February 07, 2019

ROSES GET US GRACE AND HORNY

Words by Jessica Peace

Raindrops on roses and … THAT scene from American Beauty... that New Order cover… that fella who grows loads… These are a few of our favourite (rose tinted) things...

‘I'D RATHER HAVE ROSES ON MY TABLE THAN DIAMONDS ON MY NECK.’ Emma Goldman

We’d also rather slap rose stuff all over bodies, here are our favourite rose potions…

CLEOPATRA COMIN’ AT YA

When she jumped out of her milk bath Cleopatra had her slaves drown her in a rose mist - we’ve found the best 21st Century versions…

LOVING Herbivore’s ‘Rose Hibiscus Hydrating Mist’, comes in a sexy little bottle you can shove in your bag for constant radiance. (£14 - £28 from Space NK)

When we’re after that ‘dewy’, innocent (never gonna happen) glow we reach for Maria Badescu’s ‘Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater’. Use it bare faced or spritz your makeup brush with it - even has us looking angelic. (£12 from Harvey Nichols)

For a ‘super’ serum at a cheaper price we like Dr Organic’s ‘Rose Otto Facial Serum’. (£13.99 from Holland and Barrett) IMAGE IN FILE

ROLL OUT YOUR HEART CHAKRA

Fancy doing beauty 7th Century China style? And opening up your heart chakra? We’ve been firming up our faces and unravelling our chakras with Herbivore’s ‘Rose Quartz Facial Roller’. (£36 from Liberty)

STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES

And make someone stop and smell you - our favourite ways to get rose clean...

For sensitive skins try pai’s ‘Camelia & Rose Cleanser’, it comes with one of those posh cloths too. (£30 from pai)

We like to keep Suma’s ‘Rose & Geranium Soap’ by the sink; it’s cheap, vegan and great for scrubbing that soil from your fingernails. (Around £1.50, we grab ours from Mother Earth in Highbury).

If you prefer a posh bottle, Byredo’s ‘Rose Hand Wash’ is pumped full of rose petals, pink pepper and magnolia. (£8 from BYREDO)

To lather up ALL over (Valentines prep?...) we scrub up in Aesop’s ‘A Rose By Any Other Name Cleanser’; mixed with cardamom and black pepper, you’ll wash up hot, spicy and rose smothered. Mmmmm. (£17 from Aesop)

If you want to do your locks too, use Ouai’s ‘Rose Hair & Body Oil’. (£26 from Space NK)

Feeling wild? WELEDA do a whole ‘Wild Rose’ range. We rely on their ‘Wild Rose Smoothing Eye Cream’ for the morning after AND the night before. (Each product £23.50 from Weleda)

And for WILD kisses we use Korres’ ‘Wild Rose Lip Butter’ - it doesn’t disappoint. (£8 from Big Green Smile)

If you’re into your daily ‘Cleanse, Tone and Moisturise’ stock up on Neals Yard Remedies’ ‘Rehydrating Rose Collection’. (Products start at £16 from Neal’s Yard Remedies)

GRIND THEM PETALS AND HIPS

We can’t resist a drop of plant oil on any old day - but throw in the prospect of a sexy night in (or out, we’re open minded) and rubbing on the rose oil is a MUST.

Made from Damask rose petals and seeds from the baobab tree, you can chuck Dr. Jackson's ‘Baobab and Rose Oil’ in the bath - alone or not, or use to massage - again, alone or not. (£70 from Space NK)

For a rosey bath like the Moroccans do, chuck in Ren’s Moroccan Rose Otto Bath. (£32 from Space NK)

Sukin’s ‘Organic Rosehip Oil’, straight from rose’s hips and onto yours. (£14.29 from Holland and Barrett)

ROSES REALLY SMELL LIKE YOUUUUU

Jo Malone’s ‘Velvet Rose & Oud Perfume’ is black rose magic, even the ingredients list is a turn on, ‘Damask rose… smoky oud... spiked with clove…’ (£120.00 per 100ml from Jo Malone)

Byredo’s ‘Rose Of No Man’s Land’ recognises the nurses named ‘the roses of no man’s land’ by the soldiers they rescued on the frontlines of WW1, beautiful in scent and sentiment. (£160 from BYREDO)

COMING UP ROSES

Your vases are stuffed with them, you’ve rolled your self in them, now get the atmos with Diptyque’s scented candles. There’s a new ‘Rose’ collection; or if you’re into your English Country Garden vibe light their ‘Roses’ candle; or if you’re cranking the sexy up go for ‘Tubereuse’. (Prices start around £27 from Space NK)

THE ROSE DADDY

David Austin is the English Rose Daddy.

In the 1950’s Dave started breeding roses just as hobby and didn’t stop breeding and creating some of of favourite blooms until his death last year. Our Hero.