A lot of people see oils as the black sheep of skincare, but that view is not truly justified. It’s all about balance - knowing and understanding the ingredients that you decide to put on your face, and that definitely applies to oils as well.
Today’s example, rosehip oil, is one of the “good oils” that have the potential to nourish your skin in many ways. The plant carries a lot of beneficial nutrients which you can use in many ways.
In this article, we’ll explore what makes rosehip oil a great addition to your skincare regimen, and answer your most burning questions - can rosehip oil help you battle acne and acne scarring?
We’ll list down all the benefits associated with rosehip oil and all the ways you can use it to get those benefits.
Keep on reading and strengthen your abilities to successfully fight off common skin problems with the powerful rosehip oil. If you are unsure how you can effectively incorporate it in your daily skincare regimen, we have you covered!
Overview Of Rosehip Oil For Skin
Rosehip oil is a seed pressed oil extracted from the seeds of the wild rose bush. It’s widely used in skincare products because anecdotal evidence suggests it is very effective in healing scar tissue, but there’s not much scientific evidence to back up these claims.
Why Do People Believe Rosehip Oil Is Good For The Skin?
Rosehip oil is high in the essential fatty acids: linoleic acid (omega-6) and linolenic acid (omega-3). Both nutrients play a crucial role in overall health, as well as, maintaining the normal functioning of the skin and its appearance.
Omegas essential fatty acids influence the inflammatory response of the skin, especially when applied topically. There’s some evidence that suggests ingested essential fatty acids are oxidized by the liver before they get the chance to reach the skin’s tissue. This is why topical application of ETA’s (essential fatty acids), for example by using rosehip oil for skin, is considered most effective.
What will ETA’s do once they reach the skin’s tissues? Well, they can protect the skin by restoring the function of the skin barrier, reduce scaling, lessen UV-induced photodamage, and diminish the symptoms of aging.
What’s most impressive is that rosehip oil contains by far higher concentrations of beneficial ETA’s compared to avocado, argan oil, castor oil, emu oil or even coconut oil, all of which are considered wonderful natural ingredients for the skin.
Aside from the essential fatty acids, rosehip oil contains a bounty of nutrients including vitamins A, C, and E, carotenoids, flavonoids, and trans-retinoic acid.
But, what does all of this mean? What is rosehip oil good for and how can you use it?
Let’s see.
Is Rosehip Oil Good For Oily And Acne-Prone Skin?
The short answer to this question is - yes! Even though it’s oil and you might think that greasy products are the last thing you want to bring near your already shiny and oily skin, not everything works as it looks to us.
How can this be? Rosehip oil is loaded in both polyphenols and anthocyanin, which help reduce inflammation. Also, because it contains antioxidative vitamins like vitamin E, rosehip oil can calm irritation, redness, and soothe inflamed skin. This is great for oily and acne-prone skin because it will reduce acne symptoms from current breakouts.
And, the exfoliating properties of the Vitamin A and C present in rosehip oil will make sure your skin stays clean and clear and your pores unclogged.
To sum up: Not only is rosehip oil good for acne-prone skin, but it’s also recommended as one of the best natural treatments against excess oil, acne, and acne scars.
How Can Rosehip Oil Help Reduce Scars?
As we mentioned earlier, rosehip oil is widely used in many skincare treatments and products because people believe in its effectiveness to help heal and reduce scar tissue.
And, we know what you must be thinking - isn’t all that just some old wives tale?
Without a lot of heavy scientific studies to support these claims, you are free to choose what you believe in.
The truth is there are a lot of people swearing by rosehip oil, and having in mind its composition one can easily see how this might be true.
The high concentration of essential fatty acids in the oil promotes tissue regeneration, which can help the skin heal more efficiently. Additionally, its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties can prevent oxidative damage and help the skin rebuild collagen. Collagen is key in maintaining the skin’s elasticity and preventing scars, wrinkles, fine lines, stretch marks and other skin imperfections.
Because rosehip oil is so good for oily and acne-prone skin, it’s a good idea to start using it regularly while you are facing breakouts. This way the chances that your breakouts will leave a scar will drop significantly, since the oil influences the skin while it is still healing. However, the oil probably won’t work if the scar tissue is old and the skin has already healed.
