Rosehip oil benefits for your skin

“What a lovely thing a rose is” Arthur Conan Doyle

Look up this quote on the internet and you will find endless citations of this line which was famously said by Doyle’s fictitious character Sherlock Holmes. Its use and overuse, among many other quotes and poems, shows us just how much humanity loves this flower. Treasured throughout history for its unique beauty and fragrance, the rose bush was sometimes even considered sacred. Currently, the rose is considered the universal symbol of love. 

What is rosehip and why does it help your skin?

The rosehip, which is also called Rose haw or rose hep, is the fruit of the rose bush. The rosehip fruit ripens in late summer and throughout autumn, and it’s colour usually ranges from orange to a deep red. Historically, The rosehip fruit is used in many applications, from making tea to jams and syrups, and it was even used in England during the second world war as a supplement to prevent scurvy.

The fleshy fruit of the rosehip contains seeds which are cold-pressed to make rosehip seed oil, a slightly reddish and quick absorbing oil that is full of vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants.

Rosehip seed oil is rich in:

• Linoleic acid
• Alpha-linolenic acid
• Trans-retinoid acid
• Carotenoids
• Phytosterols
• Vitamin E

• Rosehip seed oil is a potent skin regenerator and has been found to promote collagen production in the skin, therefore promoting wound healing and decreasing the appearance of wrinkles and scars.
• Rosehip has also been found to lighten hyper-pigmentation, the dark spots caused by exposure of skin to the sun.
• Rosehip seed oil has trans-retinoid acid, a natural form of retinoids (vitamin A), that retinol converts to, and therefore it helps speed up cell renewal and boost collagen production.
• Rosehip seed oil is also well known in the treatment of various skin disorders like acne and psoriasis.
• Rosehip oil is also of great benefit to dry and ageing skin.
• Rosehip seed oil fights free radicals due to its high anti-oxidant activity.

There does seem to be some confusion in the skincare world as to the presence of Vitamin C in rosehip oil, but since the oil is cold-pressed from the seed, and Vitamin C is water soluble and present in the skin of the red fruit, it is unlikely that the oil has any vitamin C within it.

Finally it is important to note and make the distinction between rosehip seed oil and the rose oil which is an essential oil extracted or distilled from the petals of the rose flower. Full of benefits in its own rights and surely deserving a full post on its own.

If you enjoy learning about natural ingredients you might like to read about the benefits of vitamin E for your skin.