What is rosehip oil in skincare?
Rosehip oil is cold-pressed from the seeds and fruit of Rosa canina or Rosa rubiginosa – the hip left behind after a rose has flowered. It should not be confused with rose oil, which is distilled from petals and is a fragrance ingredient.
It is rich in linoleic and linolenic acid, vitamin E, and naturally occurring trans-retinoic acid in trace amounts. It has a light, dry feel and a faint earthy scent, and reviews of rosehip-based dermatological products document antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and regenerative activity.
What skin concerns does rosehip oil treat?
It suits dry, dehydrated and mature skin, and its essential fatty acids help calm eczema and general irritation. The vitamin A compounds give it a mild resurfacing effect on tone and texture without retinoid-level irritation.
Its best-documented use is repair: experimental work shows rosehip oil promotes excisional wound healing, which underpins its popularity for scars, stretch marks and post-acne marks.
What ingredients are best paired with rosehip oil?
Layer it over hyaluronic acid or a hydrating serum, and alongside ceramides and squalane for a complete barrier routine. It pairs well with vitamin C for brightening.
Because it already contains vitamin A compounds, introduce it slowly if you are also using a retinoid. Its high linoleic content makes it a better choice for oily skin than most oils, but it oxidises quickly – buy small, opaque bottles and refrigerate. Take our Skin Quiz.
What are dark spots?
Dark spots are localised patches where the skin has produced more melanin than the surrounding area. The umbrella term covers sun spots, post-acne marks, melasma patches and freckles – different causes, same visible result.
They are flat rather than raised, vary from light tan to deep brown, and are most noticeable on the face, hands and chest. In deeper skin tones they tend to be darker and to last considerably longer.
What causes dark spots?
Two mechanisms dominate. Ultraviolet exposure triggers protective melanin production, and inflammation – from acne, ingrown hairs, eczema, friction, burns or harsh treatments – leaves post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation behind as it heals.
Hormonal change, some medications and heat add to it. Picking at spots is one of the most avoidable causes: the extra inflammation reliably makes the mark darker and longer-lived than the original blemish.
What ingredients are best for dark spots?
Vitamin C, niacinamide and azelaic acid are the everyday workhorses. For stubborn pigment, alpha arbutin, tranexamic acid, kojic acid and liquorice root extract interrupt melanin production directly.
Retinoids and gentle AHAs clear pigmented cells faster from the surface. Give any routine twelve weeks before judging it, and wear broad-spectrum SPF daily or the spots will simply redarken. Take our Skin Quiz.
