Each one of us knows that lavender is a plant that smells divine and looks gorgeous but it’s time to expand that knowledge by talking about the many benefits of lavender water and how we can enjoy using it.
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The Many Benefits of Lavender Water
I really want to put accent on the word many because I truly mean it. There are also sorts of ways to use lavender water. If you want to enjoy the wide array of lavender water benefits, let’s first see what it can be used for.
Lavender water can be used:
- for skin benefits – a rich source of vitamin and minerals plus anti-inflammatory properties
- for our hair
- sprayed on linens, laundry or furniture
- as a spray for our pillows and our children’s pillow for better sleep
- to calm our nerves before important events
- for ironing, as a replacement of distilled water – it definitely smells better than plain water
- to refresh the air in our houses
- in our bath water to create a spa-like experience
Benefits of Lavender Water for Skin
When we’re talking about the benefits of lavender water for skin, we’re actually referring to it acting as a toner. Facial toners are applied immediately after cleansing our faces. They’re awesome skin products and I always make sure to use one in my routine.
If you’re using lavender water for your skin, you don’t need to add another toner on top of this one. You can continue with the rest of your routine.
I love toners of all kind but my main focus is on those who can address breakouts, those who target acne.
Lavender water/toner properties
Since lavender has antibacterial and antiseptic properties, the water/toner will also have some of those properties, which is why it’s preferred by people experiencing regular breakouts.
Moreover, it can also tighten the pores, give the impression of smaller pores, can provide a bit of exfoliation for dead skin cells, helps us achieve a radiant complexion, and maybe even help a bit in our fight against fine lines and wrinkles.
Even so, we must acknowledge that the oil is the form of this herb with the more powerful properties.
You can consider using the toner immediately after washing your face and then applying your favorite moisturizer that has a few drops of oil mixed in.
Lavender oil is quite beneficial for the skin because it reduces inflammation, helps in skin lightening, reduces dark spots, lessens acne, and can even reduce wrinkles.
According to HuffPost, you can actually make your own toner by combining a few drops of lavender oil to witch hazel. That’s definitely an awesome alternative.
Achieve Healthy Hair
This will be of great interest to those who experience dry, itchy scalp. If no dandruff shampoo has been of any help to you, it’s time to consider something different.
Lavender can help keep the production of sebum in check, preventing our hair from getting oily much too soon. It can also soften and moisturize dull, dry hair.
Just massage the water into your scalp, it’s as easy as that and it will be absolutely relaxing. Don’t forget about the bonus of adding a wonderful scent to your hair.
Furthermore, you can use the essential oil to promote hair growth. You can use it together with a scalp massager for even better results.
Best Lavender Water to Buy
We’ve talked about the benefits of lavender water in broad terms. But the best way to completely understand what this herbal water can do for us is to review some actual products. I won’t review many of them because I simply don’t want to overwhelm you.
1. Aromine Lavender Water – Perfect for Multi-Use
This is exactly what we’re talking about when we’re wanting to experience the many benefits of lavender water. A product like this is great.
This one from Aromine is 100% pure lavender hydrosol.
It can be used for absolutely everything, from being a great facial toner to being used as a hair rinse or to freshen our linens.
All you need to do is to mist it over linens for that extra-touch of floral fragrance. Your guests will definitely want to know what’s your secret.
You can also use the same product to elevate your steaming bath to the relaxation offered by spending a day at the spa. It’s definitely soothing and calming.
Also, for your hair, you just have to mix a few spoonfuls with a cup of water for a final rinse. To add even more to the experience, you can then massage your hair with a few drops of essential oil.
The price is really affordable, too.
I love the fact that it’s all natural and it’s alcohol-free. It’s suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
The Aromine Lavender Water is obtained through distillation, which means that the water will definitely have the same properties that the oil has, only it’s not as potent.
It’s advertised as being used to soothe, hydrate and revitalize all skin types, a treatment for dry or irritated skin.
2. evanhealy Lavender Facial Tonic, 4 oz – Great Toner
This facial tonic is not only quite small but it’s also quite expensive. Is the price worth it? Let’s see what it offers.
As product benefits, it states: hydrating, moisturizing, freshening, cleansing, pH balancing. I’m not sure about the part with pH balancing but the rest sound like all the benefits of lavender water that I’ve talked about above.
It works for all skin types and there are people who use it as an anti-aging formula, while others state that it’s good for oilier skin and adult acne.
Others just use it during the hot summer months. They keep it in the fridge and use it cool down and hydrate the skin. It’s a nice way to revitalize the skin after exercising or after being outdoors all day.
It’s definitely versatile.
However, given the price tag I imagine that everyone just uses it as it was intended: as a facial toner. No one is going to use this to freshen the air or the linens.
What I love is that fact that the bottle is a mister. I love toners that can be applied as a refreshing mist on the face because it saves me on using cotton pads. Padding it with my fingers is definitely relaxing.
