This Rose Inspired Skincare Set Left My Skin Soft and Radiant

Rich in a variety of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants the rose has been used in beauty preparations since the dawn of history. We were recently sent a modern interpretation by Aromatica to try and it literally blew my mind.

As one of the clean beauty and sustainable lifestyle pioneers in South Korea, Aromatica is a brand that needs little introduction. Started in 2004 by one of Korea’s first aromatherapists, Aromatica’s products are inspired by the healing power of essential oils and focuses on clean and sustainably sourced ingredients and packaging.

I was recently sent (full disclosure) a set of 4 products from their Reviving Rose series to try out. The series consisted of the Reviving Rose Infusion Cream Cleanser, Treatment Toner, Serum and Cream. All of the products feature Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, more commonly known as the Damask Rose.

What Is Damask Rose

Chances are you’ve already used Damask Rose in some way, shape or form. Known by many names such as the Bulgarian Rose, Turkish Rose and Taif Rose, just to name a few, it was first cultivated in Damascus over a thousand years ago. First brought to Europe from Syria by the Christian crusaders, it has since become a staple in many rose water and essential oil products, finding use in cosmetics, skincare, perfumery and aromatherapy.

Its gently sweet and floral scent makes it popular in perfumery and aromatherapy where it is believed to help relieve anxiety and depression. In skincare, it is recognised for its refreshing, astringent - its ability to tighten pores - and soothing properties. Also a natural anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial, Damask Rose is well known for its toning and brightening effects making it a highly recommended ingredient for mature skin.

Rich in antioxidants, Damask Rose Extract can help protect your skin against free radical damage, UV damage, pollution and other environmental stressors. These same antioxidants also have an anti-ageing effect that reduces the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles. The soothing effects of Damask Rose Water or Oil also makes it an effective natural treatment for skin conditions like Rosacea and Eczema.

With so many exciting skin benefits, I was looking forward to trying the entire Reviving Rose Infusion skincare routine from Aromatica. Read on for my first impressions.

Reviving Rose Infusion Cream Cleanser

The Reviving Rose Infusion Cream Cleanser is a vegan foam cleanser that has a texture that feels a little less dense than most premium foam cleansers that I’ve tested. The lather isn’t as rich as the Flesette Visible Repair Creamy Clear Cleanser but still, it lathered easily into a nice smooth and fine foam that felt really comforting on my skin and worked welll in removing makeup.

What immediately struck me though, was the wonderful sweet, floral scent that gave this cleanser a touch of luxury. The scent was finely calibrated and calmed and soothed my nerves, elevating my entire cleansing routine. The rinse off was easy and, after a quick pat dry, left my skin feeling soft and supple, without any feeling of tightness or dryness, and a lingering scent that I absolutely love!

This cleanser is suitable for vegans and also cruelty-free. In addition to Damask Rose, this cleanser also contains marigold and aloe vera, that keeps your skin moisturised and promotes a healthy moisture barrier, and a Superberry complex that includes extracts of Raspberry, Elderberry and Indian Gooseberry that nourishes and promotes skin elasticity. 

Reviving Rose Infusion Treatment Toner

I was probably looking forward to trying the Reviving Rose Infusion Treatment Toner the most out of the 4 products I got as I had heard a lot of good things about it. The toner came in a glass bottle with a screw cap and packaged in an understated, brown, untreated cardboard box. In fact all of the Reviving Rose products, except for the cleanser, came in similar packaging as part of Aromatica’s effort to use recyclable materials and cut down on plastic waste.

The Reviving Rose Infusion Treatment Toner is a bi-phase toner and you will need to mix the water and oil layers by shaking the bottle before use. You can see the two layers, white and pink, and once mixed, it combines to form a light milky pink liquid that looks a lot like strawberry milk. Like the cleanser, it had the light sweet, floral scent of Damask Rose that’s the signature of Aromatica’s Reviving Rose line.

I was not disappointed by this toner, it is very good… no, actually, it is awesome! Not only is it hydrating, it also contains Lecithin, Ceramides and moisturising Moringa Oil that help keep your skin plump and healthy. It felt richer than expected given its watery texture, and despite the additional oil layer in this toner, it did not feel greasy on my skin nor did it leave any sticky residue. 

