RoseHip Oil
The Natural Skin Healer.

I'm not usually a "spa" kind of person but I noticed that the hotel I stayed at while visiting Canada for a Rose Show was advertising rosehip oil treatments. They offered rosehip oil in a grapeseed carrier for body skin exfoliation, facial products containing rosehip and geranium oil mixed, rosehip oil feet massages, soaps and cremes. I was intrigued, although not brave enough to try.

It seems that cold pressed RoseHip Oil comes from the seeds of the rosehip (or Haw), most of which are grown wild in the high Andes of Chile. These seeds produce about 9% dry oil which contains Omega 3, Omega 6, Omega 9, Glycerin, Vitamin E, Beta Carotene and the only vegetable oil to contain Retinoc acid or Vitamin A acid. Who knew?

The RoseHips from Rosa Mosqueta contain over 80% fatty (UTF) acids and anti-oxidants and they are used in some skin care products, but the best come from Rosa Rubignosa (Rubginosa?), also known as Eglantia or sometimes Sweet briar. Rosa Canina are also used but have irritant hairs that MUST BE REMOVED!

Commercial production in Chile has been underway for generations and uses the cold pressed method rather than solvents. The oil is not strictly an "essential oil" like Rose Attar and does not need to be diluted.

The essential fatty acids in the oil (EFA or Vitamin F) reduces pore size and the natural Vitamin A is good for all kinds of skin infections. Chileans have been using it to treat dry skin, scars and skin burn ailments, but it is also used in health cremes, after shave, Balms, day and night cremes, mud face packs and body oils. Most of these also have other ingredients and carrier bases.

One interesting side issue is that of melting points! Because rosehip oil contains high quantities of Linolenic Acid, it means it has a low melting point of minus 20 degrees. The body has a problem dealing with high melting point fats such as Cholesterol (burning point = plus 150 degrees!) So, oily skin plus rosehip oil produces a combined overall melting point that is manageable, allowing the body to more easily process them. The combination averages everything out. Just another reason why those of us with the more oily skins would benefit from a rosehip seed oil, skin product.

But please take note: because this oil has a high level of poly UFA, it has a short shelf life of less than 6 months, so always buy RoseHip Oil with a small amount of Vitamin E oil added. This also means it will leave no fatty residue on the skin and absorb quickly.

So next time you are contemplating the "spa" experience, or you just have oily skin, a skin blemish problem or burning, try a RoseHip Oil application and get the benefits of a natural product. "Another" natural product from the hard working Rose!



www.Rose-Works.com, helping you get the most from your Roses and Rose Hip oil.

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