Moses supposes his toeses are roses..
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet.”
-Juliet in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Roses are a global symbol of beauty, and one of the most recognizable flowers. The quote above is probably one of the most famous lines from one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays. In the stories of the Quaran, the rose is a sign of beauty from heaven. When Vogue was deciding what to do for its 125th anniversary this year, they decided to create a specialty rose.
I think that we can all agree that beauty and roses go hand in hand.
I first fell in love with roses when I lived in Ecuador. Being one of the world’s largest exporters, they were cheap. I mean you could get some of the most beautiful flowers and hybrids in the world at 2 dozen for $5. Our home was always filled with them, I brought them back to the U.S. as gifts to people... Needless to say, I fell in love with them. The scent intoxicating.
When I moved back to the states I found the price hard to stomach and saved them for special occasions, however my apartment in the city is perfectly located right by a very reasonably priced purveyor of Ecuadorian roses.. if you have ever been to my place, you know I always have roses on my nightstand.
Not only do I use roses to brighten my home, but I incorporate roses into my daily beauty routine. Here’s a little run-down of my TOP rose-infused beauty products. As someone who has sensitive skin, beauticians have always told me to try rose products as they have a calming effect.
Jurlique
In the happenstance of life, I first learned about Jurlique at a spa in Ecuador when battling terrible acne as a teen. Overtime I switched to different products, because I was unsure where to find them in the states. But as luck would have it, I have recently found my way back to it – especially in the form of their “Rose Balancing Mist”. (Jurlique is available online and some products at Sephora.)
Most people who have used their products, will mention this one. It’s very refreshing and hydrating to the skin and the light aroma is a dream. I will usually spritz a bit right when I get out of the shower and notice my skin needs a little more TLC.
You can buy similar rose products at Whole Foods, but it’s definitely a product to consider for your vanity! (Friends swear by Heritage Store’s Rose Water, I’ve tried Juice Beauty (available at Whole Foods, too) but wasn’t a fan of the spray. I found the scent overpowering, it to be drying for my skin, and the applicator doesn’t spray evenly.)
MAC
Most people are probably familiar with MAC’s Prep + Prime Fix+ spray and swear by it. As of late they have actually been releasing it in various scents. I learned of this at a recent MAC Insta-Glam class and fell in love. I immediately purchased it in Rose and Lavender. (I can’t wait to try out the lavender in summer!) If neither of those sound like your game, maybe you’ll be more in the mood for their summer scent of Coconut? (Coming soon to a MAC near you!)
It’s a great hydrator when you apply your foundation, infused with cucumber, chamomile and green tea you’ll immediately feel your skin refresh, and it’ll rehydrate your makeup.
Lancôme
Let me preface this by saying, 9/10 people I meet comment on how smooth my skin is.
Confession: I HATE BODY CREAM. You can ask my mom. Since I was of an age to apply my own, it’s been a battle.
At the advice of a few beauty friends, I now bathe in baby oil. It conditions my skin, and I can wash off the excess which doesn’t make me feel like a sticky monster.
BUT I love the Lancôme Rose Lait Corps, I don’t know what it is about it.. but it’s light and refreshing and makes me feel like a princess. I don’t use it everyday, but use it for days when my skin needs some extra hydration.
French Girl
I discovered this product line a few years ago while meandering through Anthropologie and I’m hooked. Their products are all organic and vegan, mirrored in their beautifully simple packaging.
When I spray tan (stay tuned for my tips on that!) I use their gentle cleanser on my face as you need to be super careful with the products to not strip your tan on day one!
BUT my top two fav products are their lip polish and their facial polish.
Their lip polish (scrub) is great because it’s not too abrasive, like Fresh’s brown sugar scrub. So I can use it year-round. (Note: I like Fresh when I need to completely reform a lip situation, but French Girl’s my go-to.) I also like that they don’t over oil my lips, which otherwise can make it problematic to put on lipstick afterwards. But French Girl is a nice hydration.
I also like their face polish. A little different than most exfoliators in that it is water-activated. So don’t take the bottle into the shower with you. Make sure to pour out the amount desired on your hands and then hop in. A little will go a long way, and I like to use it as a spot exfoliator when I have a problem area.
Bulgarian Rose
The tube pictured is a very special handcream that I use on rare occasions, but I wanted to mention another world destination for rose lovers. The Bulgarian roses are some of the most widely-known. If you get a chance to get a hand cream, spray or fragrance I would not pass it up!
I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about some of my favorite rose beauty products, on the heels of the race for the roses!
In case anyone was wondering, my horse “Always Dreaming” won! Quite fittingly!
I hope you try these products and let me know what you think!
