Rosehip Oil for skin has earned its reputation the honest way: it is a light, fast-absorbing plant oil packed with the fatty acids our skin barrier relies on, plus vitamin E and other antioxidants. It softens dry patches, helps skin hold on to moisture, and supports a smoother, more even-looking complexion without leaving a greasy film behind.
Rosehip Oil is one of the two botanicals at the center of almost everything we make. In this guide we cover where it comes from, what is actually inside the bottle, what the research says (and doesn't say), how to use it, and why we pair it with Sea Buckthorn Oil in our formulas.
What Is Rosehip Oil, and Where Does It Come From?
Rosehip Oil is a plant oil pressed from the seeds of the wild rose, Rosa canina, often called the dog rose. After the flowers fade, the plant forms small red-orange fruits called rose hips. Their seeds hold a golden oil rich in skin-friendly fatty acids and vitamin E, which is why it has become a skincare staple.
The oil is pressed from the seeds rather than the petals, so it smells faintly earthy, not floral. Rose hips have a life outside the bathroom cabinet, too: the fruit is well known as a source of vitamin C and has traditionally been dried for tea or cooked into syrups and jams. On skin, though, the seed oil's strengths come mainly from its fatty acids and fat-soluble antioxidants.
Rosehip Oil Benefits at a Glance
Moisture and Barrier Support:
Its linoleic and linolenic fatty acids help soften skin and support the lipid barrier that keeps water in. A 2018 review of plant oils in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences lists barrier support as one of the main ways plant oils help skin.
Smoother-Looking Texture:
A small 2025 pilot study in Cosmetics found that applying Rosehip Oil to the face improved the look of wrinkle depth and redness over the study period.
More Even-Looking Tone:
Lab research suggests compounds in rose hips can slow tyrosinase, an enzyme involved in making melanin. Human evidence is still limited, so think "helps the look of uneven tone," not a fix for dark spots.
Antioxidant Support:
Rosehip Oil naturally contains vitamin E (tocopherols) and plant compounds such as quercetin, antioxidants that help defend skin against everyday environmental stress.
What's in Rosehip Oil?
Rosehip Oil is made mostly of unsaturated fatty acids, especially linoleic acid (an omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3). It also carries vitamin E, the plant antioxidant quercetin, and small amounts of naturally occurring vitamin A-related compounds. Together, these explain why it feels light, sinks in quickly and leaves skin soft.
Linoleic acid is a fatty acid our skin uses to build the "mortar" between skin cells,, which makes it useful for dry, tight-feeling skin. Alpha-linolenic acid helps keep skin supple. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects both your skin and the oil itself. A 2022 evaluation of Rosa canina oil credits these same components, along with quercetin and a small amount of a retinoid-related compound, for its tone-evening potential.
That last point gets overhyped online. Rosehip Oil is not a substitute for retinol; its real value is a balanced, nourishing oil that plays well with the rest of your routine. For more on how antioxidants compare, see our guide to antioxidants in skincare and which ones work.
What Does Rosehip Oil Do for Your Skin?
Rosehip Oil mainly helps skin stay soft, comfortable and moisturized by replenishing the fatty acids in the skin barrier. With regular use, it can also support a smoother texture and a more even-looking tone. It works best as part of a routine, layered with a moisturizer and paired with daily sunscreen.
Rosehip Oil for Dry Skin
Dry skin is usually a barrier story: when the lipids between skin cells run low, water escapes faster and skin feels tight, flaky or ashy. Oils rich in linoleic acid help fill those gaps and slow that moisture loss. Rosehip Oil is light enough for the face and rich enough for elbows and shins.
Rosehip Oil for Dark Spots and Uneven Tone
This is where we want to be careful. Lab and animal research on rose hip extract found it reduced tyrosinase activity, and the 2025 pilot study noted fewer visible UV spots. Encouraging, but these are small or non-human studies. Rosehip Oil can help the look of uneven tone as part of a consistent routine; it is not a treatment for hyperpigmentation or melasma. For persistent dark spots, a dermatologist is the right next step.
Rosehip Oil for Texture and Healthy-Looking Skin
A 2024 review in Frontiers in Pharmacology describes rose hips as a promising skincare ingredient for texture, fine lines and overall skin quality. Day to day, most people simply notice skin that looks more supple and feels smoother.
Is Rosehip Oil Good for Your Face? Who Should Use It?
Yes, Rosehip Oil is good for most faces, particularly normal, dry, combination and mature skin. It absorbs quickly, so it rarely feels heavy. People with very oily or breakout-prone skin can still use it, but should start with a few drops at night and watch how skin responds before using it daily.
