Why Rosehip Oil Is a Skincare Darling—Plus, the Best Products to Try
Between argan, coconut, jojoba, and marula, oils are taking over the beauty space—and for good reason. Oils are crazy versatile, have a ton of different benefits for the skin, hair, and nails, and come in just about every form and product. But right now we’re talking about a relative unsung hero: rosehip oil. Thanks to its high concentration of nourishing vitamins and essential fatty acids, the number of rosehip oil benefits is seemingly unlimited. It’s great at nourishing hair and is kryptonite for dry cuticles, but it’s perhaps most useful for your complexion.
Before you get nervous at the thought of putting oil all over your face (we’re looking at you, friends with oily and acne-prone skin!), rosehip oil is what’s known as a dry oil. This means it doesn’t feel greasy and sinks into your skin quickly without leaving any residue, making it great for all skin types and the oil averse. Interested in incorporating it into your skincare routine? Keep reading to learn all the rosehip oil benefits that could change your skin for the better.
Meet the Expert
Sarah Akram is a celebrity esthetician and founder of Sarah Akram Skincare in Alexandria, Virginia.
What is rosehip oil?
Not to be confused with rose oil, which comes from rose petals, rosehip oil (a.k.a. rosehip seed oil) is extracted from rosa canina seeds. “Rosehip oil is a pressed seed oil extracted from the seeds of a wild rose bush,” explains celebrity esthetician Sarah Akram. It’s low on the comedogenic scale—meaning it’s unlikely to clog pores—and packed with nutrients. “Rosehip oil is full of vitamins, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids which makes it a great ally in the anti-aging battle,” explains Akram.
The benefits of rosehip oil for skin
It’s anti-aging. Due to its high concentration of vitamin A, rosehip oil is often considered a natural version of retinol. In fact, it may help fade the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and help with other signs of aging as well. “Rosehip oil brightens and evens out the skin while helping improve skin elasticity and collagen production,” according to Akram.
It’s incredibly moisturizing. Like other face-friendly oils, you can use rosehip oil to help seal in hydration. “It does wonders to improve skin moisture,” says Akram, who particularly recommends it for dryness. “I find rosehip oil good for all skin types but [it’s] best used for dry skin types.”
It’s brightening. The same vitamins A and C that give rosehip oil its anti-aging powers also make it a great, plant-based brightener. Vitamin C is one of the most popular brightening ingredients because it not only breaks up the melanin that creates dark marks (such as acne scars or hyperpigmentation), but it also blocks future dark spots from forming. And vitamin A promotes cell turnover, which helps those discolored dead skin cells disappear faster.
It’s soothing. Another powerhouse vitamin packed inside rosehip seed oil? vitamin E. This antioxidant is known for its anti-inflammatory benefits, making it ideal for those with sensitive skin, eczema, rosacea, and cystic breakouts.
Yes, it can treat breakouts. In addition to its many other skin-loving nutrients, rosehip oil contains linoleic acid, which may reduce the frequency and appearance of blemishes. The high concentration of vitamin A may contribute to rosehip oil’s breakout-fighting abilities too, as retinol is often used as an acne treatment.
It mimics your skin’s natural sebum. Unlike other oils, rosehip oil feels and acts similarly to our skin’s natural sebum when it’s applied, making it uniquely effective for all of the above benefits.
It’s the perfect carrier oil. If you’re into essential oils, you know how important it is to use them with what’s known as a carrier oil. Basically, essential oils can be too strong to put onto your skin directly because they might cause irritation. Adding a few drops into a less potent (yet still beneficial) carrier oil like rosehip oil will help create a buffer. You’ll still get all the benefits of your essential oil, plus the rosehip oil benefits, with none of the irritation. Win-win-win.
The best rosehip oil skincare products to try
CLARA'S NEW YORK Moisturizing Rosehip Facial Oil Serum
A few drops of this moisturizing blend of rosehip, olive, and jojoba oil is all you need for a fresh, even-toned glow. “This absorbs well and never left me feeling greasy,” said one Ipster. Plus, it’s multi-tasking: “It was also great on my hands and nails,” they wrote.
GO-TO SKINCARE Face Hero
This lightweight, non-greasy face oil works for every skin type, including sensitive. “This has done amazing things for my sensitive skin, without irritating it,” said one reviewer, who added it’s “now a must-have part of my routine.”
ONEKIND Dream Cream Nighttime Moisturizer
In addition to rosehip, this nourishing night cream features moisturizing squalane and soothing chamomile, so you wake up with more hydrated, glowing skin. “Love this night cream!” raved one Ipster. “After using it for 1 week, [I] noticed smoother/glowing skin in the morning and after 2 weeks, fine lines smoothing out.”
INDIE LEE Rosehip Cleanser
Above all else, don’t miss the clean, gentle formula loaded with vitamins A, E, and K, and antioxidants. But it’s worth noting that it’s the subtle scent that has Ipsters obsessed—reviews range from “smells so yummy!” to “very refreshing.”
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