My obsession with Rosehip oil can be attributed to the discovery that products containing rose extracts (rose water, rose essential oil, rosehip oil) solve the following problems:
- Inflammation
- Acne or Pimples
- Dark skin patches
- Skin dehydration
Prior to this, the rose fragrance in any product was enough reason to stock my shopping basket with the good, bad and terrible product lines for skin care. I could not resist adding that toner, cleanser, cream, oil, or mask to my shopping cart—be it online or at the actual store.
The urge to fall head over heels in love, with these ‘rosey‘ products was an impossible task. But all that changed one fine day!
I was at the super market, picking up junk food, when I heard a gentleman say he wants ‘Rosehip Oil’. He went ahead to stress, ‘I don’t want Rose essential Oil or Rose Water‘. As I watched him religiously read the label of several products handed to him, I kept wondering, why this gentleman was so adamant and particular about getting the ‘Rosehip’ oil. Abi, is rose not rose again? He turned down almost everyone of them.
I walked up to him and in my most polite voice I said, ‘Excuse me. You seem to be having trouble deciding which product to go for. I can help you out. I am very good with this stuff.‘
This fine gentleman flashed a smile and for the first time, I noticed the freshness of his skin. I was totally captivated and absolutely convinced that the universe collaborated with him, to rub in my face that my ‘no-where-near’ flawless skin, a slave to hormonal pimples could never match up to his. He was appreciative but he continued to persist. He was just going on about Rosehip oil this, Rosehip oil that. At some point, I blanked out and when I came to, he was smiling down at me, waiting for a response to his just concluded sermon.
Wasting no time, I proceeded to tell him how pained I was that he would dare to discriminate against the roses. Rose is rose. Rose water, Rosehip oil, Rose essential oil, Rose petals o, just pick 1 and go. Life is not complicated! He let out a loud shriek, like the world was coming to an end. I prepared my mind for an incoming threat only to have him lower his voice and start a long lecture on ‘Rosehip Oil 101′.
He explained that the addition of rose extracts in any product can affect the result one is trying to achieve with one’s skin, so understanding what one is getting and how it affects one is of the utmost important. As if to mimic me, he said ‘rose is not rose o’. He proceeded to list out brands to look out for that produce unadulterated rosehip Oil.
After swallowing my pride, long enough to see reasoning, I thanked him, reached into my cart and did a ‘rosey‘ cleansing. I also made sure I too, went home with a bottle of Rosehip oil that day. After thorough research and continuous usage, here are some basic things anyone should know about Rosehip Oil.
Rosehip Oil
Rosehip oil is from the fruits of a certain type of rose specie. They are called wild roses. It is often said that rosehip oil work like black magic. This is because of the mineral compounds and vitamins contained in it.
One special feature of rosehip oil is that it can be used as a carrier oil.
The functions of rosehip oil are numerous but here are the ones I have experienced, firsthand:
- skin firming and tightening
- Complexion lightening (I tried this for my inner thighs and saw positive results)
- Fading dark spots and scars,(You now have the secret to having a clear, fresh and glowing face, free of charge)
Pssst, I even heard it has great anti-aging properties. I am still young but it won’t hurt to hear more about it. Watch this video.
Now a lot of people tend to confuse Rosehip Oil with Rose Essential Oil. They are different. Here is why.
Rose Essential Oil
Unlike rosehip oil, rose essential oil is from the rose petals. With rose essential oil, a little goes a long way in its usage because it is an essential oil. Another thing to note is that the rose essential oil is quite pricey.(with the purchase of this, your pocket may never smile but your skin will)
Here are some advantages of rose essential oil that I have also observed from continous use.
- It balances skin moisture
- It reduces the appearance of dark spots and blemishes on the skin
- and it has a scent that lifts one’s spirit.
Did I mention that, I have a tiny secret on getting the best from both Rosehip Oil and Rose Essential oil?
Here it is. Beecause rosehip oil is a carrier oil, and rose essential oil is an essential oil…who says we cannot merge them in a skin care routine?
Wait a minute!
Before you run off to Google or Instagram, in search of the best stores to purchase these oils, There are a few things you need to know, so you are not overcharged, sold substandard goods or unable to achieve maximum results when using it.
How much does it cost?
For 50 mls, rosehip oil cost between NGN2500 and NGN6000 while rose essential oil costs between NGN1000 and NGN2500 for 30mls. Anything above or below these ranges should be questioned.
How can I tell if it’s original?
To find out if the oil you purchased is original and authentic, here are a few tips to guide you:
- Packaging: As weird as this sounds, the easiest way to detect original rosehip oil is by the package. The oil must be in a glass bottle and not a plastic one. The bottles are usually brown or blue. This helps the oil avoid the interaction with light, because light will damage it.
- Shelf Life: Read the label to check how long an open bottle will last. An original bottle of rosehip oil expires 90 days after opening it.
- Organic Label: This sounds cliche but always look out for the 100% pure label on the bottle of your oil. You can’t totally trust this but it is still something to look out for.
The first three points are quick ways to know original rosehip and rose essential oil without having to open or destroy the package.
Now that the package is open, let’s get oily…
- Smell: For rosehip oil, if you so much as notice that it has a tiny bit of a rosey smell, it’s originality must be faulted because original Rosehip oil has a fishy smell. This is because the seeds have been subjected to long periods of extraction.
- Paper Test: Using an A4 paper, drop a small amount of rosehip oil on it. Wait for about 30 – 60 seconds. Once the oil has dried up, the paper should not have a greasy appearance or left over oil. Also the paper should not have any harsh colour tone after the oil has dried up. At the very least, you will notice a light shade of red.
Now that we have tackled how to avoid buying fake rosehip oil, let’s focus on how it can be used for maximum results
How do I use it?
Applying the Rosehip Oil is quite simple. There are 2 ways.
- Direct Application
We all know by now that rosehip oil is a beauty oil. You can get the best from it by applying it directly on your skin, without diluting.
Simply put 3 drops on your palm, rub your palms together and deeply massage your face using the upward motions. Don’t forget to apply on your neck as well! A little goes a long way. It is not advisable to allow your skin to get high on it. - Spot Treatment
If you’re dealing with acne scars, other facial scars, under eye wrinkles and eczema patches, you can use rosehip oil as a spot treatment.
Simply put a drop of rosehip oil on your index finger or on a cotton pad and rub on areas of concern.
A Quick Tip
You can make a night cream with rosehip oil. All you need to do is place 2 tablespoon of soft shea butter, 2 tablespoons of rosehip oil and 12 drops of lavender essential oil in a large bowl. Using a hand mixer, mix all, then apply a small amount on your whole face as part of your regimen in the night.
If I were you, I would not limit the use of the oil to my face alone because this blog post says so!
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