Why rosehip oil is the superstar skin care hero we all need

While skin care trends come and go, there are a few heroes that have earned themselves permanent spots in our skin care routines. One such ingredient is rosehip oil – it’s been around for yonks, but people still can’t get enough of it.

Why? Well, while there might not be a single ingredient that’ll fix EVERY skin concern, rosehip oil comes pretty darn close. This antioxidant powerhouse is a serious multitasker able to aid a vast array of issues – after all, deep, healing hydration serves as a solution to a lot of skin woes.

“For over a decade, we’ve promoted the remarkable skin-renewing benefits of rosehip, the most prized of the seed oils," explains Trilogy product research and compliance manager Kerry De Villiers. "With its excellent ability to nourish and moisturise even the driest of skin, rosehip oil is super rich in skin-loving nutrients to improve overall skin condition.” 

The main reason rosehip oil is so damn good is that it offers a whole heap of skin-loving essential fatty acids (that our bodies/faces crave but cannot produce themselves), which are vital to skin health as they leave skin cells strong, moist and supple.

“It harnesses the pure power of Rosa canina, which is rich in natural oil-soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids that promote the skin’s internal hydration and protective processes to support healthy cellular turnover,” confirms cosmetic chemist and founder of Biologi, Ross Macdougald.

“Rosa canina seed has regenerative botanical activity which most closely resembles the skin's fatty acid profile. The potent combination of fatty acids in rosehip oil provides undiluted and unaltered goodness for your skin, straight from the seed of the plant,” says Macdougald.

“It’s a great source of essential fatty acids (omega 3 & 6), fatty acids (omega 9) and beta-carotene (pro-vitamin A), making it intensely nourishing and hydrating and one of the best for helping restore and rejuvenate skin," adds De Villiers.

"Naturally occurring in rosehip oil, these lipid compounds moisturise dry skin, improve softness and elasticity and help restore and maintain the look of healthy, glowing skin. It is also highly effective in helping to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, scars and stretch marks," she shares. Not only does it offer anti-ageing benefits and an improvement in skin tone, it can also help improve skin concerns such as hyperpigmentation/pigmentation. 

Yep – that little bottle of rosehip oil is made of some serious magic.

Best of all, it’s suitable for all skin types, even sensitive and blemish-prone. “Superfine seed oils like rosehip are quickly absorbed by the skin. They won’t clog or irritate pores. The anti-inflammatory powers of rosehip oil help to calm redness and irritation associated with blemishes. Plus, oil helps re-balance the appearance of oily skin. Because rosehip oil is 100 per cent organic with no added preservative, fragrance or colour, it’s also great for sensitive skin and even babies’ delicate skin,” explains De Villiers. See? Everybody wins!

But, before you go ahead and bag yourself some rosehip oil, you need to know what kind of rosehip oil to look for (spoiler: they’re not all the same!). Don't worry, though; we're here to help.

What kind of rosehip oil is best?

Note: Don’t just grab any old bottle. The quality of rosehip oil can differ, so there are a few things you should keep in mind in order to make sure you’re getting the good stuff.

Macdougald says you need to be picky when it comes to finding quality rosehip oil, and to look specifically for the 'pure' kind. “The key thing to remember when it comes to rosehip oil is that not all types are equal. Most people would assume that rosehip oil is just rosehip oil, but unfortunately, that is not always the case,” he explains.

“Depending on the production processes, there are several different types of rosehip oil available on the market. Look out for unrefined rosehip oil that should appear in a rich dark yellow/orange colour and have an earthy smell to it. If there’s no smell or it is heavily fragranced and appears clear in colour it usually means it has been refined. Refining an ingredient happens for a number of reasons but means the oil lacks potent nutrients because it has been through mechanical processes.”

Macdougald says choosing a completely natural version of rosehip oil will mean you get the best benefits for your skin. “[Our Biologi rosehip oil] is completely natural so does not contain any synthetics. The key difference in Biologi’s Br Organic Rosehip Oil compared to most others on the market is that it is 100 per cent completely pure, unrefined and untouched rosehip oil.” 

Wondering the best way to know if it’s completely natural? De Villiers says it’s best to keep an eye out for certified organic rosehip oil. “Look for rosehip oil with an independent organic certification. This guarantees that the oil comes from rosehips grown and processed without pesticides, herbicides and other chemical interventions,” she says. “It’s [also] worth researching company websites to find out whether the extraction process is solvent-free and what testing is carried out to guarantee the concentration of natural actives in the oil."

“Our rosehip expertise ensures only the finest-quality oil is used in Trilogy products. Every barrel of rosehip oil we use to make our products (so our customers can rely on the performance of their products) is individually batch-tested and certified to ensure a minimum 80 per cent essential fatty acid content,” says De Villiers. 

If you’re looking to jump on the rosehip bandwagon STAT, Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil ($21.47 at Chemist Warehouse), Biologi Br Organic Rosehip Oil ($28 at Adore Beauty) and Sukin Certified Organic Rosehip Oil ($19.97 at Chemist Warehouse) are some of our favourites.

Main image credit: @josephineskriver

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