Skincare Benefits of Rosa Damascena (Rose)

Our August pouches included a wonderful mask from Nature Republic called the Real Nature Rose Mask Sheet. This mask is formulated with Rosa damascena flower extract (Rose Extract), which is our topic of today! Outside of its beautiful appearance, Rosa damascena has a variety of great skin care benefits.

Rosa damascena, commonly known as Damask rose or rose of Castile, is a hybrid of two different roses. It’s believed the Damask rose originated in the Middle East. For centuries now, the Damask rose has been cultivated for the production of rose oil through a process called distillation. Rose oil has a natural strong aroma, making it a very popular ingredient in perfumes even today. This explains why the Nature Republic Real Nature Rose Mask Sheet has an amazing rose scent!

Rose water is also produced from Damask roses through distillation. Rosewater has been around for centuries for medicinal, spiritual and cosmetic purposes. Historians say Cleopatra used to bathe in rosewater, believing it was great for her skin. Today, we see rosewater everywhere in skin care, so Cleopatra was truly the ultimate beauty queen!

Thanks to its popularity and longevity, there have been significant number of studies on the Rosa damascena. So let’s talk about its wonderful properties:

• Antibacterial & Antiseptic Properties
  Studies have shown that Rosa damascena has strong antibacterial and antiseptic activity against bacteria strains such as Propionibacterium acnes (the bacterial that causes acne). Having these properties makes Rosa damascena a powerful ingredient for skin protection against bacteria and infection.
• Antioxidants Properties
  The Damask rose is loaded with antioxidants, which are important for fighting against free radicals. Remember, free radicals are responsible for skin damage, which will in turn speed up skin aging. It’s why antioxidants are so important in skin care! Flavonoids, is another compound of Rosa damascena, that has shown great ability to fight against UV damage.
• Anti-Aging Properties
  The Damask rose also contains vitamin C, which has so many wonderful benefits for the skin. One in particular is its production of collagen and elastin, helping the skin to be firm and prevent premature aging.
• Anti-Inflammatory Properties
  Studies have also shown that Rosa damascena has anti-inflammatory activity; it’s great for fighting inflammation and redness.

Damask roses are not just beautiful on the outside, they have so many great benefits for the skin! What has been your experience with roses in your skincare routine? Let us know in the comments!

Want to join the Sooni fam? Subscribe to our Sooni Mask Pouch, Sooni Mini Pouch, or Sooni Pouch! For orders received between August 1st through August 31st, the September pouch will be your first box.