Rosehip Oil - How To Get Petal-Soft Skin
Coconut oil takes the throne for skin-loving oils, and we honestly can’t argue with that. However, we couldn’t help but mention another one of our favorite skincare oils, and it comes from the very bouquet of roses you receive every Valentine’s Day, that is if you’re a traditional romantic. Beloved by surfers and skincare gurus alike, rosehip oil is valued for its nourishing vitamins and essential fatty acids.
If coconut oil is the king of skincare oils, then rosehip oil is the queen.
By the end of this read, you’ll want to pull the fruit off of every rose bush you see; but of course, we advise you to stop and smell the roses, leaving them for others to enjoy as well.
Its Origin Story
Rosehip oil–or rosehip seed oil–is derived from the rosa canina rose bush. It is mostly grown in the mountainous regions of Lesotho in southern Africa and Chile in South America. While roses are grown everywhere, these regions are prized for supporting wild rose bush’ desired conditions. The bushes bloom in spring and gradually drop their petals to reveal the desired bright red fruit that is pressed into rosehip oil. The product of this fruit is an essential oil that smells like a bouquet of the flowers it’s harvested from.
The origins of rosehip oil in skincare are a little foggy, but burial sites and hieroglyphics have informed historians that ancient Egyptians used various plant-based oils on their skin. It’s presumed that rosehip oil was one of those oils, also used by Mayans and Native Americans, because of its healing properties. (That means Cleopatra probably had rosehip oil in her line of skincare, and she was renowned for her stunning complexion.)
Some years after the Egyptians, Romans had begun using a variety of rosehip, rosa canina, to heal dog bites. Ancient doctors and early Native Americans used rosehip to treat stomach weaknesses and muscle cramps. They were even used as a citrus alternative during World War Ⅱ to keep coughs and colds at bay for their potent Vitamin C levels–levels that were 60 percent higher than citrus fruit. However, it wasn’t until the 1980s that rosehip oil made its official introduction to the skincare world when extensive research revealed its healing properties. A specific study in 1983 revealed that rosehip oil could regenerate skin, minimize scars, and even out wrinkles and skin complexion.
Now, they’re relatively easy to find in glass droppers at your local beauty stores.
Reasons Why It's Awesome For Your Face
We’ve learned that rosehip has been used medicinally for centuries, but now it’s popularized for its use in skincare. Rosehip oil is best known for its ability to tame inflammation by soothing redness and irritation. One study found that rosehip’s high concentrations of antioxidants make it suitable for topical treatment for oxidative stress or inflammation. Another study suggested that its high concentration of linoleic acid aids in soothing inflammation as well. It’s rich in polyphenols, anthocyanin, and vitamin E, calming irritation resulting from rosacea, psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis.
In addition to soothing inflammation, rosehip oil hydrates the skin. It contains a surplus of fatty acids, as mentioned earlier, that help keep skin cell walls strong so they don’t lose water. It’s especially excellent in helping hydrate dry, itchy skin. The oil is easily absorbed, allowing the antioxidants to travel into the deepest layers of skin.
Hyperpigmentation occurs when excess melanin forms dark spots or patches on the skin. This can result from sun exposure, hormonal changes, and the result of using certain medications. With the help of Vitamin A and its abundance of nutritional compounds such as retinol, rosehip oil reduces hyperpigmentation and other visible signs of aging. It also contains lycopene and beta carotene which evoke skin-lightening, making it a staple ingredient in many skin care products. Rosehip oil is also rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants that are important for tissue and cell regeneration – or how fast your skin can bounce back from a breakout or infection. This increase in tissue and cell regeneration helps reduce or eliminate scars and fine lines.
Rosehip oil is rich in antioxidants and polyunsaturated fatty acids (big fancy words, but don’t get frightened, they’re amazing for your skin) which are imperative for preventing the breakdown of cell membranes in the skin, and in case you didn’t know, skin cell membranes control what goes in and what comes out of your skin cells; making sure, of course, the good things go in and the bad stuff says bye-bye. These strong, healthy skin cells prevent bacteria from entering the skin, ultimately preventing acne outbreaks and infections. In addition, rosehip oil bolsters the strength and longevity of skin cells, boosting immunity.
If your skin is a barreling wave then collagen is the swell that supports it. It’s essential for skin elasticity and firmness, and your body, remarkably, produces much of your collagen but decreases in production as you age. Vitamin A, in addition to reducing hyperpigmentation, is also necessary for the production of collagen. Rosehip oil inhibits the creation of MMP-1, an enzyme responsible for breaking down collagen in the body, preserving and bolstering the production of collagen.
Why We Use It
Here at Surf Soap, we encourage you to constantly stop and smell the roses, meaning that you should enjoy and appreciate what is often ignored. While we’re sure you never ignore your skincare routine, we want your skin to be as effortlessly taken care of as possible, so you can spend more time stopping and smelling the roses rather than those several trial-and-error moments of finding what product benefits your skin.
Our Coral Glow will do just that for your skin. Utilizing a curated blend of skin loving oils such as jojoba, rose hip, and prickly pear, our solid face oil helps to restore the skin's natural sebum production, contributing to supple, hydrated skin - even when it's exposed to sun, wind, and any other adventures we put it through.
Our all-time favorite benefit of rosehip oil’s use in Coral Glow is its protection against sun damage. Surfers can finally have a surf sesh with a reduced risk of facial sun damage – because while being sunkissed looks adorable, repetition of it takes a heavy toll on the skin. This cumulative damage from the sun can play a role in premature aging. However, thanks to rosehip in Coral Glow, its antioxidants of vitamin A and vitamin E have been shown to synergistically combat visible sun damage. It may also help prevent photoaging–premature aging of the sun–and reduce the negative effects of UV exposure. The best part? It’s beneficial for all skin types, so with a simple click of the purchase button, you’re almost guaranteed supple, youthful skin.
Keep in mind that while Coral Glow works wonders for the skin, a reef-safe sunscreen accompanied on top of it is unstoppable–so check out our site to include Coral Glow in your everyday skincare routine!