What types of skin you have?
This question may seem somehow inappropriate for many people if they have never noticed their skin changes.
But, it is good to be aware of your skin health and to nourish it with beneficial nutrients to keep it glowing for a long time.
And here we’re going to reveal some of the skin-nourishing benefits of Rose Hip Oil.
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Rose hip oil is one of those products that might seem like a fad. Every now and again, someone will pop up advocating the benefits of the oil, describing how it changed their skin and life.
Without realizing it, you too may have been using rose hip oil for years.
Rose hip oil is extracted from the seeds of wild rose bushes which grow in various parts of the world including South America, South Africa, and Europe.
Like many essential oils extracted from plants, rose hip oil has been used since ancient times.
From ancient Egyptians and ancient Romans to indigenous Native American tribes, people have praised the benefits of rose hip oil for the skin.
Today, the oil continues to be used as a beauty and skin treatment. It is also an ingredient in many cosmetics and skin care products.
What Is Rose Hip Oil Used For?
Rose hip oil is most commonly associated with healthy skin.
The oil is said to contain many healing properties which can rejuvenate damaged skin and protect skin from conditions that occur as a result of the natural ageing processes.
Some of the conditions that rose hip oil is used to treat or delay include:
Acne and acne scars:
Acne is a chronic inflammatory condition of the skin and various factors affecting skin cause this. In this condition, the sebaceous glands of skin excessively produce oil that clogs up skin pores.(1)
Once the skin pores are blocked, P.acnes bacteria grow and multiplies. P.acnes bacteria produce and discharge proteins including many types of digestive enzymes.
These digestive enzymes are responsible for cellular damage of skin layers which is the main cause of inflammation and skin disorders (acne).
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, acne affects 40 to 50 million U.S. citizens annually.(2)
Dry Skin:
Dry skin or xerosis is a common skin condition though is not usually a serious skin issue. As we age, our sebaceous glands produce less sebum which dries out your skin.(3)(4)
Low atmospheric humidity that occurs in the winter months is also a cause of dry skin.
But this is sometimes triggered by other health conditions like diabetes, malnutrition, hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid or low thyroid), hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), and chronic autoimmune disease.
Wrinkles and fine lines:
Wrinkles and fine lines are often considered as the same thing, but actually, they are different.(5)
Wrinkles are more complex in nature than fine lines.
Fine lines on your skin may be 1 or 2 mm deep but wrinkles are deeper than 2 mm, according to Robyn Gmyrek, MD who practices at Union Square Laser Dermatology and is affiliated with Columbia University.
Rosacea:
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that mostly affects the face and under eye area.
Skin affected by rosacea is reddish and irritating.(6)
However, no probable causes of the condition have been identified yet. Rosacea is not dangerous and effects can be controlled by proper treatment.
If your skin is dry, then it could be eczematous skin.
In the case of eczematous skin, our skin is not able to retain water and becomes dry and rough.(7)
It is not a serious skin problem but sometimes irritations and itchiness become very severe and the skin may even bleed.
Eczema is not a contagious skin disease.
This involves uneven colouring of your skin and occurs due to an uneven distribution of melanin.(8)
So, what does melanin do for your skin?
Melanin is a natural pigment that protects our skin from UV radiation. It is also the determinant of your skin color.
Along with above skin conditions, rose hip oil is equally beneficial for preventing or removing skin sagging, stretch marks, dark circles under eyes, etc.
Rose hip oil can be applied directly to the skin though many of the products and creams people use to treat these conditions already contain the extract.
Rose hip oil is a fatty oil which the skin can easily absorb which makes it ideal for treating skin complaints.
It’s also a very lightweight oil that is not too greasy so it’s easy to apply and comfortable to wear, even under make-up.
Nutrients in Rose Hip Oil
You’re probably wondering what exactly is in rose hip oil to make it so amazing?
And, why has this one little oil continued to be a part of peoples’ skin care regimens for millennia?
Rose hip oil is full of nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants, all of which are necessary for maintaining vibrant, healthy skin and also regenerating damaged skin cells.
- Vitamin A, mainly in the form of beta-carotene.