At the end of the day, there’s no harm in trying it and seeing for yourself. Your skin can only benefit.
Rosehip Oil Benefits For Skin
Rosehip oil is a multipurpose product that can help you with many skin concerns that are troubling you on a daily basis, and even more, it can help you finally get the flawless skin you’re dreaming of.
Aside from fighting acne and scars, these are the other benefits of rosehip oil when using topically for skin:
Rosehip Oil Is A Wonderful Moisturizer
Some people argue that rosehip oil is one of the most frequent and often main ingredients in many moisturizers. This is because of the powerful fatty acids, which provide great nourishment for the skin. If you’re searching for a natural alternative to your moisturizer then rosehip oil would be a top choice. With regular use, your skin will get a healthy glow and look younger.
Rosehip Oil Has Powerful Anti-Aging Properties
Wrinkles, fine lines, discoloration, brown spots, saggy skin, and dryness are all a natural part of aging skin. The composition of rosehip oil is effective in battling all these symptoms. The powerful nutrients hydrate and repair damaged skin, but what’s maybe most important of all is that they can also help even out your skin tone and reduce hyperpigmentation. And, here’s how this happens.
Rosehip Oil Treats Wrinkles
Wrinkles are a type of scar tissue that appears because the skin gets drier and duller, it cracks and breaks. Technically, we “break” and damage the skin’s tissue on a daily basis but when we are young the repair process is more effective, while as we get older this becomes a harder job followed with more mistakes. The result - tiny scars like wrinkles and fine lines appear.
We already explained how rosehip oils fights scars by promoting the production of collagen, and it works in two ways. First, it makes skin repair more effective, and second, it maintains the skin’s elasticity preventing wrinkles from appearing.
Rosehip Oil Helps Even Out Skin Tone
When the melanin production in our bodies increases it sometimes can lead to brown spots or patches on the skin. What triggers excess melanin production? Well, sun exposure is one really big factor. Other reasons might include hormonal changes, drugs, or age-related changes in the body.
Vitamin A is often linked with the ability to reduce hyperpigmentation, dark spots and other age-related signs. To be more specific, the compounds called retinoids found in Vitamin A are responsible for this effect. And, we know that rosehip oil is filled with Vitamin A.
There’re a number of studies that back-up the effect of rosehip on depigmentation, but they are all done on animal subjects.
Rosehip Oil Can Tighten The Skin
To really help you understand how rosehip oils tighten the skin, we need to go back to collagen. Collagen is key in maintaining the skin’s elasticity, and the more your skin is elastic the tighter it will appear since it won't sag but rather go back to its place.
Loose skin is related to age because our body makes less collagen as we grow old.
And, here comes rosehip oil to the rescue.
Rich in vitamins A and C, rosehip will provide all the essential nutrient necessary for collagen production and will also prevent collagen from breaking down. One study showed that rosehip inhibits the creation of MMP-1, which is an enzyme that breaks down collagen in the body.
Rosehip Oil Can Brighten The Skin
This effect comes logically since we have established that rosehip is really good at treating dark spots and evening out skin tone. But, the powerful antioxidative vitamins (Vitamin A and C) can also improve your complexion by boosting overall radiance. The astringent properties of the oil will tighten your pores and also assist in brightening your skin.
Side-Effects Of Using Rosehip Oil For The Skin
Rosehip oil is considered really safe for the skin and is recommended for all skin types. Yet rarely, there are still cases when someone might show an allergic reaction to rosehip oil.
If you have used rosehip in any form in the past, you are almost certainly not allergic to rosehip oil. But, if you have never used it before the safest way to go is to do a patch test first.
Test how your skin is going to react on the oil. Check for any signs of an allergic reaction: redness, rash, itching, nausea or vomiting. If you start to experience any of these symptoms call your doctor.
How To Use Rosehip Oil In Your Everyday Skincare Routine?
There are many ways in which you can incorporate rosehip oil in your daily skincare routine without even changing anything. Here’s what you can do:
Rosehip As A Face Oil
This procedure is probably the simplest one of them all. Just apply a few drops of the oil directly on the skin and rub gently all over the face.