As we’d expect, the ingredients are 100% pure plant hydrosol sourced from fresh plant material. It is distilled over 3-4 hours at low temperature in order to obtain a more concentrated and potent tonic.
3. Ayadara Anti-Acne Pillow & Linen Mist, 4 oz
This pillow and linen mist is actually a combination of two good ingredients: tea tree essential oil and lavender.
Besides these two wonderful ingredients, it also contains oils like clary sage and peppermint. It promises to help combat breakouts in all their forms.
It works for all skin types: oily, dry, sensitive, acne-prone with active milia or stubborn blemishes.
The 4 oz quantity might seem small but this product is quite cheap. Plus, it states that it has 1000+ sprays. Since you’ll be only using it on your pillow and linens, it will last quite a long time.
It’s definitely an interesting idea. I must confess that I change my pillowcases every night before bed but the addition of this anti-acne mist doesn’t sound bad at all.
DIY Lavender Water
You can definitely buy all sorts of waters for different price ranges. But if you’re more the type to make your own products at home, this can be a great project.
We saw the many benefits of lavender water so, I don’t need to tell you again why it would be a good idea to have as many bottles as you can make.
There are two main ways to make lavender water at home:
- use lavender oil
- or boil fresh/dried lavender in water and strain
You can store the water in the fridge.
You should take notice of one important aspect: use only a few drops of oil, otherwise it can stain your linens, pillows or clothes if you’re using the water for ironing or misting. The easiest way to ensure that no staining happens, test it on a small area.
Lavender water with essential oil recipe
The ingredients are simple:
- 1 cup distilled water
- 2 teaspoons vodka or witch hazel to act as a preservative
- 5 drops lavender essential oil
Mix all these 3 in an 8-ounce spray bottle or a jar and that’s it.
Lavender water with fresh/dried lavender recipe
This recipe will take a bit longer to make but it’s great if you have grown lots of bushes in your garden. Now, you can put them to very good use.
The ingredients are:
- 1.5 cups fresh or 3/4 cups dried buds
- 1.5 cups distilled/mineral water
- 1/4 vodka or witch hazel as a preservative
You’ll have to simmer the lavender for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once it’s done, let it cool down entirely.
Strain the mixture through a cheesecloth. Once strained add the vodka or witch hazel and mix well.
Moreover, if you want inspiration about all the ways in which you can use this plant to make various products at home, check out The Lavender Lover’s Handbook by Sarah Berringer Bader. It’s an amazing source of knowledge on everything related to this awesome herb.
Overall Lavender Benefits
The origin of the word comes from the Latin lavare, which means to wash. It was actually used by the Romans as a bath perfume. This has also lead to this particular herb being associated with cleanliness and purity.
According to this article, the Egyptians included it in their mummification ritual. It is also considered that they were the first ones to extract the oils through distillation.
Later on, it was discovered that it can calm the mind, it can be used as a mood enhancer. People were even using it to revive from a faint or relieve a headache.
If you read the book The Herbalist’s Kitchen: Cooking and Healing with Herbs, you’ll discover that in the Middle Ages it was popular for keeping insects, moths, and other pests under control. And for adding a lingering freshness to the air.
All in all, these are some of the most important benefits:
- antibacterial and antiseptic, which makes it an awesome ingredient for blemished skin
- besides that, it can also gently moisturize the skin
- calming and lifts spirits, the tea is used for better sleep
- insect repelling
- soothes bites and stings
- a whole range of uses for household in the form of household cleaning products, deodorizers, candles and food products
Grow your own plant
If you live in a smaller space that doesn’t have access to a garden, you can still grow potted lavender and you’ll love it. As a plant, it doesn’t require much care, it’s totally perfect for anyone who doesn’t have much of a green thumb.
You can enjoy its soothing scent straight from the source during its long blooming season.
By the way, lavender is actually a herb and if you have ever grown rosemary, you’ll do just fine. These two herbs have a lot in common.
I really recommend giving it a try. It might even take you down the path of making your own lavender water and enjoying its many benefits without spending too much money.
Available Forms
Lavender water is absolutely wonderful and we’ve discovered the many reasons why. But I must still tell you that if you want to enjoy the full spectrum of lavender benefits, you’ll consider using its oil, as well.
Besides the water and oil forms, there are many other forms in which it’s available: whole dried flowers, teas, tinctures, bath gels and foaming baths, extracts, soaps and hand washes, eau de cologne for men and women, aromatherapy oils, as moisturizer and body lotion for hands, face and body.
Among many manufacturers, L’Occitane is one of the most famous ones, promising to whisk us away to the field of Provence through their products’ delicate floral scent of lavender. An alluring promise, indeed. Their range of products is impressive and I love them for that.
Although, I’ll fault them for the fact that they haven’t produced a lavender water. I would have eagerly tried it because there’s never a bad time to add another one the collection. After all, we have just learned about the many benefits of lavender water and the many uses this herb actually has.
