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It’s hard to suggest anything over coconut oil for skin, but rosehip oil — also known as rosehip seed oil — is running a close race with coconut oil when it comes to its benefits for the skin.
Rose hips were a remedy used by the ancient Egyptians,
Mayans and Native Americans all because of their amazing healing properties,
and they were made into a syrup and rationed in Britain during wartime to
ensure children’s resistance to infection.
The syrup was made from the empty seed cases and also helped
provide relief from diarrhea, stomach and menstrual cramps, nausea, and
indigestion. Today, it’s getting plenty of attention for its ability to boost
skin health and promote healthy aging.
As you can see, rosehip oil — which is technically not an
essential oil — has many uses that go more than skin deep.
What Is Rosehip Oil?
Rose essential oil is made from rose petals while rosehip
oil, also called rose hip seed oil, comes from the seeds of rose hips. Rose
hips are the fruit left behind after a plant has flowered and dropped its
petals.
Rosehip oil is harvested from the seeds of rose bushes
predominately grown in Chile, and it’s full of vitamins, antioxidants and fatty
acids that are known to correct dark spots and hydrate dry, itchy skin, all
while reducing scars and fine lines.
By using an organic cold-press extraction process, the oil
is separated from the hips and seeds.
For facial skin care, rosehip oil offers several benefits
when applied externally. It protects the skin and increases cell turnover
because it contains beta-carotene (a form of vitamin A) and vitamins C and E,
which are all antioxidants that help fight free radicals.
Rosehip oil’s healing properties are due to its chemical
structure. As noted, it’s rich in healthy fats, but more specifically oleic,
palmitic, linoleic and gamma linolenic acid.
Rosehip oil contains polyunsaturated fatty acids (vitamin
F), which when absorbed through the skin converts to prostaglandins (PGE). PGEs
are excellent for skin care because they are involved in cellular membrane and
tissue regeneration.
It is also one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C,
which is another reason why rosehip oil is such a great product for fine lines
and overall skin care.
Rosehip Oil Benefits for Skin and More
1. Anti-Aging Properties
Rosehip oil has significant anti-aging benefits for your
face. Super light and non-greasy, this oil’s skin care benefits come from its
high antioxidants and ability to penetrate into deeper layers of the skin,
where it can improve moisture levels and reduce visible signs of aging.
Collagen production naturally slows down as we age, but
thanks to the high levels of vitamin C in rose hips, this is an oil that can
actually help stimulate collagen production in the skin. In fact, a clinical
study published in 2015 reveals that 60 days of topical vitamin C treatment was
“highly efficient as a rejuvenation therapy, inducing significant collagen
synthesis in all age groups with minimal side effects.”
For those who are seeking to avoid chemicals and Botox,
rosehip oil may be perfect because of its skin-rejuvenating properties of
vitamins C and A and lycopene. This makes adding it into your skin care routine
a safer, organic solution to repair the skin’s surface and restore elasticity.