When to use?
In the morning after cleansing your face and/or at night before bed.
Facial Massage With Rosehip Oil
Rosehip oil is one hell of an ingredient you can use for a facial massage. Every bit of your skin will thank you and your face will glow.
How and when?
Whenever you feel the need - it can be a few times a week or even daily. You can have someone massage you or you can massage your face yourself. Just apply a few drops of the oil directly on the skin and use your fingers or a massager, if you have one.
Spot Treatment With Rosehip Oil
This procedure is the best option for everyone who wants to use rosehip oil to fight acne scars, stretch marks, wrinkles, or other specific skin imperfections. Instead of rubbing it on your whole face, apply a few drops of the oil on the specific area and wait for the oil to absorb in the skin’s tissue. Don’t wash off. You can repeat this procedure on a daily basis.
Rosehip Oil As A Night Facial Cream
For all fans of overnight treatments, here’s a little recipe to make your own homemade rosehip oil-based cream.
Ingredients:
2 tbsp of shea butter
2 tbsp of rosehip oil
5-10 drops of lavender oil
Procedure: Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl and stir until you get a nice and creamy consistency. You can store it in a clean container and use it every night before bed. Just apply a small amount of the cream on your whole face and let the ingredients to their magic while you sleep.
Rosehip Oil As An Anti-Aging Serum
We have covered how beneficial rosehip oil is as an anti-aging treatment. To even further boost its abilities, combine it with other potent anti-aging ingredients to make your own, all natural anti-aging serum. Here’s one recipe we chose for you:
Ingredients:
1 tbsp of rosehip oil
2 tbsp of argan oil
1 tbsp of vitamin E oil
3-5 drops of lavender essential oil
Procedure: Add all the ingredients in a small bottle and mix it well. Store it in a dark and dry place. You can use it daily by adding a few drops directly on the face.
Rosehip Oil In Combination With Foundation
This is a major makeup hack that can transform your typical makeup into wonderful nourishment for your skin. There are two ways you can do this.
The first one is to add a couple of drops of rosehip oil to your foundation bottle and mix well. This way you have a rosehip oil enriched foundation.
The second way is to mix your foundation with the oil directly before applying. How to do this? Just take a small amount of your foundation and place it on your hands. Add a few drops of rosehip oil (not more than 3 drops) and blend with your fingertip. After this apply on your face as you usually do with your foundation.
Rosehip Oil In Combination With Moisturizer
If you really don’t have time for additional skincare rituals, you can always add a couple of drops of rosehip oil in your current skincare products and still get all the benefits. Because of the moisturizing nature of the oil, it’s most logical and best to mix it with your favorite moisturizer and just continue to do your skincare regimen exactly as before.
Rosehip Oil As A Makeup Remover
This one is really creative. I mean, instead of using a traditional makeup remover product that probably doesn’t contain any nutrients to actually fight off common skin problems, use rosehip oil. Its nature will allow you to easily and gently remove your make while leaving your face smooth and soft. Best of all, it will clean your face and provide great nourishment for your skin’s tissue.
Rosehip Oil Gazes for Wounds
If you are suffering from an insect bite, a cut, a burn, or any type of wound that is causing you discomfort, you can help yourself to relieve symptoms and heal faster by pouring a couple of drops of rosehip oil on a clean gaze and cover your wound for a few hours. You can repeat this procedure for as long as you feel the need.
Final Thoughts
Okay, so today we’ve learned that not all oils are bad for the skin and rosehip oil is one great example of that. Rosehip oil has some amazing benefits and it’s believed to help control oily skin, fight off acne, reduce the appearance of scars and signs of aging, even out your skin tone and even brighten your skin.
Rosehip oil is a great natural remedy since it’s gentle on the skin and suitable for all skin types. It’s doesn’t really have side effects, although you should test for an allergic reaction before applying on the face, just so you’re on the safe side.
Give this amazing ingredient a chance, and you might finally get the skin you’ve always wanted. And, if not, you still have nothing to lose.
