Ingredient glossary

Rosehip Oil

What Rosehip Oil does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.

INCI: Rosa Canina Fruit Oil

Solid and proven

In short: Rosehip Oil delivers softening and brightening, suits dry and combination skin best, and the evidence behind it is moderate. One thing to know: clear it with your doctor if pregnant.

What it does
Softening, brightening
Best for
Dry, Combination skin
Watch out
Clear it with your doctor if pregnant
Evidence
Moderate
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The Glow take

One of the ingredients I trust most.

When your goal is repairing a stressed moisture barrier, Rosehip Oil delivers, with a solid amount of evidence behind it. It tends to suit dry skin best.

— Maya

What it does

  • softening
  • brightening
  • barrier support

moderate evidenceSmall studies and long cosmetic use suggest rosehip oil can improve scars, pigmentation and photoaging, likely via its fatty acid and carotenoid content.

On a label: usually effective at 2-20%.

Who it's for, and who should skip it

Tends to suit

  • dry
  • combo
  • pigmentation
  • mature

Approach with care

  • very sensitive if retinoid like
  • Irritation riskLow

How it fits each skin type

  • DrySuits
  • CombinationSuits
  • OilyNeutral
  • SensitiveNeutral

Often chosen for pigmentation, mature. Take extra care if any of these apply to you: very sensitive (if you react to retinoids).

Where it fits in your routine

WhenMorning and evening
Where in the orderAfter your actives, to seal everything in

Plays well with

Rosehip Oil, answered

Is Rosehip Oil safe during pregnancy?

Clear it with your doctor first. Rosehip Oil is flagged as use-with-caution during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so check with your doctor or midwife before adding it.

Who should avoid Rosehip Oil?

Approach Rosehip Oil with care if any of these apply to you: very sensitive (if you react to retinoids).

What concentration of Rosehip Oil actually works?

Rosehip Oil tends to do its job in the 2 to 20% range. Much lower and it is likely underdosed.

Does it clog pores?

1/5
Low

A dry-feeling oil that rates low.

  • This rating comes from old lab tests on the isolated ingredient, not the finished product.
  • The full formula, how much is used, and your own skin all matter more than one number.
  • If you are acne-prone it is worth noticing, not a reason to avoid it on sight.

During pregnancy

Treat Rosehip Oil as a maybe rather than a yes for now. It is flagged as one to use with caution while pregnant or breastfeeding, so it is worth clearing before you carry on.

When in doubt, check with your doctor or midwife. They outrank any website, including this one.

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Sources & how we reviewed this

Last reviewed July 2026. Educational information about a cosmetic ingredient, not medical advice.