Two similar-sounding oils, two similar origins, but a surprising number of differences between rose oil vs rosehip oil. Understandably, there is often confusion between the two. After all, they do come from the same plant.
Roses have long been a signifier of love, romance and femininity. Their beautiful scent is a key component in many perfumes. But the oil that’s extracted from their petals and fruits has many unexpected health benefits, ranging from treatment of depression, to skin problems, and even to lacking libido!
Short Summary:
√ Rose oil is derived from the petals of the rose plant, while Rosehip oil is extracted from the fruit of the plant.
√ Rose oil is known for its nourishing, moisturizing and anti-microbial benefits. Rosehip oil is known for its anti-aging and skin cell-renewing benefits.
√ Face Cleanser by Pai is the best cleanser with rose oil and Rosehip oil by Pai is the best rosehip oil brand.
Table of Contents
The Difference between Rose Oil Vs Rosehip Oil
Both rose oil and rosehip oil come from rose plants. The two main differences lie with the type of rose, and the part of the rose it’s harvested from:
Rose oil comes from the petals of the rosa damascena (damask rose). This is a selectively bred, ornamental rose that bursts with luxuriant petals when in bloom, and can be bright to pale pink in colour.
Rosehip oil comes from wild rose plants such as the rosa rubiginosa (commonly known as sweet briar), rosa moschata (musk rose), or the rosa canina (dog rose). You’ll often see these types of roses in hedgerows or meadows. Rosehip oil is not made from the petals like rose oil, but extracted from the fruit.
What is Rose Oil?
Rose oil is less of a topical oil, and more of an essential oil (you’ll often come across it as rose essential oil).
It has some physical benefits such as antiviral and anti-fungal. But it’s more frequently used for psychological well being – for depression, anxiety and sleep troubles; as pain relief; and in aromatherapy.
It’s a clear liquid of a light yellow color. Its high concentration means it’s commonly mixed with carrier oils, or inhaled.
What is Rosehip Oil?
Rosehip oil is extracted from the red bulbous fruit that grows underneath the petals of wild rose plants when the flower has been pollinated. Rosehips can be dried to make tea, made into jams or jellies, or pressed to make rosehip oil.
Rosehip oil is much more suitable for direct skin application. In terms of benefits, it shares a lot of similarities with other well-known plant oils such as argan oil, jojoba oil, and coconut oil.
It’s an amber liquid with an earthy scent. Cold-pressed rosehip oils are best for retaining all the vitamins and goodness the fruit provides. Kosmea is the most popular rosehip oil brand that is 100% organic and cold-pressed.
Differences in Benefits: Rose Oil Vs Rosehip Oil
Top Benefits of Rose oil:
Nourish and moisturize skin
Vitamins A, B, C, E and K are found in rose petals. When distilled into rose essential oil, it can be added to tea or inhaled via a steam diffuser to strengthen your immune system. You can also mixed rose oil with carrier oils to let these vitamins nourish and rejuvenate your skin.
Pai Skincare is the most popular product with these 5 key Vitamins.
Antiviral and Antimicrobial
These properties eliminate bacteria on the skin’s surface, making rose oil useful in the treatment of blemishes and acne. Rose water is thought to fight dandruff. It’s also anti-inflammatory, so you can used it to soothe skin conditions such as rosacea or psoriasis.
Reduction in Stress and Anxiety
An experiment with forty healthy volunteers found that applying rose oil to the skin resulted in significant decreases of breathing rate and blood oxygen saturation. The subjects rated themselves as more calm and more relaxed following the experiment. Many studies have shown that regular application of rose oil can result in lower levels of stress and anxiety.
Sleep Quality Improvement
Studies have found that rose oil improves sleep quality in cardiac patients, and can reduce sleep disturbance in healthy people, when either applied directly to the skin, or inhaled.
