rose transport you to a place of inner calm.

LET ME GLOW ILLUMINATING PRIMING SERUM
Another beloved offering that taps into the skin benefits of rose water is the best-selling Let Me Glow Illuminating Priming Serum. Niacinamide helps to brighten and balance the look of skin while rose water helps deliver a double dose of hydration.
Let Me Glow imparts a sun-kissed, lit-from-within glow to any look, acting as a primer for long-wear makeup or it can be worn alone as a radiance-enhancer to areas like the decolletage, high points of the face, and more.

TRANQUIL ESSENCE FACE TONER
Rounding out our trifecta of rose water-infused offerings is the Tranquil Essence Hydrating Face Toner, which helps soothe skin thanks to calming, antioxidant-rich aloe vera, skin-soothing bamboo, and hydrating rose water.
This hybrid essence and toner is free of drying alcohols, and in a clinical study, 90% of subjects showed an improvement in moisturization immediately.
To use, simply pour hydrating essence toner onto a cotton pad or the palms of your hands after your cleansing step. As the essence’s goodness seeps into the skin, consider its affirmation: “I am full of greatness.”

How can you bring the power of rose water into your life and rituals? Share it in the comments!