LATHER founder and skin care expert Emilie Davidson Hoyt discusses the skin care benefits of Pasadena's favorite flower, the rose.

Ancient symbols of love and beauty, roses do more than represent a heart-shaped holiday - they also have a long history in treating the skin. LATHER regularly uses rose in our skin care and aromatherapy products, but, in light of Valentine’s Day, I thought it made sense to peel back the proverbial petals to highlight the inner beauty of this powerful flower.

Derived from the rose’s leaves and blooms, rosewood oil is a slightly spicy, floral, and sweet-smelling essential oil. One of the oldest ingredients used for detoxification as well as for its moisturizing and skin-healing properties, it also has antidepressant and aphrodisiac properties. A great way to put these benefits to use is to try a few drops in a candle-lit bath or use in a sensual massage!

Rosehip seed oil is a fruit oil derived from the small seeds behind the rose flower. Regenerative and balancing, it contains high levels of antioxidants and fruit acids, and is ideal for use on sun damage, scars, acne, eczema, and psoriasis. It’s my personal savior for stretch marks and sunburns!

Bulgarian rose oil and Moroccan rose oil are both potent and incredibly fragrant essential oils derived from rose flowers, containing a complex array of vitamins and minerals. Their excellent emollient properties help improve dry, mature, and sensitive skin.

Rose hydrosols comprise the main ingredient of our Bulgarian Rose Phyto Nutrient Facial Elixer. Unlike essential oils, hydrosols are a by-product of steam-distilled roses. We source organic roses from northern California, which are loaded in small batches into copper pots, or “stills”; the roses are then exposed to steam, which cause the flower to release micro molecules of essential oils and constituents. These hydrosols balance skin and regenerate the cellular structure.

I hope this has helped shed some light on one of my favorite flowers. To end on a more personal note: my love of roses goes beyond skin care and Hallmark holidays - my four year old daughter goes by the name, Ellie Rose.

Pasadena-based LATHER strives to inspire a healthier, more radiant life. By taking a holistic approach to skin care, focusing on sourcing natural ingredients and essential oils, and drawing upon the benefits of aromatherapy, LATHER provides superior products that care for the skin as well as the mind.

Live a Radiant Life with LATHER.

LATHER, 17 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, www.lather.com.