Pain Relief
For centuries, women have been using Rose oil to relief for menstrual cramps and menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes when massaged onto the skin. Post-surgical patients have seen promising results when they were given rose oil to inhale. They also reported decreased levels of pain.
Motivation, Mood & Libido
Several studies have reported increases in both male and female sex drives when they inhale rose oil. It’s believed to trigger dopamine (a natural motiatvor), alleviate depression, and counter the libido-inhibiting effects of antidepressants.
Top Benefits of Rosehip Oil:
Anti-Ageing
Vitamins A, C and E are arguably the ultimate anti-ageing trifecta. Thanks to the above benefits, they’re all excellently placed to work on reducing fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation, reversing the effects of sun damage, and maintaining skin elasticity.
Rosehip oil checks all the boxes for essential youth-boosting vitamins. Rosehip oil by Mint Pear is a brand certified with these 3 vitamins.
Provide Skin Damage Repair and Protection
Rosehip oil contains Tocopherol, which is Vitamin E in its purest, most highly concentrated form. It occurs naturally in our bodies, and it’s responsible for keeping your skin healthy, protected, and able to repair itself. It’s so proficient in protecting your skin from UV rays, you’ll often spot it as a key ingredient of sunscreens. Kate Blanc is a rosehip oil brand that contains vitamin E, which is useful for reducing the appearance of acne scars.
Boost Skin Radiance and Speed up Skin Cell Renewal
Vitamins A & C are found in rosehip oil. Product with Retinol (a form of Vitamin A) is a chemical exfoliant which stimulates cell turnover. Vitamin C boosts radiance by promoting rapid skin regeneration and healing. Both vitamins also promote collagen production – an essential building block in your skin’s firmness and volume. Nourishment from our diets doesn’t always reach the outer layers of our skin, so applying oils or creams containing vitamins is important for “topping up” our natural vitamin levels.
Improve Firmness
Free radicals are unbonded, unstable oxygen particles that cause deterioration to our natural tissue, including our skin. Carotenoids are natural pigments found in various plants (such as Rosehip oil) and algae. Their antioxidant powers protect your skin from free radicals and environmental damage. They’re also thought to improve tone and firmness.
Retain Skin Moisture
Rosehip oil contains oleic and linoleic acids – essential fatty acids which keep skin cells strong, prevent water loss, and help to maintain the skin’s natural barrier. Avocado oil also contains high level of these fatty acids.
Anti-Bacterial
Rosehip oil contains phenols, which are antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal compounds. This compound will assist in fighting acne causing bacteria.
Skin Hydrating
Whether taken orally or applied to the skin, rosehip oil delivers hydration in a non-greasy format that won’t block pores.
Balancing Skin pH Level
a fantastic balancer of pH levels in the skin. Therefore, you can use rosehip oil for acne treatment.
Which Skin Types are Suited for Each Oil?
Skin Types for Rose oil:
Rose oil can benefit all skin types, but it is particularly useful for those with an uneven skin tone due to its balancing properties. You can use it on mature or dry skin to nourish and combat signs of ageing.
When mixed with a carrier oil, 2-3 drops of rose oil are more than suitable for oily or acne prone skin. It’s properties work to clear spot-causing bacteria and leave the skin soft and supple.
Skin Types for Rosehip oil:
Because rosehip oil is a dry or ‘non-greasy’ oil, it won’t sit heavily on the skin, or block pores. On the comedogenic scale of 0-5, 0 means it ‘does not clog pores’ and 5 means it has a ‘high risk of clogging pores’. Rosehip oil sits at just 1.
As such, people with all skin types can use rosehip oil. You can use rosehip oil for oily skin or acne-prone skin. Rosehip oil is actually a fantastic balancer of pH levels in the skin. Therefore, people with acne-prone skin are using it to soothe and treat acne. By balancing out the over-production of oil, rosehip oil will reduce blocking of pores.
How to Use Rose Oil?
