Ciao -
Skin care used to be one of the things that I dreaded the absolute most - so much time, so much effort, so many products with confusing labels and ingredients that didn't seem to work. Dry skin, oily skin, broken out, unhappy skin. Think, ‘When you do your skin care but your skin doesn’t care’ kind of vibes.
Welcome to one of my favorite skin care secrets - rosehip oil! You may be thinking, some weird oil I’ve never heard of? Precisely.
Before we get into that, let’s talk about why using an oil in your skincare routine can be hugely beneficial. As we know, the health of our skin barrier and oil ratio is fundamental for healthy skin and any kind of dermal healing. If you missed the post on healing your skin barrier,
It may seem counterintuitive to use more oil when you’re already struggling with excessive oil, but it’s true! Totally a game changer in the long run. Regularly applying oil actually allows your skin to rest, heal, and trust that it does not need to overproduce, but rather slow down production to a more normal level. In the same way our skin produces oil as a natural barrier, (and creates excess when inflamed) we can apply oil to further protect and heal our natural barrier, helping to keep skin happy and moisturized.
Oil in itself is not necessarily moisturizing due to the difference in molecule size making it not permeable to the pores in the skin (aka - the oil sits on top of the skin rather than soaking in). What it does, instead, is lock moisture in. Oil should be used as the very last step of your skincare routine, because it works as a natural sealant, such in the classic way oil and water don’t mix. The oil on your skin as the last step keeps your products from drying out or oxidizing, allowing them to be effective for longer. It also protects your skin from the outside air, giving it a break from dry and contaminated air.
There are many oils people can and do use on their skin such as argan, coconut, jojoba, etc, and to each their own! I personally have only ever used rosehip oil on my sensitive skin. Rosehip oil has been a longterm staple in my skin care, and a huge turning point in healing my skin barrier. Not only as an oil does it lock in other products and moisture, but it also comes with a load of other benefits. High in Vitamin A, C, and essential fatty acids, this oil helps to reduce inflammation, reduce hyperpigmentation, naturally promote cell turnover to increase brightness and collagen formation, smooths fine lines, and tightens pores, to name a few.
When I first started on the journey of healing my skin barrier, I used rosehip oil in the mornings as well as in the nighttime in my skin care routine. After a few months, I only felt the need to use the oil after my nighttime skin care routine because my skin had become much more regular. Every night, I use 3-4 drops on my fingertips and gently pat all over my face. (P.S. - it makes my eyelashes grow longer as well!) I always say, if you’re not going to bed looking like a glazed donut, you’re not doing it right.
The Ordinary brand is my favorite pure cold pressed rosehip oil - only $9.80 from Ulta and it lasts for such a long time. If you’re looking to heal your skin barrier, or just up your overall skincare routine, this is a great product to have on your shelf. Here’s to happy skin, and glazed donuts!
Food for thought,
Lai