I'm a tad ashamed to admit this, but I'm a sucker for a celeb-endorsed beauty product (in the non-spon-con kind of way). And it's not because I think all celebrities are magical experts in the field of skincare, but because they have access to the very best dermatologists, aestheticians, and product testing, so IMO, their opinion counts for something. This is exactly why I blindly ordered rosehip oil years ago after reading that it was one of Kate Middleton's favorite beauty products. Now, not every celeb recommendation is a hit for me, but rosehip oil? I still use it every day to this day (thank you, Kate. Wish you had a promo code, but whatever, it's fine).
Rosehip oil, if you're new to it, is derived from the fruit and seeds of the rose plant. And unlike a ton of face oils, this one is surprisingly lightweight and quick-absorbing—so much so that it made me, someone with acne-prone skin, trust face oils again. Even if you don't have acne, the rosehip oil benefits are aplenty, and there are many different reasons you, too, would want to pick up your own bottle to try.
To help explain all the uses and benefits of rosehip oil, I turned to Krupa Koestline, clean cosmetic chemist and founder of KKT Consultants. Find out all the facts, below.
Does rosehip oil really work?
I promise I would be honest if it didn't, but let me tell you from experience, this stuff works. Rosehip oil is full of fatty acids, trans-retinoic acid (a natural form of vitamin A), vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta carotene. “There are several clinical studies conducted that show the effectiveness of rosehip seed oil in various skin disorders,” Koestline says. It's usually touted as being an MVP at helping to brighten hyperpigmentation, calm inflammatory skin conditions (including acne), and improve your skin barrier function.
Now, will rosehip oil work for everyone? No, but that's the case for any and every skincare product and ingredient. You won't know if you like it until you try, and I highly suggest you give it a try.
My 4 favorite rosehip oils
Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil
The INKEY List Rosehip Nourishing Night Oil
The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil
Herbivore Mini Phoenix Rosehip Anti-Aging Face Oil
Should I use rosehip oil on my face?
As long as you can tolerate it and don't have an allergy to it, you can definitely apply rosehip oil to your face. And as someone who has done that very thing for the better part of the last five years, I highly recommend that you do. I prefer using rosehip oil as the last step in my skincare routine to seal in moisture, but if you're not a fan of straight oil, you can find rosehip oil in face wash formulas, cleansing oils, or moisturizers, both for your face and body (seriously, you'll find it in natural self tanner to body serums to curly hair oil).
What does rosehip oil do to your face?
Rosehip oil does alllll of the things. Seriously, there are so many rosehip oil benefits, that I had to number them off below. Here are all of the reasons you might want to oil yourself up with it.
1. It helps moisturize
As an emollient plant oil, rosehip oil is a pretty effective at keeping the skin soft, smooth, and moisturized. According to Koestline, its unique balance of omega-3, -6, and -9 fatty acids makes it best-suited for dry, dehydrated skin.
2. It repairs damage
If you think of your skin barrier like bricks and mortar, rosehip oil works to patch up any cracks on a damaged skin barrier that allows your precious moisture to seep out. You can thank the fatty acids for that.
3. It evens skin and skin texture
“Rosehip oil is full of antioxidants that help improve skin texture and even skin tone,” Koestline says. Vitamin C is kinda famous for fading acne scars and dark spots, but it also helps with fine lines and wrinkles.
4. It protects
Free radicals caused by things like pollution and UV rays speed up skin aging and lead to wrinkles and loss of firmness. As an antioxidant, rosehip oil neutralizes those free radicals, protects the skin against free-radical damage, and prevents the signs of it.
5. It helps calm acne
Studies show acne-prone skin is deficient in linoleic acid (a fatty acid that it needs), and you know what has high levels of it? Rosehip oil. Board-certified dermatologist Michele Green, MD, gave rosehip oil a shout-out in a past Cosmo article as a great skincare oil for breakout-prone skin for this very reason.
6. It reduces scars
“Rosehip oil has been used for decades to treat wounds and/or scars,” Koestline says. “The beneficial effect of this oil has been attributed to its high content of essential fatty and unsaturated acids.”
7. It improves the appearance of stretchmarks
Can anything fully get rid of stretchmarks? Nope, but rosehip oil is a commonly used in stretchmark oils for prevention and is one ingredient that board-certified dermatologist Shereene Idriss, MD, previously recommended you look for in stretchmark creams. “Certain essential oils are packed with fatty acids that further help strengthen your skin,” Dr. Idriss says.
Can you use rosehip oil every day?
Yep, Koestline recommends you apply rosehip oil after both your AM and PM cleansings. It's known for being lightweight and having low comedogenicity, so clogged pores are less of a concern with rosehip oil than, say, coconut oil, and it doesn't leave an oily feel. Even still, Koestline says oiler skin types can also add a drop of rosehip seed oil to your moisturizer in the morning and mix them in your palm before applying.
Which rosehip oil is best?
If you want to use a straight-up rosehip oil product, cold-pressed and organic-certified is the way to go, but oil serums and products containing the oil are also solid choices. “Because oil-serums are cold-processed, they still conserve the nutritional benefits of the oils,” Koestline explains.
FYI: These face and body products are full of rosehip oil
The takeaway:
I love rosehip oil. That it's it, that's the takeaway. No, but in all seriousness, if you're searching for a lightweight face oil that sinks in fast and doesn't make your skin all greasy, but does leave it feeling moisturized and healthy, this is definitely one to check out. After all, if it's good enough for a duchess, you know it's good enough for us ~peasants~.