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
- Retinol
- Omega 3 & Omega 6 fatty acids.
These all sounds great but what do they really do for us and how do they make rose hip oil good for your skin? Let us tell you!
Vitamins are required for the healthy functioning of your body and if they are deficient, it can lead to serious health issues in your body organs and skin.
Vitamin A
A lack of vitamin A can lead to dry skin. Applying rose hip oil to the skin on a daily basis will ensure that the skin gets a dose of vitamin A in order to combat dry skin.(9)
Beta-carotene is also a known antioxidant which can protect the skin from damage caused by ageing and skin cancer.(10)
According to a CDC report in 2012, 28,080 women and 39,673 men were diagnosed with skin cancer.(11)
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an antioxidant associated with even skin pigmentation. This is the vitamin that helps create lustrous and radiant skin that looks super healthy.(12)
The vitamin C present in rose hip oil brightens up skin, smoothes out skin tone, and plumps up skin collagen which can delay signs of ageing such as sagging and wrinkles.
Vitamin E
Skin that is prone to inflammation, puffiness, or redness may be calmed by the vitamin E found in rose hip oil.(13)
Vitamin E has also been shown to absorb harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun, thus lessening the damage to skin exposed to these rays.
Vitamin K
When it comes to treating scars, stretch marks, and rosacea with rose hip oil, vitamin K is the nutrient that plays the biggest role.(14)
Vitamin K can help shrink the dilated or broken blood vessels and capillaries that cause red blemishes to appear on the skin, particularly on the face.
Retinol
Retinol is probably the vitamin on this list that you are least familiar with.
Retinol – or retinoic acid - is what gives skin a healthy blush by stimulating blood vessel regeneration.(15)
It has also been proven to destroy the bacteria that cause acne, and reduces the presence of spots and pimples. There is also some evidence that retinol can reduce inflammation and wrinkles.
Omega 3 & Omega 6 fatty acids
Omega 3 and 6 are both vital for skin that looks and feels normal and healthy. These fatty acids can relieve dry or irritated skin as well as counteract inflammation.(16)
As you can see, rose hip oil is a natural source of many of the essential vitamins needed for healthy skin. It is especially beneficial for facial skin care.
The effects may not be instant – it could take a few weeks of topical application of rose hip oil to see results – but if you suffer from any of the skin complaints or issues listed above, rose hip oil may be the cure for you.
Other Uses
As with nearly all natural products, there are multiple uses for rose hip oil that go beyond skin care.
Our hair, nails, and eyes need most of the same nutrients as our skin to stay healthy so it’s no surprise that these body parts can also benefit from this magical oil.
All Limp, dull, dry, lifeless hair can get a shot of life from rose hip oil.
Massaging some gently heated rose hip oil into hair can reinvigorate damaged hair.
People with coarse and curly hair or hair that is permed, dyed, or sun damaged may find rose hip oil to be especially beneficial.
We talked a lot about how rose hip oil is an excellent remedy for dry skin. Well, it can also treat the pesky dry skin on your scalp – dandruff.
To treat these dry white flakes, simply massage rose hip oil on to your scalp and leave it sit for 20 to 30 minutes.
Brittle nails are often caused by a lack of vitamin C and zinc (which is also found in rose hip oil).
Regularly massaging rose hip oil onto finger or toe nails can heal unsightly brittle and broken nails, leaving you with much healthier and beautiful hands and feet.
There may also be a place for rose hip oil in treating more serious health issues.
Studies indicate that rose hip itself may be more effective than pharmaceutical painkillers at treating the pain associated with osteoarthritis.(17)
More research is needed to conclusively determine how well rose hip can reduce the pain and discomfort caused by osteoarthritis but considering the anti-inflammatory properties found in rose hip, it seems plausible.
Rose hips may also alleviate pain and inflammation in people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.
All of the above points clearly describe that using rose hip oil is beneficial for your skin. Why?
Because, it has most of the nutrients needed to promote healthy skin and keep it protected from various types of skin conditions.
Did you ever try it? If you did, please leave your feedback about the oil in the comment section.
