Rose Hip Oil.
I’ve been looking at the ingredient rosehip oil. For me, this oil conjures memories of childhood. It was one of those remedies my mother would spoon out regularly to ward off colds and other such ailments. I think it may have worked, as I was rarely sick. But can it be as useful for the immunity of the skin?
I’ve always considered rosehip oil as useful for its vitamin C properties, but it’s so much more than this. What you’ll find in the extracted oil from the seeds of the rosehip is the compounds lycopene, beta-carotene and an abundance of essential fatty acids. Compounds found to be very helpful if you’re trying to relieve any stress in your skin.
But what is it?
Once the petal of the rose bloom drops, you’re left with the fruit of the rose known as the rosehip. Inside the rosehip are an abundance of seeds. When harvested and processed for commercial use, rosehip oil is extracted. Nature once again has provided for us and gloriously.
Of course, the best seed oils will be processed without heat or chemicals, and if you prefer using organic products, then you should consider, not just how the raw ingredients are grown and sourced but also the methods of processing. There’s no point going organic if the manufacturing process lets you down. Right?
My research led me to Kosmea, an Australian owned company providing organic skincare with rosehip oil at the heart of their range. They are passionate about the power of rosehip oil and go to great lengths to ensure it’s organically certified and produced in the purest way possible. A method known as supercritical CO2 extraction is used, which means the extraction of oil from the rosehip happens without the use of excessive heat, solvents or chemicals.
A 30-Day trial.
As part of my research and review, I was asked to participate in a 30-Day trial of Kosmea’s Rose Hip Oil.
The timing was perfect. With winter taunting me to stay inside nice and close to the fireside, despite the current health of my skin, it’s winter and my skin can become dehydrated.
So, with instructions to use Kosmea’s Rose Hip Oil morning and night on damp skin, I diligently commenced my 30-day trial, what follows is my review, and I’ve included something in this article that I never do; before and after pics of my skin. Fresh out of the shower, no makeup, just my skin as it is. These are the bare-faced facts.
So, it’s a facial oil.
The product on trial is what I would call a facial oil, and if you’ve been following for a while, then you’ll know I’m a big fan of facial oils as an addition to your beauty routine.
But here’s the thing.
Many facial oils on the market have, either added too many variations of essential oils or worse are loaded up with unnecessary synthetic fragrance. I prefer facial oils that rely on just a couple of Essential oils at most, and certainly, I always prefer the natural scent derived from the oil rather than anything artificially added. Don’t you?
Kosmea uses rosehip oil singularly. That’s a good thing and given the compounds extracted; there seems to be no reason to add anything else.
So if your skin is dry, sensitive and irritated, or you suffer from dermatitis or eczema, Kosmea Rose Hip Oil is for you.
Or perhaps, your skin tends to develop rashes or is vulnerable to damage the environment can inflict upon your skin or if you find winter sends you into a downhill spin of dryness, irritation and sensitivity then a facial oil like Kosmea Rose Hip Oil will help you.
How can rosehip oil help?
Lycopene.
Lycopene is one of a class of compounds known as carotenoids, giving fruits and vegetables their red hue and protects them from sunlight and oxidation, preserving the integrity of the fruit for a longer period. You’ll find Lycopene in many fruits and vegetables, like tomatoes, watermelon and red peppers, but one of the richest sources of lycopene can be found in the seeds of the rosehip.
So what does this mean for you and me? Lycopene is a potent antioxidant which will assist in the prevention of free radical damage in the skin, which in turn protects the skin from damage caused by oxygen and sunlight, making it very useful for minimising the ongoing fight against uneven discolouration and hyperpigmentation in the skin as well as slowing down age-related skin dysfunction.
Beta-carotene.
Another plant-based nutrient, beta-carotene is also a carotenoid. Most of us would associate beta-carotene with carrots as they certainly are an abundant source, but of course, rosehip oil is equally an excellent source.
Beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant that converts to vitamin A.
It’s worth noting, vitamin A is an essential nutrient for the skin, and while not to be mistaken for retinoids or retinol, the vitamin A from beta-carotene found in rosehip oil is extremely beneficial in naturally protecting the skin from the constant damage caused by exposure to the environment. Think of your skin like a big juicy apple. Once cut, it loses it juice, freshness and essential nutrients and turns brown. Antioxidants are an important factor in slowing down similar degeneration in your skin.
Essential Fatty Acids.
Your skin needs a constant supply of essential fatty acids to maintain overall health. You’ll get your essential fatty acids from the foods you eat, and they are Omega 3, 6 and 9 which are important for your health, but also provide protective properties to your skin when applied directly to the surface.
If you want great skin then be sure to increase your intake of essential fatty acids, both internally from whole foods, like fish, flaxseed and dairy products and topically through the skincare you introduce into your routine. Kosmea makes a guarantee that their rosehip oil contains 80% Essential Fatty Acids. That’s a healthy dose for your skin.
A jury of one.
I found Kosmea Rose Hip Oil to be a worthwhile inclusion to my beauty routine. During winter when the skin comes under stress from dry, wintery conditions, if your routine is not quite supporting your skin, introducing a product like Kosmea Rose Hip Oil will be a big help.
What I like about this product is the combination of carotenoids lycopene and beta-carotene, giving the skin a powerful antioxidant network, as well as the restorative and protective benefits of essential fatty acids.
When you apply Kosmea’s rosehip oil regularly, you’ll find that although you’re using a facial oil, the skin is not left with a greasy residue. Once absorbed the skin feels comfortable, not greasy.
Initially and typically for me, I used far more on my skin than I needed to. You only need a couple of drops over your entire face and neck.
During my 30-day trial, I found I hardly used any of my usual moisturisers. Which is great, as I’ve long advocated for the use of high-quality serums and facial oils and less of your traditional all-in-one moisturiser for better skincare results.
So, regardless of what I say, you can be the judge. Personally, I find it hard to see too much of a difference, although the longer I look at these images the more inclined I am to see an improvement in the tone and clarity of my skin, but my opinion is subjective, you may see or say otherwise. I’d be very interested to hear from you.
And now you?
What do you think? Is there a change in my skin? Personally, I didn’t expect to see too much change in my skin over a 30-day period. A great beauty routine with protective and rejuvenating ingredients is a long-term proposition. However, in 30 days, I do expect to feel the protective comfort of a product and an improvement in clarity and tone. On that front, Kosmea Rose Hip Oil did win me over. To find out where to buy, you can check out the Kosmea website.
See you next time,
