Rosehip oil has been utilized for millennia by Native Americans and ancient civilizations such as the Mayans and Egyptians for its therapeutic qualities. Its reputation as a key component for a radiant complexion has increased in recent years.
Let's go deeper into the uses and advantages of rosehip oil and why you may want to incorporate it into your beauty routine as well.
What Is Rosehip Oil Used For?
Rosehip oil is extracted from the fruit of the rose shrub, the rosehip. The fruit resembles a bulb that develops now at the base of a blooming rose blossom. The rosehip continues to develop when a flower falls off.
The following are the most often utilized rose plant varieties for rosehip oil production:
Musk grew (Rosa moschata)
The dog arose (Rosa canina)
Rose of sweet-briar (Rosa rubiginosa, also called Rosa eglanteria)
Rosehip Oil Types
The extraction process has an effect on the quality of rosehip oil since it determines the number of vitamins, antioxidants, and important fatty acids remaining in the oil. To ensure a higher-quality product, seek an extraction technique that is low-heat and solvent-free (such as hexane). Cold pressing and supercritical extraction are two techniques that meet these criteria.
Supercritical extraction utilizes high pressure and low-temperature carbon dioxide to dissolve the rosehip. This extraction method allows for the utilization of the entire fruit–seed, pulp, and peel. This increases the number of beneficial nutrients present in the oil.
Cold-pressing is another process for extracting oil from rosehips that do not need the use of heat. The method does, however, include crushing and pressing rosehip seeds. This can result in friction, which generates some natural heat.
Rosehip Oil's Skin Benefits
When applied to the skin, rosehip oil may provide a variety of advantages depending on the number of vitamins, antioxidants, and vital fatty acids present.
1. Prevents Wrinkles
Rosehip oil contains a high concentration of antioxidants and can help protect your skin from free radical damage. Free radicals may damage your body's DNA, lipids, and proteins, resulting in a variety of changes linked with ageing, illness, and sun damage. Lycopene and beta-carotene are antioxidants present in rosehip that may aid in the reduction of fine lines and wrinkles.
2. Eliminates Acne-Prone Skin
In general, rosehip oil is high in linoleic acid (an important fatty acid) and low in oleic acid. This is critical for acne management for a number of reasons.
To begin, linoleic acid is more easily absorbed by the skin than oleic acid due to its thinner and lighter nature. As a result, rosehip oil is non-comedogenic (meaning it is unlikely to clog pores), making it an excellent cleaning oil for acne-prone skin.
Second, acne-prone individuals have abnormally low linoleic acid levels and a preponderance of oleic acid in their skin surface lipids. Linoleic acid can help manage acne by regulating oil production and promoting the natural exfoliating process of the skin. Linoleic acid's anti-inflammatory properties also help to relieve acne-related redness and inflammation.
3. Preserves the skin's hydration
Rosehip oil has been shown to increase the skin's moisture content, resulting in softer-feeling skin. Rosehip oil's high linoleic acid content allows it to enter the skin and aid in the formation of a water-resistant barrier, effectively sealing in moisture. This may give some relief for problems like dry skin or eczema that are caused by a disruption of the skin barrier, especially when used shortly after bathing or showering.
4. Provides Skin Protection
Pollutants in the environment and harsh chemicals in some cosmetic products can cause harm to your skin's outermost layer. Rosehip oil is high in antioxidants such as vitamin E and beta-carotene, which contribute to the health of your skin's protective barrier.
5. Prevents or Minimizes Scar Appearance
Rosehip oil contains beta-carotene and linoleic acid, which help to minimize the appearance of scars. They stimulate collagen synthesis, increase the rate of skin turnover, and aid in the repair and prevention of free radical damage. Additionally, linoleic acid can help reduce the hyperpigmentation associated with certain scars. Additionally, there is data to support the use of rosehip oil to enhance the texture, erythema, and discolouration of post-surgical skin scars.
6. Equalizes Skin Tone
Provitamin A is a term that refers to a substance that may be transformed by the body to vitamin A. Beta-carotene is the most prevalent form of vitamin A. Thus, using rosehip oil (which contains beta-carotene) to the skin can provide vitamins with advantages, including the reduction of hyperpigmentation.
Vitamin A has been shown to lighten dark spots by increasing skin cell turnover. Thus, hyperpigmented cells are replaced by younger cells with a normal amount of pigmentation. If you have dark patches on your skin as a result of sun exposure, medication, or hormonal fluctuations, you may discover that rosehip oil helps level out your skin tone.
7. Illuminates the complexion
Due to the fact that rosehip oil promotes skin cell turnover, it serves as a natural exfoliator, restoring brightness to a dull face. The astringent qualities of the oil can help minimize the size of your pores, which also contributes to your skin's brightness.
8. Assists in the relief of inflammatory skin conditions
Rosehip oil, which is high in antioxidants, can help reduce the degree of skin irritation caused by eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, and dermatitis. Of course, it is prudent to seek medical treatment for these illnesses after consulting with a healthcare expert. However, when used in conjunction with other treatments, rosehip oil might give some relief from the symptoms of irritated skin.
The Best Way to Use Rosehip Oil
It's a good idea to conduct a patch test before introducing any rosehip oil product to your skincare regimen. In this manner, you can determine how the product responds to your skin while reducing the severity of any potential bad response.
How to do it: Apply a little quantity of oil to an area of skin the size of a dime that is easily concealed. For instance, you may conduct a test on the inside of your forearm.
Wait 24 hours before re-examining the test region.
If you do not observe any redness, swelling, or other signs of irritation, you may continue using the product in its entirety as part of your skincare routine.
Place 2-4 drops of rosehip oil on the palm of your hand to apply. Then, using the fingers of your other hand, massage the oil into them. Apply the oil using your fingertips in a gentle, circular motion to your face, neck, and under your eyes.
Rosehip oil can be used once or twice daily. At night, use it after your moisturizer. If photosensitivity is not an issue, you may also use it in the morning before your sunscreen.
Alternatively, instead of using the oil separately, you may include one or two drops into your regular moisturizer.
Rosehip oil is compatible with the majority of skin types. The capacity of dry skin to retain moisture helps it. If you have regular skin that becomes dry only during harsh weather, this oil will not irritate your skin because it is a lightweight oil. It also does not aggravate oily skin, due to its ease of absorption. Finally, because it is adaptable to different skin types, it works well on combination skin as a single product that can be used in all regions.
Precautions for Rosehip Oil Use
Rosehip oil is usually considered to be safe, with a minimal chance of adverse effects. Naturally, as with any product, an allergic reaction is possible. Allergic responses range in severity from a slight rash to complete anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening).
Individuals who have a bleeding condition should avoid rosehip oil. Rugosin E is a chemical molecule that has been shown to disrupt blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding.
Numerous pregnant women express worry regarding the usage of rosehip oil, owing to the fact that they have been advised to avoid excessive vitamin A. Vitamin A supplementation during pregnancy has been linked to birth abnormalities. However, the vitamin in question is preformed vitamin A, which necessitates this care. The provitamin A included in rosehip oil does not pose the same risk to pregnant women. The National Institutes of Health of the United States of America demonstrated that a large intake of provitamin A does not result in any of the adverse effects associated with preformed vitamin A usage.
