The Magic of Rosehip Oil for Your Skin
Several years ago, I noticed that my normally parched and troubled skin looked and felt incredible whenever I added a few drops of my favorite cold-pressed rosehip oil from The Ordinary to my moisturizer each night. What I discovered was that, not only did it allow my very thick face cream to spread more easily across my skin, but it also made me use less of it, so I was saving money on a product that I would otherwise typically burn through at an alarming rate. I could feel the rosehip oil thoroughly soaking into my skin – it did not just sit on top – and I knew my epidermis was reaping the most possible benefits.
What Dermatologists Say About Rosehip Oil
Board-certified dermatologist and Epoch Dermatology owner Dr. Nicole Y Lee said there may be a connection between retinol (otherwise known as vitamin A), the collagen-boosting ingredient we all know and love, and rosehip oil. "Rosehip oil does have some natural vitamin A in the form of carotenoids like beta-carotene, but it is not the same as retinol," Lee said. "The amount is low, and the skin has to convert it before it can have any effect." Because of that, she said that it may not perform in the same way as retinol reliably does, boosting collagen production through accelerated cellular turnover and reducing the look of fine lines and even fading acne scars.
That being said, typical retinol is rarely without irritation or dryness, at least during those first few weeks of application. But because rosehip oil is a significantly less potent form of retinol and a natural anti-inflammatory that is packed with essential fatty acids, I have experienced the opposite of irritation whenever I use it. According to Lee, rosehip oil also contains antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and vitamins that help nourish and protect the skin while also promoting hydration, softening texture, and supporting a healthy skin barrier. "The antioxidants help fight free radical damage that contributes to visible aging, while the fatty acids can calm and replenish dry or irritated skin, and, over time, [rosehip oil] can also help promote a more even tone and a natural, healthy glow," Lee said.
How I Use Rosehip Oil
Another way I use my Ordinary rosehip oil is by applying a generous layer whenever I dermaplane my face (an exfoliating process that essentially razors away all of the fine hair on the skin). It helps provide that much-needed slip as the razor glides across my sensitive skin and dramatically reduces irritation and redness.
Top Rosehip Oil Products to Try
As I have previously mentioned, I am a dedicated fan of The Ordinary’s cold-pressed and nutrient-dense formula – however, there are a few other rosehip oils out there that are worth trying. You can shop them for yourself ahead.
1. The Ordinary Cold-Pressed Rosehip Seed Oil
My tried-and-true cold-pressed rosehip oil from The Ordinary is cheap and effective. It is my long-time favorite product for adding to my moisturizer each night, or creating the much-needed slip and layer of protection on my skin when dermaplaning. It very simply contains just rosa canina seed oil that has been cold-pressed, an extraction process that yields higher nutrient concentration and retention and offers better absorption into the skin. The Ordinary also launched a fermented version of this rosehip oil that also promises to boost elasticity and firmness and smooth fine lines. $11 at Amazon, Sephora, and Target.
2. Cliganic Organic 100% Cold-Pressed Rosehip Oil
An organic 100% cold-pressed rosehip oil, Cliganic rosehip oil is one of the most-rated options on Amazon, with 4.6 out of 5 stars across 26,000+ ratings. Very reasonably priced, this hair and skin oil promises to use 100% USDA organic cold-pressed rosehip oil that has been sustainably sourced from Bulgaria and minimally processed. Some Amazon shoppers have claimed that when mixed into their daily moisturizer, their skin looks brighter and more even-toned. "I have noticed a reduction in redness and dryness," they wrote. This is also the rosehip oil that the above-mentioned Reddit user swears by for their skin care routine. $10 at Amazon.
3. Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Oil Blend
Elemis' pro-collagen rose oil blend is a luxury facial oil that is part of Elemis' revered Pro-Collagen line and claims to smooth the look of fine lines, promote petal-soft skin, and boost luminosity. The main hero of this lightweight formula is English rose oleo extract, which can boost collagen and offer antioxidant protection. It is also supplemented by a blend of hydrating marine actives and even more nourishing oils like jojoba, sweet almond, and coconut. $95 at Elemis and Amazon.
4. Heritage Store Organic Rose Oil with Squalane
An organic rose oil with nourishing squalane, Heritage Store rose oil is a vegan and cruelty-free oil that blends apricot kernel oil, squalane, rosa canina seed oil, and rose of Damascus extract into one ultra-hydrating facial formula. Squalane is an antioxidant-rich ingredient that is known to offer skin barrier support, hydrate, and just overall improve the look and feel of skin. $18 at iHerb.
5. True Botanicals Pure Radiance Oil
An editor- and celebrity-adored anti-aging skin oil, senior shopping writer and beauty aficionado Lourdes Avila Uribe calls True Botanicals' Pure Radiance Oil a splurge-worthy product that is specially formulated to target fine lines, wrinkles, and dullness. It is made with a whopping 27 plant actives like nutrient-rich and potent calendula oils, cucumber seed oil, organic hemp and jojoba seed oils, and fresh ginger root oil. It is a hydrating, hypoallergenic, and non-comedogenic dream. But most notably, this radiance-restoring complex also contains rosehip seed oil, which enhances the formula's anti-aging capacity. "Based on a 45-day independent scientific clinical study commissioned by the brand (a randomized, comparative, double-blind trial), it has been clinically proven to be effective, and my own skin can attest to that. In the year or so that I have been using it, I have gone from wearing makeup every single day to feeling confident enough to top this oil off with sunscreen and head out the door," Uribe previously said. This bottle is certainly a jump in price compared to my beloved $11 formula (for understandable reasons), however, if you add just a few drops to your moisturizer each night, one bottle may last you much longer than you might think. $120 at True Botanicals; 0.5-ounce at Nordstrom for $72.
Why People Love Rosehip Oil
I am not alone in my enthusiasm for this lesser-known ingredient: In a Reddit thread that my editor helped uncover, one user with the most luminously hydrated complexion – who claimed to be 62 years old – revealed that one of her beauty secrets was a few drops of rosehip oil at night. Like me, she claimed that this simple ingredient has helped her skin stay smooth and hydrated. Other Reddit commenters on the same thread agreed with the original poster about the underutilized potential of rosehip and its anti-aging capacity. In a different thread, one Redditor referred to it as "nature's retinol."
