Make: Creamy Rose Facial Cleansing Grains

A face wash made out of rose petals? That’s serious flower power…

This post comes from our friend Abbye Churchill — artist, herbalist and co-author of A Wilder Life.

A hydrating, deeply cleaning face wash made out of rose petals? That’s serious flower power. I keep a little jar of this face wash by my sink as my before-bed go-to to gently slough off dead skin while cleansing the face. It is gentle enough for everyday use and safe for sensitive skin thanks to deeply restorative, food-grade ingredients.

Milk powder gives this face wash its creaminess while the lactic acid it contains helps to exfoliate the skin. The nourishing oats contain polysaccharides that give this cleanser its fluffy texture and help to relieve dry skin (Aveeno anyone?). Ground almonds help to gently exfoliate the skin while rose petals provide soothing antioxidants and moisture. Finally, white Montmorillonite clay draws out skin impurities and toxins to deeply cleanse the skin. Once all your ingredients are combined, achieving glowing skin couldn’t be easier: just add water.

To make one jar of Creamy Rose Facial Cleansing Grains:

2 tbsp Montmorillonite clay

2 tbsp powdered milk

2 tbsp rose petals, ground

2 tbsp oats, ground

1 tbsp almond flour

mortar and pestle, or coffee grinder

airtight jar

mixing bowl

whisk

Prepare your ingredients by grinding the rose petals and oats in a coffee grinder or mortar and pestle. If choosing the coffee grinder, make sure it is one you are designating to herbs, not one you will use for coffee or else your coffee will forever smell like roses.

Whisk together clay, powdered milk, ground rose petals, ground oats and almond flour in a bowl.

Transfer mixture to an airtight container. This should be shelf-stable for up to one year (though you’ll likely go through it much faster).

To use: add powder to the palm of your hand or small dish and mix with water until the face wash reaches a creamy consistency. Massage into the face in circular motions and rinse off. Follow with toner and moisturizer.

Photography by Erika Dufour.