There are a few indulgent and creative ways to use rose essential oil. In every case, due to its high concentration, it should be mixed with a carrier oil first (such as coconut, almond, or avocado).
Rose oil can be:
- Applied topically within a solution of other oils
- Sprayed on the skin within a rose water solution
- Added to your bath (around 10 drops or so)
- Inhaled using a diffuser.
How to use Rosehip Oil?
Rosehip seed oil doesn’t need carrier oils, and can be applied directly to skin on the face, hair and body. 2-3 drops is perfect for a night-time face care regime.
Some other ways you might like to use it include:
- Use rosehip oil for hair: Massage into the ends of your hair to rebuild the moisture barrier
- Boost your conditioner or cream moisturizer with a few hydrating drops
- Mix it with your foundation to create a dewy glow
- Massage directly onto heels or elbows to deeply nourish dry or cracked skin
Rosehip oil by Pai skincare is the most popular brand for direct face application.
Side Effects & Caution
1) Rose Oil’s Side Effects
As with other highly concentrated oils, it’s important to use rose oil with a carrier oil, to save overwhelming or irritating the skin. If inhaling, use a diffuser or inhale from the lid rather than directly from the bottle.
Rose oil can be added to tea, but stick to less than half a teaspoon, as the exceedingly high levels of vitamin C can be toxic.
We also strongly advise you to to check with your doctor if using any kind of essential oil while pregnant.
2) Rosehip Oil’s Side Effects
Rosehip oil is largely safe, sterile and anti-inflammatory, so should not cause a reaction, but allergic reactions are not impossible. As above, pregnant women should check with their doctor before using any new type of oil.
4 Best Rose Oil Products in 2020
1) Pro-Collagen Rose Oil by Elemis
<Click Here to See Price on Amazon>
What is it? This is a very luxurious facial oil infused with precious extracts of multiple botanical goodies including organic rose petals oil, jojoba seed, sunflower seed, rosehip seed, safflower seed etc.
Why we like it? Many users have reported it being extremely useful to reduce fine-lines and wrinkles. Since it’s very light in texture, your skin will drink up all the nutrients and hydration, leaving your skin looking plump and luminous. (without clogging your pores)
It also has a very soft and subtle rose scent. Over 80% of the users gave a 5 star review and have repurchased.
2)Gentle Hydrating Camellia & Rose Cleanser By Pai
What is it? This gentle cleanser contains both traditional rose oil from the damask rose, and seed oil from the camellia oleifera, as well as several other botanical and seed oils.
Why we like it? These organic ingredients make for an intensive formula that’s rich in vitamins A, B, C and E, antioxidants, and linoleic and oleic acids – the essential fatty acids that keep your skin cells healthy and strong. The price point of this cleanser is higher than most, but it’s to be expected for the high-quality, organic ingredients.
Pai recommends you massage the soft foam onto dry skin, then remove it with a damp muslin cloth (provided). The muslin provides an extra exfoliating effect for glowing skin.
3) 100% Pure Rose Water Spray – By Baja Basics
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What is it? This fragrant, refreshing rose water spray has myriad uses – as a natural toner for the face, a make-up setting spray, a spray for the hair to add moisture and fight dandruff, or as a mood-enhancing spray to relieve tension and provide a ‘pick-me-up’.
Why we like it? Many have reported success in soothing + hydrating inflamed or irritated skin with pure rose water spray – some even keep the bottle in the fridge for extra refreshment on hot days.
4) Rose Blossom Face Serum By Annemarie Börlind
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What is it? Rosa damascena flower water comes in 4th in the ingredient list of the Annemarie Börlind Rose Blossom Face Serum, meaning there’s a high concentration for guaranteed effectiveness.
This particular rose water is extracted from the Black Forest Rose, which is said to provide extra youth-boosting and rejuvenating properties for the skin.
