Rosehip Seed Oil: Boost Collagen Production and Fade Scars

Rosehip oil is one of the best carrier oils to start with if you're new to using face oils. Rosehip oil skin benefits are numerous, and you can use it on your face, body, and even hair. It's suitable for all skin types and it's one of my favourite oils for so many reasons. It got me started down the face oil pathway (spoiler alert: face oils are amazing). 

Rosehip face oil is among the best and if you're just getting started, check out our beginner's face oil guide for more general information. 

Some History

The rose plant has been around for eons. The oldest known evidence of the existence of roses dates to the Eocene epoch ~50 million years ago!

Roses are a woody perennial plant with over 300 species, global distribution, and a near-infinite number of ornamental varieties. Because of their beauty, fragrance, and their very sharp prickly thorns, roses have gained significance in many cultures from the standpoints of mysticism, folklore, art, romanticism, and symbology. In addition, roses have gained commercial relevance in the perfume and cosmetics industries and the food industry, i.e., rosehip tea, rose water, and rose syrup.   

The rosehip is the fruit of the rose plant and resembles a berry. Most rosehips are red, though some can be dark purple or even black. They are fleshy and contain multiple seeds held together by many fine, stiff hairs. From a nutritional and medicinal standpoint, the rosehip is very high in Vitamin C.

What is Rosehip Oil and How is it Made? 

The terms rosehip oil and rosehip seed oil are synonymous. The oil is usually produced from the Rosa Canina bush variety from Chile.

Rosehip face oil is best extracted using the cold pressing process. The absence of chemicals and heat during the extraction process ensures that the delicate phytochemicals are preserved.

In contrast to rosehip seed oil, rose water and rose oil are created using the petals/flowers. Dried rosehip fruit can be used directly in teas and ground up as an extract powder. Other extraction methods exist, i.e., in the production of essential oils.  

What Does Rosehip Oil Contain?

Rosehip seed oil is a powerhouse of phytochemicals and phytonutrients. What does this mean? It means that many substances have been isolated in measurable quantities and subsequently linked to potential benefits of rosehip oil. The benefits of these chemicals are sometimes widely understood, but many are anti-inflammatory and antioxidant chemicals.

The fatty acid composition is mostly polyunsaturated. Rosehip seeds are very high in linoleic acid (54%) and linolenic acid (19%). In addition, there was a very high measured level of beta-sitosterol and other sterols, which are most valuable from a nutritional standpoint.

In one analysis, rosehip seeds had more polyphenols than pomegranate seeds and more ascorbic acid than citrus fruits. The antioxidant capacity of rosehip seed oil was higher than grapeseed oil and vegetable oils corn, olive, and sunflower.

Levels of oil soluble antioxidants like carotenoids (Pro-Vitamin A) and tocopherols (Vitamin E) are also very high. These properties are what makes rosehip oil for the face one of the best for anti aging skin care.

What are the Benefits of Rosehip Oil for the Face?

If you're going to use rosehip oil on your face, the combination of fatty acids, phospholipids, sterols, polyphenols, and Vitamins E, and A should result in:

So how long until you see results from rosehip oil? Generally, consistent use over a number of months is needed to see results from any skincare product. Even retinoids can take up to a year of use before full effects are reached. When it comes to nourishing, natural oils like rosehip, you will notice rapid improvements in softness, moisturization and texture. Barrier repair often takes a few weeks. 

This all means that Rosa canina for skin care is a must try!

Does Rosehip Oil Clog Pores?

Rosehip seed oil is very unlikely to clog pores or make acne worse. It is considered a dry oil and scores a one on the comedogenicity scale. This means rosehip oil is non-comedogenic and won't clog pores.

The main reason is due to the high levels of linoleic acid. In addition to the vitamin A and anti-inflammatory effects, those who use rosehip oil on their face may actually see improvements in their acne breakouts as their sebum levels become more regulated. Users are also likely to see improvements in the appearance of superficial acne scarring and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.  