I’ve been using this toner for nearly a month now and would recommend it to anyone with dry, combination or normal skin. It could also work with oily skin depending on the climate or environment that you spend most of your time in such as air conditioned offices or malls. If you have oily skin and are more exposed daily to the tropical climate here in Singapore, then this toner might not be for you.

Reviving Rose Infusion Serum

Next up was the serum. It was similarly packaged in a simple cardboard box and glass bottle but came with a dropper this time. What surprised me most was the size of the bottle. Most serums come in 30ml vials but this serum came in a 100ml bottle which is significantly larger. The same signature rose scent, that I have come to love and expect, was also present with this serum.

The serum has a silky texture that is a little more watery than what most of us would come to expect from a serum. Despite its light pink hue, it is actually colourless once applied and was absorbed quickly without feeling sticky. The scent was elegant and faded quickly as my skin absorbed the serum leaving behind a mild lingering scent that was quite pleasant.

My skin immediately looked more radiant after the first application, albeit temporarily, but I did notice more long standing results after 2 weeks of use. My skin felt better hydrated and appeared brighter and firmer while fine lines around my eyes and brows appeared a little more faint. Overall, my skin felt softer to touch as well.

To my skin, this felt like a lightweight serum that isn’t too rich which made it an ideal serum to incorporate into my morning skincare routine. I imagine that this would also be the perfect serum for those with oily complexions or for those who spend prolonged periods out in Singapore’s humid climate. The generous bottle allowed me to be… well, generous with it during application and I think this is an easy serum for most of us to incorporate into our routine.

Reviving Rose Infusion Cream

The final step in this 4-step skincare regimen is the Reviving Rose Infusion Cream. Spotting the same signature rose scent as the rest of the products in the Reviving Rose line. In addition to moisturising and protecting your skin, this cream improves skin elasticity, plumping and firming your skin for a more youthful appearance.

It’s formulated with Damask Rose Oil and a blend of botanical oils and extracts like Babassu Oil, Meadowfoam, Shea Butter, Jojoba, Raspberry, Aloe Vera, Argan Oil, Damson Plum, Chinaberry and even Acai Berries. Honestly, there’s simply too many to list as this cream’s ingredient list goes on and on and is one of the longest I’ve ever come across! So those with sensitive skin might want to read the ingredients list fully before giving it a go.

The cream has a relatively light texture given how rich and moisturising it is making it perfect for the humid weather here in Singapore. A thin layer worked perfectly for me in my morning routine but I particularly liked using a thicker layer in combination with the serum in my evening routines.

Not only did I wake up the next morning with softer and smoother skin but I loved how the relaxing rose scent gently ushered me to dreamland.

This is a really good moisturising cream that I think can be suitable for any skin type but you will need to adjust how thickly or thinly you apply it. The moisturisation effect was really good and my skin looked and felt visibly firmer and smoother. Applied thinly, it makes an excellent moisturiser for your morning routine but those with oily complexions might find it a tad bit rich.

Final Thoughts

What I really like about Aromatica’s products is that although all its products are clean, vegan and sustainably sourced, it isn’t a hundred percent natural. Around half the ingredients used are organic and almost 95% of the ingredients used are naturally derived and this is what sets Aromatica’s products apart from other clean beauty brands and products. 

You tend to lose a little in efficacy if you strictly adhere to a 100% natural with no active ingredients derived in a laboratory as there are some limitations to what naturally derived ingredients can do. What Aromatica has done is to strike the right balance between performance and the desire to use only natural ingredients. That being said, even the synthetic ingredients used in Aromatica’s products are EWG-Green and non-polluting.

The Reviving Rose line is a great example of how performance and clean and sustainable beauty come together to deliver awesome products that don’t compromise on quality and results. The Reviving Rose Infusion Cream Cleansers and Treatment Toner are definite “must tries” regardless of your skin type or concern while the Reviving Rose Infusion Serum and Cream will work for most skin types and conditions and are definitely giving a try.