Wait, aren’t rose oil and rosehip oil the same thing?!
They have almost the same name. They come from the same family. Yet one keeps wrinkles at bay while the other irritates your skin real bad. Ouch!
So what’s the difference between them and which one is the good twin? Let the rose oil vs rosehip oil showdown begin:
Rose Oil Vs Rosehip Oil: What Are They?
Here are the main differences:
| ROSE OIL | ROSEHIP OIL |
| It comes from the beautiful roses (Rosa Damascena) we all love. |
It comes from wild roses (Rosa Rubiginosa, Rosa Moschata and Rosa Canina. |
| It’s extracted from the petals. | It’s extracted from the rosehips, the fruit of the rosehp plant. |
| It’s made with steam distillation (that’s why the scent is so strong!) |
It’s squeezed out of the fruits and seeds through a cold-press method (that’s why it’s less concentrated). |
| It’s an essential oil, so it must be diluted before application. |
It’s a carrier oil (helps carry other oils into the skin). |
| It’s a pale yellow or green. | It’s a light amber or slightly orange hue. |
| It’s a strong rose scent. | It has a more subtle earth scent. |
| It contains many fragrant components but no fatty acids. |
It’s loaded with fatty acids. |
Now you know where rose oil and rosehip oil come from, can you guess which one is the good twin and which one is the bad twin? Keep reading to see if you’re right. 😉
Rose Oil VS Rosehip Oil: What Do They Do?
Rose Oil
- Hydrating: like all oils, rose oil has hydrating and moisturizing properties that plump skin up and make it softer and smoother.
- Soothing: its astringent properties are believed to soothe irritations and even reduce the symptoms of eczema.
- Antiaging: rose oil contains its fair share of antioxidants to fight the free radicals that cause premature aging.
Rosehip Oil
Rosehip oil has several skincare superpowers:
- Moisturising: it’s loaded with linoleic acid, a fatty acid that improves your skin’s barrier function and helps water stay in the skin. Together with vitamin C, it improves senile dryness and slows down aging, too!
- Anti-acne:Â acne sufferers have less linoleic acid in their sebum than people without acne. Adding it back in helps reduce the size of mini-comedones (mini pimples).
- Antiaging: rosehip is a natural source of vitamin A, an antioxidant that destroys free radicals, boosts collagen and speeds up cellular turnover (i.e., the skin’s natural exfoliating process). That’s 3 ways to keep wrinkles at bay!
- Brightening: vitamin A and linoleic acid help fade away sun spots and discolourations.
Related: Why Rosehip Oil Is My Go-To For Any Skin Woe
SHOP MY FAVE ROSEHIP OIL PRODUCTS
Rose Oil VS Rosehip Oil: Are There Any Side Effects?
Here’s the thing no one tells you about plants: they’re not just one ingredient.
Nope. Just like human beings, a plant is a living organism made up of tens of thousands of chemicals. Some of these chemicals are good. They give plants their moisturising, soothing and antioxidant properties. Other chemicals are toxic. They’re the plant’s self-defence mechanism against predators.
In the case of rosehip oil, the good chemicals far outweigh the bad. It’s so gentle, it rarely causes irritations!
Rose oil is a completely different matter. Because of the extraction process, rose oil is loaded with citronellol, geraniol, linalool and other fragrant components that can cause allergies and irritations.
If you have sensitive skin, don’t go there.
Scratch that. If you have skin, don’t go there. Even if rose oil doesn’t give you a rash, fragrance can trigger inflammation in the deeper layers of the skin (where you can’t see it!).
Inflammation speeds up aging. Need I say more?
Related: How To Use Rosehip Oil
Rose Oil Vs Rosehip Oil: Which One Is Better?
Rosehip oil wins hands down. It moisturises your skin, helps you fight acne and keeps your wrinkles at bay – without irritation. Rose oil has its perks too, but the strong fragrance is trouble for skin.
Do you prefer rose oil or rosehip oil? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Rosehip Oil for me. I just love it…sinks into the skin really good without leaving a greasy feeling.
Thelma, I agree. It has a lovely texture and does wonders for the skin.
I’m so glad rosehip oil is getting so trendy, I’ve been stuck with the idea of purchasing a bottle since some months ago. Even Revolution skincare has now one in their line!
But the price point varies a lot from brand to brand – needless to say, green7natural brands have been selling rosehip oil since the dawn of time 😛 So that always makes me wonder what characteristics should I look after in rosehip oil…
Mariana, this is a tricky question because every batch of rosehip oil, even when from the same brand, is a little different. Like all plants, its exact composition depends on soil, climate etc. As a rule, though, the best rosehip oil is cold-pressed, unrefined kind. It retains most of its nutrients.
I use various serums…vitamin C, retinol, etc. I would like to try rose hip oil but I’m uncertain in what order I should apply. Could you help me out with this? Thank you!!!
Cherry, an oil is always the last step in your evening skincare routine.
Love the post, Gio. But what about Rose damascene water? Is it bad for the skin as the oil, too? Personally I used it and had great results, my skin was and felt hydrated, my pores where smaller and it looked brighter almost from the first use. I have sensitive dry skin and it was awesome. I was just thinking to buy another spray, do you know something about it?
Maria, rosa damascene water is distilled with alcohol too so it has the same problems as the oil. I personally don’t recommend it.
But other than the irritation from the smell that may occur to some people (not my case) does it have other side effects? I mean, if the scent doesn’t affect me, is it still bad? What about the great results?
Maria, I wouldn’t say it’s 100% bad but there are other oils that give you the same benefits without the potential irritation, so why go for this?
Opinion on rose water distillation method ? I used as a mist on my skin
Ashley, it depends. Steam distillation retains more beneficial nutrients than using distilled water to do the job. But the real problem of rose water is the fragrant component – that could irritate sensitive skin.
So rose hip oil does not contain linalool?