Ask an Expert: Why Rose Hip Seed Oil Should Be In Your Skincare Routine

Once upon a time, plant oils were a household product that occupied space in our kitchen cupboards and played a designated role in our diets. Nowadays, consumers are far more conscious of their personal health, wellbeing and the environmental impact of their lifestyle choices — and plant oils are not just an essential component to any nutritious meal, but they have also become a staple in our skincare routines. If you are 2000 and late to the natural skincare trend, navigating the beauty section at your local Whole Foods can feel like you’re in a foreign country. But whether you want to start slow with one or two all-natural products (or transition cold-turkey to a 100% natural routine), your first right of passage into the world of green beauty is replacing your basic daily moisturizer with the queen of all plant-derived oils: rose hip seed oil.

We asked chemical engineer and co-founder of Velvette Organics, Joyce Tse, to give us a crash course on everything you need to know about this powerhouse plant-oil and why you should incorporate it into your routine.

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1. Rose Hip Seed Oil is a Multi-Functional Moisturizer

Think of rose hip seed oil as an all-natural nutritional supplement that you can feed to your skin topically. It’s rich in fatty acids like oleic, linoleic and alpha-linoleic acids — all of which every skin type needs to stay hydrated and healthy.

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2. Rose Hip Seed Oil is Suitable for All Skin Types

According to Tse, 'Oleic acids are extremely moisturizing and regenerating' while 'linoleic acids strengthen your skin’s barrier and help it retain water'. Without these fatty acids your skin could become inflamed and dry. Even those with conditions like eczema, rosacea and psoriasis can benefit from the universal benefits of fatty acids — which is why the Day Facial Oils for every skin type in Tse’s range contains rose hip seed oil.

Velvette Organics Normal Skin Day Facial Oil, $43.

light and fast absorbing rosehip seed oil

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3. Rose Hip Seed Oil is Lightweight and Fast Absorbing

Applying a 100% pure oil directly to the skin can be anxiety-inducing — especially if your skin is oily or acne-prone to begin with. Tse assures us that thanks to its extremely high linoleic acid content, rose hip seed oil is not only significantly less greasy than other oils, but that its linoleic acid content can also help regulate our skin’s sebum, and could benefit people with acne.

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4. Rose Hip Seed Oil Contains Antioxidants to Protect Skin From Environmental Damage

Rose hip seed oil also contains fatty acids and tocopherols that give it antioxidant benefits. Applying antioxidant-rich ingredients to the skin during the day will help protect and improve your skin’s defense against the damaging factors in your everyday environment like UV radiation and pollution.

See more: 20 sunscreen mistakes that everyone makes.

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5. Rose Hip Seed Oil Can Reduce Premature Sign of Age

In short, using rose hip seed oil consistently for its antioxidant content alone could help reduce the chance of developing early signs of age (especially if you spend lots of time outdoors and under the sun).

The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil, $10.

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6. Rose Hip Seed Oil Offers Anti-Acne Benefits

Rose hip seed oils best-selling benefit is that a significant amount of its composition is pro-Vitamin A, which means that when its applied to the skin, it can offer Vitamin A-like benefits. Vitamin A compounds (AKA. retinoids) are well-researched and clinically-proven treatments for acne.

You might also like: 4 mistakes you're making in your anti-acne routine.

kosmea Skin Clinic Certified Organic Rose Hip Oil

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7. Rose Hip Seed Oil Keeps Skin Youthful Looking

Since Vitamin A increases cell turnover and boosts collagen production, it can help brighten uneven skin tone and improve its overall texture. Since retinoids are known to have irritating side effects, rose hip seed oil makes a great natural alternative to synthetic anti-aging.

Kosmea Skin Clinic Certified Organic Rose Hip Oil, $16