This is going to sound crazy, but a few weeks ago, I stopped washing my face with heavy cleansers first thing in the morning. I instead replaced my face wash with a heavy dousing of Sva Organics Rose Water Spray. And I’m not the only one reaching for the floral-infused water over their morning cleanser. A video of Salma Hayek is going viral on TikTok where she says her grandmother told her “never wash her face in the morning.” And instead, she uses “a lot of rosewater.” I found when I started using a rose water toner, my acne flare-ups were few and far between and my dry-leaning combination skin became hydrated and glowy.
The rose water comes in a sturdy glass bottle and is made of hydro-distilled rose petals known to be anti-inflammatory and soothing for irritable skin. It has a screw-on spray nozzle for easy application and can be used on everything from your face to your hair. It can promote hair growth and provide a multitude of remedies for all hair types, according to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick, MD. Even Amazon shoppers dealing with frequent breakouts are noticing fewer “pimples or boils” with consistent use of this product.
You must be wondering how I substitute washing my face at the start of the day with this rose water toner. While I would recommend consulting your dermatologist first, I can attest did wonders for my blemish-prone, dry combination skin. I now double-cleanse my skin in the evening, and in the morning, I give my skin a quick rinse and then a generous spraying of rose water. My face no longer feels stripped and tight and, without needing additional products, feels hydrated and soft, and my breakouts and dark spots have dwindled substantially over the days of use. I reapply throughout the day (even on top of makeup) if my skin needs a pick me up. And when my scalp is feeling itchy and dry, I will apply a liberal amount to my kinky afro curly, and almost immediately, my scalp is soothed and smells amazing.
If you can’t take my word or Hayek and her grandmothers, the 2,800 five-star ratings from Amazon shoppers may change your mind. Similar to my experience, one reviewer is using the toner in place of their face wash, and they said, “It has cleared their skin so much.” They also shared that their “skin [is] visibly moisturized and [has] a nice glow.” Another shopper said after one week of use, their daughter’s “skin looks much better, and [their] acne is fading away.” A final reviewer found the rose water relieved the itching and calmed “an inflammatory response” on their scalp.
AMAZON
If you want Salma Hayek’s ageless beauty secret or just to wake up and smell like roses, shop Sva Organics Rose Water Spray for $10 on Amazon.
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Salma Morning Skincare Routine
“I think that my beauty routine, and how I see beauty is from what I’ve learned from my grandmother. It made me realize that there are things that were not out there because [most brands] go by trends. Some things are really good that are pushed to the side just because they’re trying too hard to sell you the new thing to always create some kind of event.
She won’t cleanse or exfoliate too much, embraces natural ingredients like coconut oil, and believes in the power of good old-fashioned facial massage.
Salma switches things up depending on how her skin looks and feels each day. “My routine changes, it depends on how my skin wakes up. I don’t do it like a machine. I look at it, I pay attention. I talk to it. Like, ‘What do we need today?”
Keep reading to find out how Salma takes care of her enviable complexion.
Cleanser
“I never cleanse my skin in the morning. My grandmother taught me that at night your skin replenishes all the things you lost during the day. Also, if I cleanse very well at night, why would it be dirty when I wake up? It’s for companies to have you use more products.”
Face Mist
“I spritz rose water—it’s so gentle and wakes the skin up.”
“ I use rose water to take off the residuals. You can use a hot towel with the rose water—you put a wet towel in the microwave—to do a little steam. I believe that sometimes it’s good at night to do not a lot of [skincare products]. I will tell you why: Your skin, it’s going to do an amazing job. It’s going to repair itself… the most important thing is to clean it super well.
Moisturizer
“I use an ingredient called tepezcohuite that’s used in Mexico for burn victims because it completely regenerates the skin… This is why I have no Botox, no peels, no fillings.”
Sunscreen
“I am completely against SPF. SPF on its own is good, but I’m sorry, SPF in creams and makeup is a big mistake. It’s a lot of chemicals that can affect the formula of the cream. Ninety percent of the time, you don’t need it because you are working in an office indoors. Or you are going out at night.”
Lip Balm
Sisley Paris Nutritive Lip Balm: “I also… throw a Sisley lip balm in my purse.”
Her Skincare Treatments
Sheet Mask
La Mer The Hydrating Facial: “Traveling can dry out my skin. This mask is amazing for moisturizing and conditioning, especially after a night flight.”
Face Masks
“My grandmother was into natural ingredients. She was like a witch doctor, a cosmetologist. We’d be having breakfast and she would take the leftovers—papaya, yogurt, honey, nuts—and blend them all, then she’d start putting them on her face. I grew up like that and as I got older I realized that wasn’t normal. I thought everyone just took the leftovers and made a mask!”
Light Therapy
Cynthia Franco Aesthetics: “[I wear an] LED face mask that my facialist Cynthia made me try. When you’re close to 50, you are open to trying sci-fi.”
Facial Massage
“Do you know what is the best thing for your face, to keep it toned? Massage. I have a [massage therapist], but she lives in Japan. She only comes to London every once in a while. But when she comes, she’s my secret weapon. I believe in massage, and the way she does it is with two people. You have to take out your tongue and make sounds and all these crazy things. One person moves your leg while the other person is pulling your ear. I don’t know, but it’s extraordinary! Massage oxygenates, activates circulation, and keeps the muscles healthy and firm. I cannot tell you, even just for the lymphatic [system], what the massage does for the face.”
Her Diet, Exercise & Lifestyle
Diet
“I am on the limit of chubbiness because I love my food and my wine. It’s not the best for fashion, but it’s good for my mood. I am happy because I eat… I will not have Botox. Do you know why? Because I eat! I eat the fat, I eat the vegetables, I eat everything. If you exercise too much and you don’t eat enough, it takes its toll on the skin. Everything starts aging. If you don’t eat carbs, you slow your metabolism down. And you know what? You look miserable. The truth is I just don’t have the drive to be the prettiest and the thinnest. I can be happy for other people for their beauty. Learn to be happy for others and you can never run out of happiness.”
Bone Broth
“Right now I am doing something that I’m loving. It is called bone broth! It’s full of gelatin and fat and has bone marrow and I think it is very good to keep yourself young. It helps to restructure the tissues for your skin, your hair, and your nails. It’s full of collagen.”
Yoga
“Some people have the discipline to exercise in the morning, and I didn’t develop that. I work with a woman in London who taught me how to hold my body in a way where the muscles are activated all day long. So even when you brush your teeth, you’re working the muscles. It’s restorative yoga. She taught me to tone [my muscles] without clenching them. You relax them and focus on the parts that need to be used, but never with tension. If you’re aware of your body, you’d be surprised by the effect it can have.”
Attitude
“When I started my career, I saw beauty more as a goal. Now I just see beauty as part of life—of everyday life. When I was younger I was always trying to figure out, ‘Oh my God, what would look good on me? Is this my best or should I be like that? What hair color I should have?’ But it’s more about finding your identity. As you get older, if you’re lucky, you can pay attention to life. You sort of settle, you’re more comfortable, and you understand much better who you are.”
