The Many Benefits of Rosehip Oil for Skin (And How to Incorporate It Into Your Routine)

As I think you can tell by the name of this blog, I love roses! They are my lifelong favorite flower, and a thing of true beauty to me in both appearance and scent both blended in a perfume or a shower gel or even the scent of the pure rose oil melting on the body/ Yet, these flowers are not just beautiful, they also provide tremendous health and healing benefits to the body, especially for the skin. Though all parts of the rose plant contain these healthful attributes, probably none is more power-packed than the rosehip. Rosehips fruit born (or the seedpod of the fruit) of the rosebush that begin to grow after the blossoms of the plant are pollinated in Spring or early summer. Once harvested in midsummer or Autumn, rosehips can be be pressed into oil form that can be included in virtually any kind of skincare product imaginable. Even when combined with nothing else, pure rosehip seed oil is certainly a wonder ingredient for skin in a variety of ways.

Collagen Production and Retention: Rosehips are rich in Vitamin C, and in the realm of skincare, Vitamin C is synonymous with two things: antioxidant protection, helping the skin heal from damage and cope with environmental pollutants and collagen production. Collagen is basis of skin building that creates both elasticity and firmness, which gradually decreases with both stress and age. Unlike many other Vitamin C-filled, collagen-boosting ingredients, rosehips are unique in that they also inhibit the body's production of an enzyme called MM-P1. MM-P1 enzymes have been shown to break down collagen over time. Rosehip, in turn, not only helps the skin be firmer and helps it make more collagen; it can also help protect existing collagen from being lost.

Cell Turnover: Though not as commonly touted as being a phytoretinoid (a plant-based retinol, like backuchiol used as an alternative to lab-created or synthetically derived retinols in skincare), rosehips are abundant in Vitamin A which is what retinol is. Retinol in any form is the queen of anti-aging ingredients in that it not only reduces wrinkles but that it also increases cell turn over to drive younger fresher skin cells to the surface, working from the more internal layers outward. In this way, rosehip also can deliver results similar to an exfoliant in that it helps to both smooth and brighten the skin. Rosehip has also been shown to help with the appearance of scarring and discolorations from both age and sun damage and is said to have some lightening effects on undereye circles as well as firming effects to crow's feet.

Inflammation Reduction: In it's ability to reduce pigmentation, rosehip oil can also be a big help to those of us who struggle with redness and, therefore, inflammation. It is a great source of linoleic acid, which helps to both clear out and fortify the skin barrier as well as polyphenols and Vitamin E, which are crucial for adding lubrication to the skin. I know from experience that nothing soothes my red, dry, chapped winter skin more than massaging it with rosehip oil, and it is often recommended by dermatologists for those with more chronic inflammatory skin conditions such as rosacea and eczema.

It is important to note that rosehip oil is considered a carrier oil rather than an essential oil. This means that they are extracted through pressing rather than distillation. In essential oils, distillation concentrates the whole essence of the plant, including its fragrant components, into the oil, making them too strong to apply directly to the skin undiluted. Carrier oils, like rosehip oil, however, CAN be used straight on the skin for maximum nutritional benefit or can be a powerful, moisturizing component to dilute any other essential oil you may pair it with. I personally particularly like rosehip with rosemary essential oil for a putting over acne spots to both ease the inflammation and keep scarring at bay while also taking advantage of the rosemary's antibacterial qualities.

In using pure rosehip seed oil or oil blend, it is important to know that the more concentrated the rosehip seed oil, the better the benefits. Always make sure your bottle says cold-pressed to ensure purity and potency, and also remember that the more potent your rosehip seed oil, the brighter its natural red-orange color will be. Many rosehip oils such as my favorite, the Pai Bioregenerate Rosehip Oil, often leave a stain to the skin. It usually dissipates in a few minutes, but for his reason, I tend to use pure rosehip seed more in my nighttime skincare routine rather than during the day.

Whether your skin may feel dry, irritated, or spotty, if you are seeing some signs of aging, or are just looking for a simple yet tremendously effective and beautiful ingredient into your skin regime, look no further than rosehip seed oil. Whether it is included in a new favorite product or just working on its own, it is a great way to keep your beauty blooming!