Rose Petal Facial Cleanser

Rose is very softening to the skin.  Anything that can soften will lessen the appearance of wrinkles and pores.  The roses bloomed early this year due to the heat, but as a result I harvested many more flower heads than usual rather than watch them wither on the vine.  As a result I experimented with making a facial cleanser that has no soap.  You might like to try this for yourself or a gift.

Rose Petal Facial Cleanser

Fill a glass jar with dried or fresh rose petals and cover with distilled witch hazel.  Use a chopstick to stir the mixture to remove any air bubbles, then add more witch hazel so all petals are covered. If you leave the petals uncovered they will go brown within a couple of hours.

Seal the glass jar with a screw top lid, label and date. Leave the jar to infuse in a cool, dark place for a couple of weeks. Strain and pour into dark glass bottles.

If you find the scent from fresh rose petals is not strong or even non existent, it might be worth adding some dried rose petals and re-infusing for two further weeks after you have strained the fresh rose petals. The fragrance is much more concentrated with dried petals than with fresh.

To Use: Apply to your face with soaked cotton balls.

This recipe can also be made with dried or fresh elderflowers when they are in season.