Healthy Habits: Why You Should Be Drinking Rose Water and How to Make It at Home

Here at BeautyLeeBar.com, I believe that beauty begins from the inside out. I try to be mindful of what is going into my body to ensure that I stay strong and healthy, because, to me, that is beautiful. I’ve also never been the one to shy away from trying a new detox or testing out a buzz-worthy health trend. That brings me to today’s topic. You’ve seen me rave about the benefits of refreshing lemon water, lime water, cucumbers, cherries, honey and now I’m adding rose water to the list of infused sips on my radar.

While I’ve used rose petals on certain things in the past, putting them in water is my new favorite way to reap the benefits of the fragrant blooms. Trust me when I say that rose water is so much more than a flavorful way to stay hydrated. By applying rose water to your skin or drinking it the old-fashioned way, you are benefiting your complexion as well as ingesting essential vitamins. Since this all sounded too good to be true, I did a little research to see why I should be adding rose water to both my diets and beauty regimens, stat. Keep scrolling to see what I learned as well as a simple at-home recipe to make this concoction yourself…

Your skin’s new BFF.
By adding rose water to your daily skincare regimen, you are doing so much more than keeping your face hydrated (which is also a pretty big bonus!). Rose water can help your skin maintain its pH balance by controlling excess oil production while keeping it supple and moisturized. Rose water is also known for its soothing elements which reduce redness and irritation linked to skin conditions such as eczema, acne, and dermatitis.
Rose water contains antibacterial and antifungal properties, allowing your skin to better heal scars and other wounds.

I don’t know about you, but I’m always looking for natural remedies to improve my complexion. By applying rose water to your skin, you are cleansing, toning and even reducing fine lines and wrinkles. That sounds like a win-win to me! There are a few ways that you can incorporate rose water into your routine. Start your day by using rose water as a toner after washing your face by evenly distributing it with a cotton ball. You can even purchase a spray bottle and lightly mist your face throughout the day, with or without a full face of makeup. A little spritz here and there can be rejuvenating!

Why you should be drinking rose water.
In addition to adding this fragrant concoction into your beauty routine, consuming rose water also poses multiple benefits. Rose water contains vitamins A, C, E and B and contains anti-inflammatory qualities. It is also said that rose water can help reduce stress and moodiness (something we can all benefit from at some point or another, right?). If you’re looking for a fragrant and healthy way to stay hydrated, opt for a bottle of rose water the next time you’re at your local health food store. But like any health food fad, it’s always a good idea to ask your doctor if you have questions or concerns.

How to make it at home.
If you are interested in making rose water right in the comfort of your own home, you’re in luck! Making your own batch of fresh rose water is simpler than you think and I have a recipe to prove it.

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Here’s what you’ll need:
1. 5-7 stems of organic pink roses
2. water
3. large pot

Instructions:

1. Begin by plucking the rose petals off of each stem and rinsing them thoroughly under warm water. It is important to note that you use organic roses, rather than the kind that you can just pick up at any grocery store. It’s best to steer clear of any harmful pesticides and any other chemicals that could have been used on the stems.
2. Place the rose petals into a large pot and pour just enough water in to cover all of the petals.
3. Boil the water and rose petals over medium-high heat. Once the water is boiling, cover the combination and reduce heat to a simmer.
4. Let the petals simmer for 30 minutes or until they begin to lose their vibrant color.
5. Remove the petals from the water with a strainer.
6. You now have your very own homemade rose water! Be sure to refrigerate or store your rose water in a cool place. Your homemade batch should last between 1 and 4 weeks.

And there you have it! I’ve been intrigued by this trend and hope you all will try it too! And, now I’m convinced that my beauty regimen can’t live without it.

Have you ever tried using or drinking rose water?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

**FTC: This post is not sponsored. No monetary compensation was received for this post, however, products were sent to me. Opinions are 100% my own, of course.

Color Kill: Pure Matte Lipstick

This is the LONGEST LASTING lipstick I’ve ever tried (As far as a traditional lipstick). However, it did last about the same as a liquid lipstick. I was genuinely surprised by how long it lasted. I went the whole day without retouching it, and it still looked pretty fresh. It’s very comfortable once it’s on and it is like a thick creamy type of texture when you rub your lips together, and overall you don’t feel it on. High pigmentation at its finest. One swipe and you’re done. ColorKillMakeup Matte Lipstick keeps in perfect condition and doesn’t dry out your lips whatsoever.

ColorKill is a super cool Indie lipstick company with the cutest packaging. Color Kill Makeup was so kind to send me their entire line of their Pure Matte Lipstick to review. They work with a chemist who has almost two decades of experience in the color cosmetics industries to create their awesome cosmetics line “Color Kill.”

