Rose beauty, skin care and fragrances are all the rage

It’s not easy growing one of the most effective skincare species of roses on top of a building in the middle of a huge city. But Brooklyn Rooftop Botanicals founder Liana Blomquist was determined to do just that, cracking the grow code for the sake of her new Hydrating Rose & Hyaluronic Acid Serum.

Toner, $78 at IsaLazo.comToner, $78 at Isa Lazo

And it turns out that rosa gallica officinalis is strong in New York. “It actually enjoys more arid climates and is very hardy,” Blomquist notes. “Other delicate roses I’ve grown on the roof, like David Austin’s, have had more trouble.”

Rosewater mist with witch hazel, $28 at BosciaRosewater mist with witch hazel, $28 at Boscia

Used for centuries in all sorts of skin beautifiers, the rose is having a huge moment today. From Lancôme Absolue The Serum, an anti-aging formula made with roses harvested from the Plateau de Valensole garden in southern France, to a sumptuous makeup-dissolving cleanser (Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm) and two luxurious toners that refresh and hydrate. (Isa Lazo Toner, Fleur & Bee Rose, and Shine Rose Water Toner), there isn’t a single skincare category that the rose hasn’t touched.

Absolue The Serum, $230 at LancomeAbsolue The Serum, $230 at lancome

And for good reason. This delicate looking flower is a total powerhouse.

“Rose is very versatile while also being gentle on the skin, making it a great choice for all skin types,” says New York-based dermatologist Marisa Garshick. Ultra soothing, it’s perfect for anyone prone to dry patches. At the same time, Garshick notes, the rose has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and is also rich in antioxidants. Therefore, acne, redness, sensitivity, and wrinkles can be addressed with the proper infusion of roses.

1000 Roses Fresh + Dewy 2-in-1 Serum, $29 at Andalou1000 Roses Fresh + Dewy 2-in-1 Serum, $29 at Andalusian

Dame Pat McGrath selected legendary beauty Naomi Campbell as the face of her new Rose Powered Divine Skin Essence. (Yes, lady; in 2021, for her career achievements and for moving the needle toward diversity, McGrath became the first makeup artist to be awarded the hallowed British title female equivalent of a gentleman.) The Biphasic Elixir: A lightweight, milky emulsion that must be shaken before use, it was created to nourish the skin and increase brightness and radiance. In other words, it replicates the look McGrath gives her models before they cruise down the runway or stand in front of a camera.

Divine Skin Rose 001 The Essence, $86 at Pat McGrathDivine Skin Rose 001 The Essence, $86 at Pat McGrath

Having long cornered the market for Dead Sea mineral bath salts, Sabon weaves them into her new range of Mediterranean-inspired damask rose-infused face products. The four-piece collection includes an innovative “steam” that opens pores and mixes salts with dried petals; a rich cream; and two biphasic offerings: a rose water in oil and a serum in oil.

Rose Serum In-Oil, $87 at SabonRose serum in oil, $87 at sabon

Also touching the damask rose? Andalou Naturals, with its new Fresh + Dewy 2-in-1 serum, a solution for sensitive skin that also contains vitamin E and squalane, a mega-moisturizing ingredient that finds its way into many rose-based infusions. “Because squalane supports the skin’s barrier and locks in moisture,” Garshick notes, “it works well with rose products created to hydrate.”

Rose And Shine Rosewater Toner, $20 at Fleur and BeeRose And Shine Rosewater Toner, $20 at flower and bee

Although fashionable, the rose has a serious history. “Research on botanicals costs a lot of money and takes a long time, which is why it’s so limited,” says Blomquist. “Because the rose is backed by valid and reliable data, it remains a go-to for beauty. There are a lot of facts about roses.”

Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm, $66 at ElemisPro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm, $66 at elemis

Atelier Versace Plucks a Heady Moroccan Flower for Its Lush Unisex Scent

Atelier Versace's unisex fragrance line includes sweet and spicy “Éclat de Rose” $330 at Saks Fifth AvenueAtelier VersaceThe unisex fragrance line includes the sweet and spicy “Éclat de Rose” $330 at Saks Fifth Avenue

Depending on who you ask, there are more than 100, or maybe more than 300, species of roses in the world. But for Atelier Versace “Éclat de Rose” (“Glow of Rose”), exactly one variety of the incredibly popular flower makes the cut: rosa centifolia, hand-picked in Morocco at dawn and quickly put into production.

With more aliases than Champagne Papi, the Moroccan centifolia rose is variously known as rose maroc, rose de Mai, rose de Provence, rose of a hundred leaves, and a handful of other nicknames. A hybrid between the pink-hued rosa centifolia and the deep red rosa gallica, it is grown primarily in Morocco, Egypt, and France, and is becoming as popular in natural skin care as it is in fragrances.

In “Éclat de Rose,” one of six Atelier Versace unisex fragrances launched en masse in 2019, the velvety sweet and spicy note of maroc rose is underpinned by Ambrox, a blend of amber, incense and wood. It was created by legendary perfumer Nathalie Lorson, one of the first female noses in the fragrance industry. (Originally from Grasse, France, she has composed dozens of well-known scents, including sprays for Kate Moss and Lady Gaga.)

“Éclat de Rose” also has a pedigree bottle, crafted by the Parma, Italy-based glass geniuses at Bormioli Luigi. The container is blown and twisted, nodding to the effect of a pleated skirt with a playful little twist and underlining the bespoke tailoring theme of the entire Atelier Versace fragrance collection. The name of the fragrance is engraved on the neckline, while the cap recalls a gold metal bustier from Gianni Versace’s second show, emblazoned with a 3D version of the house’s signature Medusa, of course.

The fragrance joins a new revival of unisex scents featuring the beloved flower, harking back to the rose-based colognes and rosewater aftershaves men had used for centuries before briefly falling out of favor. .

But as Donatella Versace tells Alexa, scent selection should be based solely on one criteria: Does it tell you? If not, she keeps looking. “We all want to find that fragrance that really represents who we are,” she says.

Source: news.google.com