Hydrolat Toner: How to Use Hydrosols in Skincare

Hydrolats, also called hydrosols or floral waters, are the aromatic waters left after plants are steam-distilled for essential oil. They carry a soft trace of the plant’s scent and are mostly water, which makes them a gentle base for toners and face mists.

Short answer: A hydrolat is the fragrant water collected during steam distillation. It can replace part or all of the water in a toner or face mist and adds a light natural aroma. BeautyLabPro sells Lemongrass, Mandarin and Eucalyptus hydrosols; a simple toner can be made with lemongrass and mandarin.

What a hydrolat is

During steam distillation, steam passes through plant material and carries aromatic compounds with it. When the steam cools, the essential oil separates from the water. That water, with its small load of plant compounds, is the hydrolat. Because it contains far less aromatic material than an essential oil, its scent is much softer.

Why hydrolats are used in toners and mists

Since a hydrolat is mainly water, it brings a refreshing, hydrated feel when sprayed or patted onto the skin, and it can stand in for plain water in a recipe. Each plant gives its own aroma: citrus waters such as mandarin smell sweet and sunny, lemongrass is bright and grassy, and eucalyptus is fresh and cool. Chamomile, lavender and rose hydrolats are also popular, though they are not part of our catalog.

A hydrolat is not preserved by nature. Once opened, keep it cool and closed, and use a suitable preservative whenever you mix it into a product that will be stored.

Hydrolats in our store

BeautyLabPro carries three organic hydrosols: Lemongrass Hydrosol Organic, Mandarin Hydrosol Organic and Eucalyptus Globulus Organic Hydrosol. You can see all of them in the Hydrosols and Floral Waters collection.

DIY lemongrass and mandarin toner

For about 100 ml of toner, combine 50 ml lemongrass hydrosol, 30 ml mandarin hydrosol, 10 ml alcohol-free witch hazel, 5 ml aloe vera juice and 5 ml glycerin in a clean spray bottle. Add a broad-spectrum cosmetic preservative at the rate its supplier recommends, close the cap and shake well.

After cleansing, mist the toner over your face or apply it with a cotton pad, then follow with your moisturizer. Patch test before regular use, store the bottle somewhere cool and dark, and discard the toner if its smell or clarity changes.

Choosing a hydrosol for your toner

Each of our hydrosols brings a different character. Lemongrass Hydrosol Organic has a fresh, citrusy and herbal scent and is used in toners, lotions, creams, shampoos and hair tonics. Mandarin Hydrosol Organic is made by steam distillation of mandarin peels and has a sweet, sunny citrus aroma; its INCI name is Citrus Reticulata (Mandarin) Fruit Water. Eucalyptus Globulus Organic Hydrosol is obtained from eucalyptus leaves and has a fresh, invigorating scent that suits toners, cleansers and hair mists. All three are colorless and water-soluble, so they can replace part or all of the water in a recipe.

A blend of lemongrass and mandarin gives a bright, fruity toner. For a cooler, more invigorating mist, eucalyptus works well on its own or with a little mandarin to soften it.

Toner, mist or cosmetic ice

A toner is applied after cleansing, either sprayed on or pressed in with a cotton pad. A face mist is the same idea used during the day for a quick fresh feel, often over makeup. Hydrosols can also be frozen into cosmetic ice cubes for a cooling morning ritual; wrap the cube in a thin cloth and keep it moving over the skin.

Storing hydrosols and homemade toners

Keep unopened hydrosol bottles in a cool, dark place, and close them tightly after each use. Once you mix a hydrosol into a toner that also contains glycerin, aloe or other ingredients, the product needs a broad-spectrum cosmetic preservative. Make small batches, label them with the date, and discard any toner that turns cloudy or changes smell. Check the product page and batch documents for preservation and pH guidance before you use a hydrosol in a product you plan to sell.

Patch testing a hydrosol toner

Hydrosols are gentle, but any aromatic plant water can bother some skin. Before using a new toner on your face, apply a little to the inside of your forearm and wait to see how your skin responds. Start with a simple recipe so that, if something does not suit you, it is easy to tell which ingredient is responsible.

Using hydrosols beyond the face

The same hydrosols appear in hair mists, scalp tonics and shower gels. A light spray of lemongrass or eucalyptus hydrosol on the lengths gives hair a fresh scent between washes, and mandarin adds a soft fruity note to body mists. Because hydrosols are mostly water, they mix easily into these products in place of part of the water.

Shop the Hydrosols & Floral Waters collection to start your own toner.

FAQ

What are hydrolats?

Hydrolats, or hydrosols, are the aromatic waters collected when plants are steam-distilled for essential oil. They are mostly water with a soft trace of the plant’s scent.

How is a hydrolat different from an essential oil?

An essential oil is a concentrated aromatic oil, while a hydrolat is the water from the same distillation. The hydrolat has a much milder scent and mixes easily with other water-based ingredients.

How do I use a hydrolat as a toner?

After cleansing, mist it over your face or apply it with a cotton pad, then follow with your moisturizer. You can also use it in place of water in a DIY toner, as long as the finished toner is preserved.

Which hydrolats does BeautyLabPro sell?

The store currently offers Lemongrass Hydrosol Organic, Mandarin Hydrosol Organic and Eucalyptus Globulus Organic Hydrosol.