5 min read

Summer Refresh: Formulating Facial & Body Mists

Written By: Robin Lander

 Warm skies, summer winds, salt water, and outdoor adventures can boost the mood, but they can also leave our skin feeling hot, tired, and dry. Just like reaching for a cold drink on a warm day, our skin can benefit from a cool, hydrating spritz.

Hydrosols are especially helpful for bringing refreshment to summer skin. Their delicate aromas and water-based nature make them ideal for creating cooling mists for face and body. Whether you’re spending a day outside or simply need a quick, cool break, aromatic sprays can help freshen and condition the complexion and offer a sense of renewal.

Cool Facial Skin with Hydrosols

When it comes to facial care, hydrosols can be your skin’s best friend. When a flower or plant is steam distilled, the aqueous portion of the distillate is known as a hydrosol. These refreshing botanical waters are:

·         Much milder than essential oils* and contain gentle, water-soluble molecules.

·         Suitable for young children and sensitive individuals.

·         Can be sprayed directly on facial skin, body, and hair.

·         Have a slightly acidic pH that helps support the skin’s own protective barrier.

·         Excellent as an ingredient in place of water in facial toners, gels, and creams.

*Please note that the water-soluble aromatics found in hydrosols differ from the scent of the fresh plant or the essential oil. They have their own soft, fresh, and delicate character that may vary from batch to batch.

Hydrosols can be sprayed liberally on the skin as desired, any time skin needs a hydrating pick-me-up. When formulating your own mists, you can choose a more calming or invigorating experience depending on the aromatics you select.

Best Hydrosols for Summer Skin

·         Chamomile, Blue Hydrosol - Organic – sweet, green-herbal softness to calm and cool.

·         Cucumber Hydrosol - Organic – garden fresh, cooling, and skin softening.

·         Lavender Hydrosol - Organic – best choice after a day of sun, especially when chilled.

·         Rose Hydrosol - Organic – calming, hydrating floral elegance, lovely when applied with facial oils.

·         Geranium, Rose Hydrosol - Organic – revitalizing and hydrating for dry or oily skin, and feels heavenly during hot flashes.

Hydrosols can be used on their own or blended to create your own refreshing aromatic experience. Here are a few formulation ideas:

Cooling Facial Mist

Herbaceous, floral, and watery-fresh, like a spa experience in a bottle.

·         1 oz Cucumber Hydrosol - Organic

·         ½ oz Lavender Hydrosol - Organic

·         ½ oz Rose Hydrosol - Organic

Cool Flash

Keep this green-rosy mist close at hand for those overheated moments.

·         1 oz Geranium, Rose Hydrosol - Organic

·         1 oz Rose Hydrosol - Organic

After-Sun Mist

Store in the refrigerator and apply chilled for an extra refreshing feeling.

·         1 oz Chamomile, Blue Hydrosol - Organic

·         1 oz Lavender Hydrosol - Organic

Directions: Blend all ingredients in a clean 2oz Amber Glass Bottle, Spray Top. Close eyes and mist face and body as desired. For best results, use within 3 months. To help extend shelf-life, and for an extra cool feel, store in the refrigerator and use chilled.

Aromatherapy Body Mists

If you’d like a cooling aromatic mist for the body, essential oils can be added to hydrosols or distilled water. However, keep in mind that essential oils and hydrosols/water do not mix, and the essential oils will separate and rise to the surface.

For best results, you’ll need to shake well before every spray – and be sure to note this on the label. Another option is to use a solubilizer to uniformly disperse the essential oils, such as our biodegradable Solubilizer made from saponified sunflower seed oil (see product page for detailed blending instructions).

To help avoid skin irritation, it’s best to keep body mists containing essential oils to a dilution of 0.5 – 1% essential oils. That’s about 4 – 9 drops of essential oils to every 1 oz of hydrosol or distilled water. Here are two formulas to get you started:

Cucumber Spearmint Body Mist

A crisp, clean, green aroma that leaves skin feeling minty-cool.

·         1 oz Cucumber Hydrosol - Organic

·         1 oz Lavender Hydrosol - Organic

·         6 drops Spearmint - Organic essential oil

·         3 drops Lavender – High Elevation essential oil

·         2 drops Frankincense CO2, Somalia essential oil

Rose Vetiver Body Mist

Dewy Rose Hydrosol is brightened by sparkling, tart Yuzu and deepened with cool-earthy Vetiver.

·         2 oz Rose Hydrosol - Organic

·         10 drops Yuzu, Distilled essential oil

·         3 drops Rose Absolute, Bulgaria

·         2 drops Vetiver, Haiti essential oil

Directions: Blend all essential oils first in a clean 2oz Amber Glass Bottle, Spray Top, then add hydrosols (or distilled water). Twist on the cap and shake well to combine. To use, shake well before each spray. Mist the body as desired, making sure to avoid the eye area or mucous membranes. For best results, use within 3 months.

Pro Tips:

·         For best aromatic results, give your formulations 24-48 hours before use to allow time for the ingredients to harmonize.

·         When choosing essential oils for body mists, be sure to review the Safety Considerations provided in the drop-down menu on the left side of the product page for information on contraindications, safety concerns, and any dermal maximum recommendations.

·         For a preserved formulation or longer-term storage, use an appropriate preservative for water-based formulations and test the finished product for stability.

Create Your Refreshing Summer Ritual

From floral Rose and Lavender to crisp Cucumber and Spearmint, aromatic mists are an easy way to keep cool, replenish the skin, and uplift the spirit on warm summer days. Formulate with your favorites and keep a bottle nearby to spritz whenever you need a refreshing reset.

Notes of Caution: We recommend performing a patch test when working with any of our ingredients topically, especially before use on the face. Please check the Safety Considerations section of the product pages and always check with your physician before using any oils if you are on medication or have a serious medical condition.