What is "Mentha Piperita Flower/Leaf/Stem Water" and what is its use?

Peppermint is a herbaceous plant, obtained after the spontaneous hybridisation of watermint and spearmint. With a rather invasive cultivation, it propagates through its vigorous underground rhizomes.In history, mint is inscribed in Greek mythology. According to legend, Hades, God of the underworld and darkness, fell in love with the river nymph, Mintha, and made her his mistress. Hades' wife, out of jealousy, trampled Mintha with her heel and transformed her into mint. Moreover, this plant is an integral part of many ancient rites; for example, it was used in black magic to alleviate fevers.

Thepeppermint hydrosol is obtained by hydrodistillation. This technique allows for the extraction of two distinct fractions: theessential oil and thehydrosol. Derived from the same plant, these two compounds have similar properties, but the hydrosol is less concentrated in active species because the aromatic essences are present in smaller quantities. Therefore, it can generally be used without contraindications by children and pregnant women, unlike the essential oil.

Note : some peppermint hydrosols may contain a significant amount of terpenic ketones (menthone) and should therefore not be used by pregnant and breastfeeding womenas well as children under 3 years old.

When applied to the skin, the'peppermint hydrosol has a purifying and astringent effect. Due to its slightly acidic pH, it visibly tightens the pores.It also stimulates blood circulation, making it effective against diffuse redness or to soothe razor and hair removal burns. Moreover, its immediate cooling effect relieves sunburn and reduces feelings of discomfort. Thanks to its purifying properties, it is also recommended for problematic skin and reduces blemishes.Thus, peppermint hydrosol is suitable for all skin types, particularly combination to oily skin, with enlarged pores and/or blemishes.