One of the perks of being a health and beauty blogger is being sent lots of lovely press samples from brands hoping for product promotion on my site and across my social media accounts. As I\u2019m often travelling or out and about, I have them sent to my mum (aka De Mama), who has inadvertently become my (unpaid) PA – receiving parcels in, keeping track of who\u2019s sent what and updating me with exciting new arrivals that I might like to write about.<\/p>\n

I recently returned from Spain to a welcome pile of goodies, and whilst rummaging amongst them I noticed a common theme: rose. The most popular flower there is, roses are a recognised symbol of love the world over. I doubt there\u2019s a woman alive who wouldn\u2019t be pleased to receive them. (Well, maybe a few with allergies, but let\u2019s not split hairs.) However, when it comes to beauty, the fragrance of rose can be a bit Marmite, with some people of the opinion that it\u2019s a tad \u2018old lady.\u2019 But love or hate this classic aroma, the benefits of rose as a therapeutic ingredient for our health and skin are undisputed: it works wonders.<\/p>\n

For me, the scent of roses takes me right back to my childhood, when I would play in the garden, and (unbeknownst to De Mama) pull the heads off the roses and soak the petals in an empty ice cream tub half filled with water to make my own perfume. I can clearly remember sitting at our little red plastic table and chairs in the conservatory on a summer\u2019s day, watching in wonder as the water slowly turned a pinkish colour over the course of a day or two; swishing it around before anointing my pulse points with the floral water, as I\u2019d seen Mum do with her perfume sprays. Of course, it was all fun and games until she saw the state of her precious rosebushes…and the water quickly turned rancid; the petals brown and soggy. Fortunately, I\u2019m no longer an amateur perfumier; I leave the formulating to the professionals and stick to buying, reviewing and selling beauty products instead.<\/p>\n

Anyway, back to the health and beauty benefits of rose, of which there are many. Taken internally – as a tea or a tincture – rose is a mood-lifting, soothing antidepressant, useful during times of stress or hormonal fluctuations. Applied topically on the skin, rose is anti-inflammatory and calming; great for dry, sensitive or mature skins, or for those suffering from rosacea or acne.<\/p>\n

There are two main types of rose used in skincare: rosa damascena<\/span><\/strong><\/a> or Bulgarian rose, which has a deep, potent aroma, and rosa centifolia<\/span><\/strong><\/a>, also known as Morrocan or cabbage rose, which has a light, sweet, clean scent. Rose essential oil<\/span><\/strong><\/a> is one of the most expensive there is, due to the fact that tens of thousands of rose blossoms, picked at dawn as they are unfolding, are required to yield just one ounce of the essential oil. The good news is that you only need a couple of drops to reap the rewards.<\/p>\n

Rose oil is not to be confused with rosehip seed oil<\/span><\/strong><\/a>, which comes from the fruit<\/em> of the rose plant and is rich in antioxidant vitamin C. Regular Bird\u2019s Eye Viewers<\/em> will know from this post<\/span><\/strong><\/a> that I\u2019m currently trialling GOPO Joint Health<\/span><\/strong><\/a>, which is a rosehip supplement for healthy joints and reducing inflammation. I\u2019ve been taking GOPO for a few weeks now, and as well as feeling better physically, my skin is looking much more radiant and imperfections improved. Coincidence? I don\u2019t think so. Rosehip seed oil is great for scarring, pigmentation and skin imperfections as well as joints.<\/p>\n

Convinced yet? Let’s cut to the chase! Here’s a round-up of…<\/p>\n

My Current Top Five Rose-based Health and Beauty Buys<\/h2>\n

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