The illustration on the packaging is so super cute that you’d just have to see it! All the products are 100% vegan, cruelty-free, paraben free and is never tested on animals. The lipstick itself comes in a solid classic black case with staying power. Bright & impactful. Such a glamorous matte finish.

**FTC: This post is not sponsored. No monetary compensation was received for this post, however, products were sent to me. Opinions are 100% my own, of course.

* Disclaimer: Color varies on different skin tones.

Follow them! Color Kill on Instagram  Color Kill on Pinterest  Color Kill on Facebook

$5 Mink Lashes?! — DODO Lashes Review

Hello Beauties, I got sent these beautiful lashes by a brand called Dodo Lashes. They sell 100% handmade cruelty-free mink lashes and the quality is amazing. They have many different styles and they sell them separately or in pairs of 4, 8 or 12. They are very affordable as well, ranging between $5 and $12 with free shipping over $30!

They sent me a bunch of styles including D115 and D105 and I am in love with them. They are 8 – 15 mm long and have a cotton band. You can wear these lashes up to 25 times (!!!) which is amazing as they only cost you $5. The style of these lashes is very classy and would be perfect for brides, prom looks or just an everyday natural beat. These lashes are super soft and lightweight.

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The packaging looks very chic. It’s in an acrylic little box which you can slide the lashes out of on either side. The packaging is very easy to use and it’s perfect to keep storing your lashes in so they stay in perfect condition. The package makes it very easy to travel with in my opinion.

DODOLashes have a very thick band which means it is very easy to apply, and the thicker band ensures the lashes stay intact for a longer time. Plus, you can wear any of the lashes up to 25x with proper care. Overall I am completely satisfied with these lashes.

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You can buy DODOLashes here. You can use my code ( beautyleebar ) to get 5% off your purchase. If you are looking for the cheapest but the best quality in cruelty-free mink lashes, look no farther, your answer is DODOLashes. The code can be applied to anything on the site! I would really suggest giving them a try! You’ll love them as much as I do. 🙂

**FTC: This post is not sponsored. No monetary compensation was received for this post, however, products were sent to me. Opinions are 100% my own, of course.

Stand Your Ground

This is a topic I’ve been wanting to talk about for a while and with recent events in my life, I feel it’s wildly appropriate to touch base on now. I’ve struggled with standing up for myself a few times in my life. It’s strange because I absolutely know my worth, I know what I offer up to people and what I expect to be offered up in return, but still, I sometimes silence myself than make my truth known. I’m one hundred percent a people pleaser, sometimes to a fault, but I don’t think being that way is always a bad thing! Obviously, if you let people walk all over you and never speak up, then you should probably make a few changes, but if you’re putting peoples emotions in consideration and accommodating them, then wanting to please doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

I’ve always been the type to speak my mind and be honest, but sometimes in order to avoid conflict, I’ll stay quiet which over time leads to me carrying so much resentment in. The feeling of resentment drives me sick and can truly be sometimes scary to me. I’ve learned in my twenty-one years that honesty… is the best policy… No matter how uncomfy or scary it may be, holding your feelings in leads to resentment, then frustration with yourself or others, then self-sabotage and the horrifying list literally goes on and on.

I’ve been speaking to my mom about this recently and it shocks me how often we as humans decide to put our feelings aside just to avoid conflict. Trust me, I don’t like conflict and confrontation as much as the next woman but I’ve come to notice how detrimental it can be to the relationship with yourself and others if it’s avoided. A few weeks ago, for example, I was getting breakfast at Dunkin Donuts before heading into work, the woman completely gave me the wrong change and refused to fix it. She tried to say I didn’t give her exact change but it showed I did, I even had the receipt, the manager had to get involve and fix it. The young woman wasn’t nice, she had an attitude from the jump and treated me like I was the dumb one instead of admitting she made a mistake which happens. Yes, that time I spoke up but sometimes I catch myself being quiet. I don’t care if you’re family, friends or a stranger  – I will always speak up no matter what.

As women, we’ve been told that demanding things makes us bossy and annoying so therefore we have to politely ask and hope for the best. NO!!! Demanding doesn’t have to be a bad action if you’re doing it with decisive instruction and polite manners!

Basically, I’m just trying to urge you to be unapologetic for what you want for yourself. If what you want is fair and you’re approaching it in a kind way. You don’t need to apologize for standing your ground or not settling for anything less than what you want, ESPECIALLY if you’re a woman. Don’t let a power trip get to your head but you have every single right to ask for and receive the things you want. We have far too many people trying to silence women and men of all different ages and color, so let’s not succumb to that absurd and prehistoric way of behavior anymore!