The Hidden Ingredient You Rarely Question
When you apply skincare, you focus on the hero ingredients — vitamin B5, hyaluronic acid, botanical extracts. But there’s one ingredient that quietly makes up the majority of most formulas, yet is rarely discussed: water.
In conventional skincare, purified water can account for up to 70–80% of a product. It gives formulas their texture and helps dissolve ingredients — but beyond that, it offers very little to the skin.
At House of Immortelle, we asked a simple question:
What if the base of skincare could do more?
That question led us to formulate with botanical hydrosols instead of plain water — a decision rooted in tradition, plant science, and skin biology.
What Is a Hydrosol?
Hydrosols are created through steam distillation, an age‑old method used to extract essential oils from plants. During this process, steam passes through fresh botanical material, gently drawing out water‑soluble plant compounds.
When the steam cools, it separates into two parts:
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Essential oil (oil‑soluble components)
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Aromatic botanical water — known as a hydrosol
Unlike purified water, hydrosols naturally contain:
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Water‑soluble phytoactives
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Trace aromatic molecules
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Naturally occurring antioxidants
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Calming and balancing plant compounds
This makes hydrosols active botanical waters, NOT inactive fillers.
Plain Water vs Hydrosol: A Fundamental Difference
Plain water serves a functional purpose — it hydrates temporarily and acts as a carrier. Once it evaporates, it leaves little behind.
Hydrosols, on the other hand, offer hydration with intention.
Because they retain beneficial plant compounds, hydrosols continue working on the skin, supporting comfort, balance, and overall skin health.
Think of it this way:
Plain water wets the skin. Hydrosol supports it.
The Skin Science Behind Using Hydrosols
1. Skin‑Compatible pH
Hydrosols typically have a pH closer to healthy skin, helping maintain the skin’s natural acid mantle. This supports the skin barrier and reduces the likelihood of irritation — particularly important for dehydrated and sensitive skin.
2. Naturally Soothing Action
Many hydrosols, including rose, contain anti‑inflammatory plant compounds that help calm visible redness, ease discomfort, and support stressed skin.
3. Antioxidant Protection
Hydrosols retain water‑soluble antioxidants that help protect the skin from environmental stressors such as pollution and oxidative damage — key contributors to premature ageing.
4. Active Performance From the First Drop
When the base of a formula is active, the skin begins receiving benefits immediately — before additional hero ingredients even come into play.
Why We Chose Rose Hydrosol
Rose hydrosol has been cherished in skincare rituals for centuries. Beyond its delicate aroma, it offers impressive skin benefits.
Rose hydrosol is known to:
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Hydrate without heaviness
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Soothe and comfort sensitive skin
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Help balance the skin’s natural moisture levels
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Support a radiant, healthy‑looking complexion
By using rose hydrosol instead of plain water, we ensure that hydration is paired with gentle botanical care — especially beneficial for dehydrated, dull, or reactive skin.
Replacing Water With Purpose
In most skincare formulas, water is simply a necessity. In ours, the base is a deliberate design choice.
By replacing plain water with hydrosol, we transform the largest percentage of the formula into something meaningful — an ingredient that actively contributes to skin wellbeing.
This reflects our philosophy:
Every ingredient should earn its place.
Hydration That Begins at the Foundation
Skincare effectiveness doesn’t start with the most expensive active — it starts with the base.
By formulating with botanical hydrosols instead of plain water, we create products that:
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Deliver hydration with function
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Support the skin barrier
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Respect the skin’s natural balance
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Provide botanical benefits from the very first drop
Because when the foundation is thoughtful, everything else performs better.
Discover hydration with purpose — powered by botanical hydrosols.