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Some Common Rosehip Oil Questions Answered

Is rosehip oil moisturising, hydrating or both?

Rosehip oil is moisturising. It is not hydrating.

A hydrating skincare ingredient adds hydration to the skin. Some examples are glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and panthenol. These ingredients pull hydration to the skin’s surface, either from the atmosphere or deeper skin layers. Rosehip oil cannot do this.

Rosehip oil moisturises the skin. A moisturising ingredient helps the skin retain hydration, which is always at risk of evaporating into the atmosphere. A moisturising ingredient reduces the chances of this evaporation and thus keeps the skin hydrated.

Rosehip oil forms a thin layer on the skin’s surface, acts like a semi-shield and thus reduces the chances of hydration evaporating into the atmosphere.

Skincare ingredients that form a layer on the skin and reduce the chances of evaporation are called emollients. Rosehip oil is an emollient.

How should you layer rosehip oil?

Below, I have mentioned multiple ways of layering rosehip oil. Choose the one that most suits your needs at a given time:

If your skin feels normal and is hydrated, you can apply rosehip oil to your face after cleansing.
Apply a hydrating serum if you need additional hydration after cleansing your face. Follow it with a moisturiser and rosehip oil.
You can also apply other serums, such as niacinamide vitamin C or alpha arbutin, and then top it off with rosehip oil.

When layering skincare products, the trick is to always start with the ones with a lighter texture and end with the thickest textured product. Apply the products in the order of their texture.

An important point to be aware of is rosehip oil and hydration

Rosehip oil forms a thin layer on the skin, keeping it hydrated.

A thin layer means that if the skin’s natural barrier mechanism is not robust, some hydration can still be lost through evaporation.

If your skin is dehydrated, then your skin’s natural barrier mechanism is not robust.

In such cases, rosehip oil is not your answer. If your skin is dehydrated, use a cream with mineral oil, petrolatum or something much thicker in texture than rosehip oil. These ingredients form a thick layer on the skin. In dehydrated skin, a thick layer does a much better job retaining hydration than the thin layer that rosehip oil forms.

Can we use rosehip oil as a primer?

Yes, you can. Rosehip oil can be used as a primer before applying your makeup.

Using a primer on your skin before you apply your makeup prepares your skin for the makeup. A primer makes the skin’s texture even and smooth, making it easy for makeup to sit well and look good on the face.

Rosehip oil, though an oil, is not greasy. It is high in linoleic acid, which is lightweight, non-greasy and easily absorbed by the skin.

A primer only has to even the skin’s texture temporarily and get it ready for the makeup that’s coming up. Rosehip oil goes one step further and provides additional benefits. I have explained the benefits of rosehip oil in the paragraphs below.

Should we use rosehip oil in the morning or at night?

Ideally, use facial oils at nighttime.

Sunscreen is the most essential skincare product for the morning. Facial oils can dilute sunscreens and make them less effective.

Facial oils like rosehip oil are effective during the day, but it’s best to avoid using them in the morning as they can reduce the effectiveness of sunscreens.

What should you look for when buying rosehip oil?

Rosehip oil is extracted from the seeds of a plant called rose canina.

The extraction method plays a vital role in determining the efficacy of plant oils. The process must preserve the active components of the raw materials.

The cold-pressing extraction method preserves the active components. Also, if no heat is used during the process, it adds to the oil’s efficacy.

So, remember to check for the cold-pressing extraction method when buying rosehip oil. Most manufacturers will highlight this on the packaging, and if they also mention the absence of heat during the process, you can be sure you’re making a wise choice.

How does rosehip oil help fight Acne?

Rosehip oil helps fight acne in 2 different ways:

Rosehip oil is rich in an ingredient called linoleic acid.

Studies have found that facial oil in people prone to acne is low in linoleic acid. Let me explain why this is important…
Excess oil on our face goes and clogs pores. Pores are small openings on the skin’s surface. Clogging these tiny pores is the first step in acne and pimple formation. When oil is low in linoleic acid, it cannot flow easily. It becomes a bit lumpy. This oil, which is low in linoleic acid, clogs these pores; it cannot flow out of the pores easily.

Since rosehip oil is rich in linoleic acid, when applied to the face, it mixes with facial oil. This increases the linoleic acid content, which in turn helps the oil flow more easily out of pores.
Rosehip oil has been shown to regulate excess sebum production. Sebum is another word for facial oil. An excess amount of sebum is sometimes produced, especially in oily skin tones. Excess sebum is always risky because it clogs pores, leading to pimples and breakouts. Rosehip can help regulate sebum production, reducing the excess sebum production.

Does rosehip oil clog pores?

Since rosehip oil is an oil, some incorrectly assume it can clog pores, which leads to acne and pimples. Rosehip oil does not clog pores; it reduces the clogging of pores (as explained in the previous paragraph).

Does rosehip oil brighten our faces?

Yes, it does.

Rosehip oil has retinoic acid.

Retinoic acid is a proven anti-ageing ingredient. It increases the production of new cells in the deeper layers of skin. These new cells travel up to the top layer of the skin and replace the old cells on the top layer. These new cells add an instant glow to the skin.

Retinoic acid also boosts the production of a protein called collagen, which gives our skin its structure. More collagen means firmer and glowing skin, which in turn brightens it.

A word of caution, though: rosehip oil cannot replace the anti-aging products that you might be using. Rosehip oil is effective but only contains a small amount of retinoic acid. It is an excellent product to use in addition to other anti-aging products.

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