Can You Use Rosehip Oil on Your Hair?

Yes!

All the same phytonutrients that make rosehip oil an excellent facial oil also make it good for your hair and scalp. Even your hair follicles will love it!

There are 2 approaches you can take. Either use a small amount and massage it into your scalp and comb through. This will ease itch and improve moisturization and shine. It shouldn't leave a greasy look.  The second method is to use a larger amount, massage, comb through, and put a shower cap on for 30-60 minutes. After that, wash it off with a gentle shampoo. 

Is Rosehip Face Oil Safe? 

Using rosehip seed oil on your skin is safe for most users. However, allergies and sensitization can occur. Patch testing over several days is recommended if you have sensitive skin.

It is unscented and unlikely to be a skin irritant as a carrier oil. Use caution with the essential oil. It carries a much higher percentage of aromatic volatiles, which are more likely to irritate if used at high concentrations.

What about using rosehip oil on face while breastfeeding? 

There is no reason to believe topical rosehip oil use would have any risk in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Ask your doctor if you're worried, but know that these types of fears have been perpetuated by fear-based marketing targeting child-bearing women.

What Is The Environmental Impact of Rosehip Oil Production? 

Little is published about the environmental and humanitarian considerations for the rosehip agroindustry. It is not linked to problematic deforestation or reduction in biodiversity. The predominant source for commercial rosehip oil production is in Chile. There is a risk of exploitation of local farmworkers. The rosehip carrier oil we use in our products is certified organic by the NOP.  

DIY Rosehip Face Oil Recipe 

I started in the DIY world and want everyone to know it's easy. Buying organic, cold-pressed, 100% Rosehip Seed Oil is all you need to get started.

Please do not spend a fortune.

Some ultra-luxury brands farm, harvest and extract their own oils. This 'farm to face' approach is admirable. Their product is likely exceptional. However, carrier oils are not highly active substances. So, although beneficial for your skin, you probably won't see noticeably different results if you try different versions of the same oil. 

For DIY products, I recommend a four-oil approach. This allows you to fine-tune it easily, so it's tailored to your skin and your preferences. Then, if you make 100ml at a time, the math is easy. 

Here is a great face oil recipe to get you started if you want to try DIY rosehip face oil at home:

I could find justification to include rosehip oil in every bareLUXE face oil. However, I narrowed it down and you can find this as a prominent ingredient in both our rescue oil for dry skin as well as our anti-aging Bakuchiol serum. Enjoy!

Sources

• Phetcharat L, Wongsuphasawat K, Winther K. The effectiveness of a standardized rose hip powder, containing seeds and shells of Rosa canina, on cell longevity, skin wrinkles, moisture, and elasticity. Clin Interv Aging. 2015;10:1849-56.
• Valerón-Almazán P, Gómez-Duaso AJ, Santana-Molina N, García-Bello MA, Carretero G. Evolution of post-surgical scars treated with pure rosehip seed oil. Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications. 2015;05(02):161-167.
• Huri Ilyasoğlu (2014) Characterization of Rosehip (Rosa canina L.) Seed and Seed Oil, International Journal of Food Properties, 17:7, 1591-1598,
• Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL. Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;19(1):70. Published 2017 Dec 27.
• Chrubasik C, Roufogalis BD, Müller-Ladner U, Chrubasik S. A systematic review on the Rosa canina effect and efficacy profiles. Phytother Res. 2008 Jun;22(6):725-33. doi: 10.1002/ptr.2400.
• Ottaviani M, Camera E, Picardo M. Lipid mediators in acne. Mediators Inflamm. 2010;2010:858176. doi:10.1155/2010/858176
• Mármol I, Sánchez-de-Diego C, Jiménez-Moreno N, Ancín-Azpilicueta C, Rodríguez-Yoldi MJ. Therapeutic applications of rose hips from different rosa species. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(6):1137.
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose