A new category of beauty products has quietly cropped up over the past few years: spritz-on beauty waters. The traditional gold standard is, of course, the Evian mineral water spray, beloved at fancy Caribbean resorts and by Lauren’s mom.
Beauty companies seem to be moving away from more scientific sounding names for their potions in favor of calling them simply “water” or “mist.” Water conjures up images of rippling ponds and purity. (Well, at least it used to before the BP oil spill.)
These products claim a variety of benefits, from refreshment and hydration to purifying and toning. They appear to be the gentle little sisters of traditional toners and astringents.
I asked Dr. Elizabeth Hale, a dermatologist at the prestigious Laser and Skin Surgery Center of New York, for her professional opinion about this product category. She told me that traditionally, toners contain alcohol, water, and a humectant.
Humectants help to retain moisture and improve hydration. Alcohol, which includes witch hazel, can be drying. While she was skeptical that these products do much more than refresh and soothe the skin, those with humectants (like rosewater or grape water) or antioxidants like vitamins C and E can have some benefits.
So enough of this clinical talk. You should know this is definitely a luxury category. I looked through some local drugstore chains and there were no equivalent yet less expensive versions.
The most important question: Do they make you pretty? Using NYC’s recent heat wave as an excuse, I sampled and spritzed to my heart’s content.
Click through for the best ones.
Tags: Caudalie, Evian, Fresh, Jurlique, Skyn Iceland
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Why does 'alcohol' include witch hazel? I'm just wondering because I buy alcohol free witch hazel and instead of being drying its actually moisturizing and is one of the very few things I can use on my dry and very sensitive skin. Before I started using it my skin was tight, painful, and peeling off but now its fine. On the other hand, alcohol makes my face sting like crazy, burn really bad, and turn bright red. If I use alcohol daily it gets more and more painful and I break out whereas witch hazel calms my skin. So what is the reasoning behind including them under the same group?
The doctor needs to read The Beauty Brains. http://thebeautybrains.com/ Antioxidants can't be absorbed by the skin, most are too big to be able to penetrate the pores. The only way to get their benefits is by consuming them.
Same with water. Spraying it on yourself on a hot day is refreshing. But you hydrate better if you actually drink it.
Actually, water is the only molecule which can be absorbed by the skin. However totally agree – just drink it. So much better for you
I drink a ton of water, but I actually enjoy the rosewater one by the Body Shop.
They are both astringents, though alcohol is harsher.
She was “skeptical that they do much more than hydrate and refresh”. The enthusiasm for the category is mine alone. And yes, drinking water is of course the best way to hydrate, in the clinical sense of the term. This is a fluffy and fun product. Like many beauty products, I suspect there's a placebo quality to it. They felt good on my skin!
There seems to be an increasing amount of spam coming through on the site.
Hard to resist those beautifully packaged useless things.
Avene (NOT Aveeno) Thermal Water spray deserves a place on this list. It's a French company, and it isn't your run of the mill spray water. It's thermal water, which has been used for its benefits to your skin and health since the days of Britannia and Caledonia.
I was skeptical on whether it would actually do anything (but refresh my skin on hot days) but I definitely see a difference. My skin was never good until I started using an Avene regimen and now I can revel in the compliments I get on my complexion. As a guy, my favorite use for it is a spritz after I shave. Prevents the razor bump which always plagued me and cools better than any after-lotion. It's one of the recommended uses, so I'm sure the ladies would appreciate that effect too.
I got a free bottle of Shu Uemura's depsea water facial mist in a gift bag once.
I don't really think it does much, but it smells great and on a hot, sticky day does feel very refreshing on the face. I have the Bergamot scent. It's really nice.
Yes, we have more traffic/visibility, which means more spam! Sucks!
Actually I have been alternating between Avene and Vichy for years but I spray it on after my moisturizer and before my foundation to make my foundation go on smoother and give a lighter coverage.