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Ingredient spotlight: rosehip oil for skin

  • 4 min read

Rosehip oil comes from the pressed seeds and fruit of the rose plant. It’s not the same as rose oil, which comes from the petals. Since ancient times, rosehip oil benefits have been praised for their healing and antibacterial properties. Science is now catching up with ancient wisdom, as we now know that rosehip oil is rich in phenols which nourish the skin in many different ways.

Rosehip oil benefits are indeed enticing, but it’s not advisable to put rosehip oil directly on your face in its concentrated form. It can be too harsh on your skin in this way. However, rosehip oil is often used as an active ingredient in skincare where you can enjoy the benefits, without worrying about any of the drawbacks.

Here at UpCircle, we give you the benefits of rosehip oil for the face and skin by using it in several of our popular skincare products. You’ll find rosehip oil in our Coffee Face Scrub Floral Blend – making this our most suitable face scrub for those with sensitive or acne-prone skin. Using rosehip oil can also be beneficial for rosacea and eczema, so this gentle face scrub is good for both of these conditions. 

Rosehip oil is also formulated in our Night Cream with Hyaluronic Acid & Niacinamide. This product is a dermatologically approved, unscented overnight moisturiser to nourish, repair and protect the skin.

Finally, you’ll also find rosehip oil in one of our leading products – our Organic Face Serum with Coffee Oil. This product is ideal for all skin types and great for brightening the skin's complexion.

Rosehip oil benefits for the skin


There are plenty of reasons why we’ve included rosehip oil in so many of our skincare products. We’ll take you through why we love using rosehip oil in our products, and then guide you on how to use it.

1. Excellent hydration


Hydrated skin is healthy, supple, soft and youthful. However, keeping your skin hydrated can be a tall order.

Rosehip oil naturally contains essential fatty acids, particularly linolenic and linoleic acids. These help your skin cells to retain water to keep it hydrated. The oils also carry the antioxidants within rosehip oil deeply into the skin.

2. Exceptional moisturising


You get a double benefit as the essential oils help to lock in hydration and have a natural moisturising effect on your skin. Rosehip oil is a non-greasy oil that doesn’t clog your pores. This makes it a wonderful moisturising ingredient for those who struggle with breakouts and acne.

3. Exfoliates and brightens


Rosehip oil is often included in skincare ingredients because it delivers radiant vibrant skin through natural exfoliation. Vitamins A and C in the oil make a natural exfoliant and cell regenerator.

4. Collagen boosting


The skin needs collagen to be both firm and elastic – this is the building block of your skin. You naturally make collagen but, as you age, your body produces less. Being rich in vitamins A and C, rosehip oil aids collagen production. It also inhibits creation of a particular enzyme that works against collagen production.

5. Powerful anti-inflammatory


Rosehip oil has several anti-inflammatory properties making it ideal for acne and new scars. Firstly, it is rich in vitamin E. Additionally, it contains anthocyanin and polyphenols. All of these work well to reduce inflammation and calm irritation. 

Many different skin conditions cause irritation due to inflammation, from eczema and rosacea to psoriasis and acne. Rosehip oil can help to alleviate this inflammation.

6. Gentle and natural sun protection


We’re all familiar with how the sun can damage our skin and lead to premature ageing. Again, it is because rosehip oil is rich in vitamins A, C, and E that it is good for helping to combat sun damage. It can’t be used instead of sunscreen, but it can help to mitigate some of the effects of incidental sun exposure which we can’t avoid.

7. Helps to reduce hyperpigmentation


Hyperpigmentation (when dark areas form on the skin) can occur for many reasons, including hyperpigmentation after acne. It also may happen due to changing hormones, sun exposure, and some medications. 

Retinoid, found in the vitamin A which is within rosehip oil, is able to reduce hyperpigmentation gradually, through regular use. In addition, it also contains beta carotene and lycopene. These compounds can help to naturally lighten the skin.

8. Reduces scars and fine lines


Many recommend rosehip oil for scars and with good reason. Rosehip oil’s combination of antioxidants and fatty acids work to aid cell regeneration within the skin. Indeed, this is perhaps the widest use of rosehip oil in ancient folk treatment. It is well known for its ability to aid wound healing. This has now been matched by science, with one study revealing its use on post-surgical scars was very striking.

9. Skin health and immunity


Being rich in antioxidants, rosehip oil supports healthy skin cells. Healthy cells serve as a first line of defence against harmful bacteria. This enables you to resist outbreaks and infections. Rosehip oil has been shown to boost the longevity and strength of skin cells

How to use rosehip oil


Rosehip oil is generally considered too intense to apply directly to the skin regularly, except when you are using it on a specific scar. If you do apply it directly, you must do a patch test first. Allergic reactions to rosehip oil in its undiluted state are not uncommon, so this is really important.

We recommend opting to use rosehip oil within skincare products as an active ingredient. This ensures you get all the benefits of rosehip oil without any irritation. It also, of course, means that you can benefit from additional active ingredients. Furthermore, rosehip oil on its own can go off quite quickly. By being with other ingredients, in appropriate packaging, you can benefit from extended life.

We’ve got just the right amount of rosehip oil in three of our products to ensure that you get all the benefits without any problems. Rosehip oil is in our Organic Face Serum with Coffee Oil which is suitable for all skin types. In addition, it’s in our Coffee Face Scrub Floral Blend which is ideal for those with sensitive skin. We’ve also chosen to include rosehip oil in our night cream which promotes overnight skin regeneration.