For melanin-rich skin, Rosehip Oil is a thoughtful choice. Deeper skin tones are more likely to develop dark marks after irritation, so gentle, barrier-supporting ingredients like this matter. One honest caveat: the research on Rosehip Oil has not yet focused on deeper skin tones specifically. Our guide to the best ingredients for melanin-rich skin covers how it fits alongside other options.
Because any plant oil can irritate some people, patch test first: apply a small amount to your inner forearm for a few days and look for redness or itching. EWG Skin Deep does not list Rosehip Oil (as rosehip seed oil) on its restricted or unacceptable lists. With eczema, rosacea or another diagnosed condition, ask a dermatologist first.
How Do You Use Rosehip Oil in a Skincare Routine?
Use Rosehip Oil as the last step of your routine, after cleansing and moisturizing, to seal in hydration. Two to four drops are enough for the face; press them in gently. On the body, smooth it over slightly damp skin after a shower. It works morning or night, and daytime use should always end with sunscreen.
Oils go over water-based products because an oil layer slows moisture loss. Prefer a single step? A moisturizer or lotion that already includes Rosehip Oil gives you both in one product. Wondering whether one oil can really cover both face and body? We answer that in face oil vs. body oil: can you use the same product?
Why Is Rosehip Oil in Loved01 Formulas?
We use Rosehip Oil because it brings lightweight moisture, softness and antioxidant support that suits every skin tone. We pair it with Sea Buckthorn Oil in our signature botanical blend, found in our Face + Body Oil, Face + Body Moisturizer, Hand + Body Lotion and Cream Cleanser, alongside other plant oils, butters and glycerin.
Rosehip Oil brings linoleic acid and vitamin E; Sea Buckthorn Oil adds omega-7 fatty acids and carotenoids. Learn more in what is Sea Buckthorn Oil?, then see why the Sea Buckthorn and Rosehip Oil combination works and how the two compare in Sea Buckthorn vs. Rosehip Oil.
In our products, these oils work as a team. In the Face + Body Moisturizer they sit alongside glycerin, shea butter and other nourishing plant oils. The Hand + Body Lotion combines them with shea butter, jojoba and sunflower oil (read why in shea butter for skin). The Cream Cleanser includes the blend so cleansing feels soft, not stripping. All are made without sulfates, parabens or synthetic fragrance.
Face + Body Oil
Our Allure Best of Beauty 2023 winner blends Rosehip Oil and Sea Buckthorn Oil with sunflower and safflower oils, vitamin E and a vitamin C derivative. It absorbs quickly without a greasy finish, helps lock in moisture over your moisturizer and works on dry spots from face to elbows.
What Loved01 Customers Say
My skin is dry, so even though I apply face moisturizer I feel dry. This product, LOVED01 face & body oil, is working for me. It's facial oil, but it's not sticky texture. I give my face massage after apply this oil. So smooth and I feel bouncing my skin. It has rosehip scent, but it's NOT TOO STRONG. I feel good. — give-to-me
I use the face & body oil as a part of my face routine. It is the last thing I do because it helps lock in the moisture from the moisturizer while adding a little more. It doesn't make my face oily & sticky. It helps it from drying out. Especially if you're like me & get dry spots on your face then you'll definitely want this to help keep your face moisturized. — Britt@94
I love this Hand + Body Lotion. It's lightweight and moisturizing. My skin feels and looks softer when I use this. I love that they contain Rosehip Oil, Sea Buckthorn Oil, Sunflower Oil, and Shea Butter. — OCsiren
Frequently Asked Questions About Rosehip Oil for Skin
Can Rosehip Oil help with dark spots?
Rosehip Oil can help the look of uneven tone, but it is not a dark spot treatment. Lab research on rose hip compounds is promising and a small 2025 pilot study saw fewer visible UV spots, but human evidence is limited. Daily sunscreen and a gentle routine matter most; see a dermatologist for persistent spots.
Is Rosehip Oil good for dry skin?
Yes. Rosehip Oil is one of the better botanical oils for dry skin because its linoleic and linolenic fatty acids help soften skin and support the barrier that holds moisture in. It works best layered over a moisturizer, or blended into a lotion, so water and oil are replenished together.
Can I use Rosehip Oil every day?
Yes. Rosehip Oil is gentle enough for daily use, morning or night, on face and body. Use two to four drops on the face after moisturizer, or smooth it onto damp skin after a shower. In the morning, always follow with sunscreen, since no oil replaces SPF protection.
Is Rosehip Oil safe for sensitive skin?
Rosehip Oil is generally well tolerated, and EWG Skin Deep does not place Rosehip Oil (rosehip seed oil) on its restricted or unacceptable lists. Any plant oil can still bother some people, so patch test first on the inner arm for a few days. If you have a diagnosed skin condition, check with a dermatologist.
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