Rosehip oil is an exceptional plant oil. It can help to soothe skin, increase hydration, and has anti-inflammatory properties. This plant oil is also rich in vitamin A, which can have a multitude of skin benefits when applied topically. The concern is whether or not the naturally derived form of vitamin A in rosehip oil can be used with a synthetic form of vitamin A, otherwise known as retinol. The answer is simple – You can use both of these treatments together in small quantities, but it is best to stay cautious and monitor your skin for any adverse effects.
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Can I Use Rosehip Oil Everyday?
Rosehip oil is a plant oil that is gentle enough to be used on the skin everyday.
As it is rich in fatty acids like linoleic acid, it is beneficial for inflammatory skin conditions and soothing dry and irritated skin.
Previous studies have shown that those suffering from acne and inflammatory skin conditions have low levels of linoleic acid.
Topically applying linoleic acid rich oils may improve these conditions. Rosehip oil also contains antioxidant compounds that can protect the skin from oxidative stress.
It repairs the skin when it has been exposed to harmful UV rays from the sun. In addition, it contributes to the slowing of aging due to reactive oxygen species (ROS), as rosehip oil helps to mitigate their negative effects on collagen production.
Due to its gentle properties, hydrating compounds, and anti-inflammatory effect, rosehip oil can be used everyday. It can be used in the morning to gain maximum benefits from its antioxidant effects. Or, it can be used at nighttime to help regenerate irritated and dry skin.
Does Rosehip Oil Cause Purging?
Purging is the initial exacerbation of acne that can occur when starting a new acne treatment or any exfoliant. Any substance that affects the turnover rate of skin cells has the potential to cause purging.
In the case of rosehip oil, it is rich in vitamin A and therefore, this will be used as retinoic acid on the surface of the skin. This can lead to exfoliation of dead skin cells, which can contribute to purging.
However, there are factors that affect the efficacy of the vitamin A in this plant oil. For one, the manufacturer producing rosehip oil must purify it adequately to ensure it does not contain other impurities that affect its vitamin A content.
Secondly, the vitamin A rich plant oil may not be equally present in all parts of the formulation. Since it is a natural product, some of the retinoic acid rich parts of the oil may sink to the bottom and not be immediately available at each use.
Therefore, there is less of a chance purging can occur with rosehip oil in comparison to other man-made skin exfoliants.
How Do You Use Rosehip Oil With Retinol?
When using rosehip oil with retinol, it is important to do so sparingly and to monitor your skin for any adverse reactions.
It is especially important to try each product one at a time to track how your skin will react to each one separately.
Using both a retinol and rosehip oil together at the same time without testing individual products on your skin will cause confusion if you begin to break out.
You won’t know which one is irritating your skin!
It is best to use retinol at nighttime. Since it increases cell turnover, it can make the skin sensitive to sunlight. Therefore, adding retinol to your morning routine can damage the skin.
Instead, you can use rosehip oil in the morning and retinol at night. This way, there is less of a chance of these two products interacting poorly. To use retinol, it needs to be applied to clean, dry skin. You can use a moisturizer before or after retinol application.
Rosehip oil should be applied after moisturizer and before sunscreen.
Can You Put Oil on Top of Retinol?
In general, it is safe to use a moisturizer or an oil after applying retinol. Especially if the oil is hydrating and soothing, then using an oil after retinol treatment can help combat dryness and irritation from the retinol.
However, using rosehip oil specifically after applying retinol may lead to dryness. The important thing to remember is to apply rosehip oil a few minutes after applying the retinol, not right away.
This will allow the retinol to sink into the skin and dry completely rather than being mixed with the rosehip oil. This can lessen potential irritation.
Overall, rosehip oil has many hydrating properties and functions as an antioxidant. It can be used alongside retinol as its retinoic acid content will differ depending on its formulation. It may be too weak to adequately exfoliate the skin, and therefore is safe to use with retinol, as long as the above precautions are in place. These include using rosehip oil a few minutes after retinol or using rosehip oil in the morning and retinol at night.