Why we like it? The rose water is combined with jojoba and macadamia nut oils for maximum anti-ageing benefits. It creates a cocktail of skin-loving vitamins such as C and E, retinol (vitamin A), and caprylic triglycerides (a skin-replenishing emollient made from coconut oil).
This serum combines the powers of nature and science to formulate an advanced treatment for dry or mature skin.
3 Best Rosehip Oil on Amazon
1) BioRegenerate Oil by
Pai Skincare
<Click Here to See Price on Amazon>
What is it? Interestingly, Pai’s Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil is formulated with rosehip seed oil and rosehip fruit oil. This is to ensure that all of the benefits of this wonder plant are utilised to the maximum.
Rosemary leaf extract adds a bonus boost of antioxidants. It will protect your skin against free radicals and UV rays.
Why we like it? Although you can find vitamin E naturally in rosehip oil, it’s been added to this product in its purest form of tocopherol to deliver extra anti-ageing healing power and protection to the skin.
It packs a serious punch. So you only need to use it 2-3 times a week to experience the brilliant benefits. Pai rosehip oil is ranked the best rosehip oil for face by 2000+ users.
2) Rosehip Oil Night Serum by MintPear
<Click Here to See Price on Amazon>
What is it? The MintPear Rosehip Night Serum is like a superfruit smoothie for your skin. Designed for night-time application to let the vitamins do their work, it’s packed with fruit and seed oils such as jojoba, pomegranate, raspberry seed, carrot seed and calendula.
These botanical beauties deliver all of the most important vitamins for healthy skin (A, B, C and E), as well as beta-carotene (a precursor of retinol or vitamin A) and fatty acids. It’s one of the best rosehip oil for face for direct applicaiton.
Why we like it? this powerful serum with its star-studded ingredients list absorb overnight, to turn back the clock on fine lines, wrinkles and loss of elasticity. The combination of rosehip and jojoba can also help to balance and soothe irritated or over-oily skin.
3) Kate Blanc Rosehip Seed Oil
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What is it? If you’re looking to experiment with a rosehip oil before introducing other ingredients to your regime, Kate Blanc provides an option that is 100% pure, cold-pressed, and unrefined.
As we mentioned earlier, cold-pressing ensures that any bacteria is eradicated from the plant source, but all of the goodness is kept in. So make sure whatever you choose is cold-pressed, and unrefined to maintain the natural scent and colour.
Why we like it? This product comes in a simple dropper bottle for easy application to the face, neck, body, nails, cuticles and hair. Let the inherent vitamins, fatty acids and antioxidants in rosehip oil remedy any area that’s lacking in nourishment.
Kate Blanc rosehip oil reviewed on Amazon: it has over 6000 users giving it a 5 star rating!
4) Kosmea Rosehip Oil
What is it? If you are looing for the best quality rosehip oil in the market, you will have to pick Kosmea. It’s 100% certified organic and it uses an extraction method that guarantee full potency. It means that this extraction process protects the highly sensitive essential fatty acids Omega 3, 6 & 9, vitamins A, C & E and anti-oxidants.
Why we like it? As such, you get the highest concentration of active ingredients. This magical oil is versatile in treating fine lines, wrinkles, acne, acne scar, uneven skin tone, dry skin, stretch marks!
Although it’s on a slightly higher price range, it’s 100% worth it!
Conclusion
When choosing between Rose oil Vs rosehip oil, you need to be clear of your skin type and what benefits you want from using it. You also need to pay attention to HOW each oil should be used.
√ Rose oil is known for its nourishing, moisturizing and anti-microbial benefits. Rosehip oil is known for its anti-aging and skin cell-renewing benefits.
√ Rose oil is very high in concentration, therefore it should be mixed with a carrier oil first. Whereas Rosehip oil can be applied to skin on the face, hair
√ Face Cleanser by Pai is the best cleanser with rose oil and Rosehip oil by Pai is the best rosehip oil brand.
Suggested Read: Jojoba Oil Vs Argan Oil – Which is best for skin and hair?
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