Gail's Garden at Heartsease Cottage

Elderflower water with elder bushes in the background

Elderflower water is an old-time cure said to treat acne, fade freckles, and reduce wrinkles. It's used to keep the complexion fresh and youthful. While I'm not sure that it will aid acne and freckles, I do believe it helps keep one's complexion hydrated and youthful, minimizing wrinkles to some degree.

Each Summer when the elders in the Kitchen Garden bloom I make a batch of elderflower water to last, hopefully, all year long. When the water is ready I place some in a spritzer bottle to moisten my skin before applying a moisturizer. The rest of the water is kept in the refrigerator until needed to refill the spritzer.

On hot Summer days I'll chill the elderflower spritzer bottle in the fridge for a cold refreshing mist for face and neck. Ahhh...

You can use whatever variety of elderflowers you have or can gather, ascertaining first that the flowers have not been sprayed with insecticides or herbicides. Few pests seem to attack elder bushes and generally they don't need any kind of spraying.

You can also keep the water in a pretty bottle and apply it with a cotton ball.

I've gathered pink elderflowers to make a soothing elderflower water.

Recipe: Elderflower Water (this recipe can be doubled, tripled, etc.)

2 cups distilled water

1 cup fresh elderflower sprays, rinsed, drained, and firmly packed

1/2 cup witch hazel

4 TBS vodka (to help preserve the mixture)

After gathering the elderflower sprays, dip them lightly and quickly into a bowl of water to remove dust and any insects.

Dip the flower sprays into a bowl of water, then allow them to drain on a towel for a few minutes.

Next, add all the ingredients to a quart-size Mason jar adding a bit more distilled water, if needed, to cover the flowers. Let macerate (soak) for one to two weeks.

The elderflowers will macerate in the mixture for a week or two in a dark pantry or cupboard.

Strain out and discard the spent flowers and bottle the water.

Apply the water to refresh your skin in the morning before application of moisturizer, to cool skin on hot days, and apply a liberal spritz followed by your nighttime moisturizer before bed. Used faithfully for several months, I am certain that you will see an improvement in the texture of your skin, a tightening of pores, and a gradual reduction of fine facial lines.

You can also dampen cotton pads with elderflower water - squeezing any excess back into the jar - and apply the pads to closed eyelids to refresh tired and puffy eyes. Be careful not to get any in your eyes. This is an external application, only. Then, lay back, relax, and listen to some music while your eyes rest and revive.

Black lace elderberries - with burgundy foliage - bear pink flowers for making elderflower water with a pink tinge.