How we scored it
Where it comes from
Rosehip oil is cold-pressed or solvent-extracted from the fruit and seed of Rosa canina. The whole triglyceride oil is used as obtained, with no petrochemical modification.
Rosehip oil is not synthesized industrially in the traditional chemical sense. Instead, it is obtained through the physical extraction of oil from the seeds of rosehip fruits. The process typically involves harvesting the ripe rosehips, separating the seeds from the pulp, and then extracting the oil from these seeds.
The most common extraction methods are cold pressing and solvent extraction. Cold pressing involves mechanically pressing the seeds at low temperatures to preserve the oil's delicate fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants. This method yields a high-quality oil but may have lower yields compared to solvent extraction.
Solvent extraction uses food-grade solvents, such as hexane, to dissolve the oil from the seed material. After extraction, the solvent is evaporated and recovered, leaving behind the crude rosehip oil. This method is more efficient in terms of oil yield but requires careful purification steps to ensure no residual solvent remains in the final product. Subsequent purification steps for both methods may include filtration and deodorization (if necessary, though often avoided to retain beneficial compounds).
In plain English
Rosehip oil is a natural oil pressed from the seeds of rosehip fruits, which are the accessory fruits of the rose plant. It's packed with beneficial compounds like essential fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6), vitamin E, and vitamin C, making it a popular ingredient in skincare products.
Because it's directly extracted from plant seeds, it's considered 100% renewable and natural. The process involves either pressing the seeds gently at low temperatures to keep all the good stuff intact, or using a safe solvent to get more oil out, followed by careful cleaning. This oil is known for its ability to moisturize, improve skin texture, and help reduce the appearance of scars and fine lines.
CosIng definition: Rosa Canina Fruit Oil is an oil from the Hip Rose, Rosa canina L., Rosaceae
References
- 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
- 2ROSEHIP OIL. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 3ROSA CANINA FRUIT OIL. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ROSA%20CANINA%20FRUIT%20OIL