Rosehip Oil for Skin: What Three Scientific Papers Really Tell Us

Rosehip oil is an intriguing skincare ingredient. But what does the research actually tell us, and where do promising findings stop short of proof?

At Cosy Cottage, we value scientific evidence alongside customer experience, without treating them as interchangeable. Two reviews published in 2024 and a small facial-skin study published in 2025 offer an interesting, but still developing, picture.

What is rosehip oil?

Rosehip seed oil contains fatty acids including linoleic and linolenic acids. Researchers have also investigated its carotenoids, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity.

However, rosehip seed oil, rosehip fruit and rosehip extracts are different materials. Their composition depends on the species, the part of the plant used, extraction methods and storage. Findings about one preparation cannot automatically be applied to another.

This matters when discussing vitamins, too. Research showing that rosehip fruit contains vitamin C does not establish the vitamin C content of a seed oil or finished cream. Likewise, carotenoids that act as vitamin A precursors should not be presented as equivalent to a tested retinol treatment.

The first review: exploring rosehip’s dermatological potential

In 2024, Oargă Porumb, Cornea-Cipcigan and Cordea published an updated review of the mechanisms behind rosehip-based dermatological products.

The review brings together research into oils, extracts and their constituents. It discusses antioxidant activity, inflammatory processes, antimicrobial activity and wound repair. It also considers a possible surface barrier effect of topical oil, which may help limit moisture loss.

These are useful reasons to investigate rosehip. However, identifying an antioxidant compound or observing an effect in a laboratory does not establish that a cream containing it will produce the same benefit on human skin.

The evidence spans different preparations and experimental settings, including laboratory and animal studies. The authors describe rosehip oils and extracts as promising agents requiring further investigation, rather than established answers to every skin concern.

Read the 2024 dermatological review

The second review: rosehip and wound healing

Belkhelladi and Bougrine’s review, published in the January 2024 issue of the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, examines rosehip oil and postsurgical scars. Our assessment here is based on its published abstract.

The authors identify a scarcity of high-quality research. They describe some encouraging evidence from two human clinical trials suggesting potential benefits for postsurgical scars, including their size and redness.

Importantly, their conclusion remains cautious: there is insufficient evidence to recommend rosehip oil for treating wounds.

That distinction matters. A botanical ingredient can deserve further research without being an established treatment. We would not use this review to promise that a cosmetic cream or serum heals wounds, treats scars or manages eczema or psoriasis.

View the wound-healing review

The third paper: a five-week facial-skin pilot study

The 2025 study by Oargă and colleagues is particularly relevant to cosmetic skincare because it examined topical rosehip seed oil on human facial skin.

Twenty-seven volunteers applied three drops of a particular cold-pressed Rosa canina seed oil daily for five weeks. Researchers used VISIA facial imaging to assess characteristics including texture, wrinkles, spots and redness.

The overall results section reports lower average texture and wrinkle scores after treatment. These observations are encouraging, although responses varied between participants, age groups and the areas of the face assessed.

A closer reading reveals a mixed picture

The abstract and conclusion emphasise reductions in UV spots and redness. However, the overall results in section 3.3 report increases in average UV-spot and red-area scores. This inconsistency means these outcomes should not be presented as clear, general benefits.

Some statistical comparisons also concern differences between age groups, rather than directly testing improvement before and after treatment. A significant difference between younger and older participants is not, by itself, evidence that the oil worked.

The study’s limitations

This was a small, unblinded study without a control group. It therefore cannot reliably separate the effects of the oil from seasonal changes, changes in skincare routines or natural variation.

Five weeks is also too short to establish lasting benefits or longer-term tolerability. Participants were selected to exclude several skin conditions, so the findings do not demonstrate suitability for everyone with sensitive skin or chronic skin conditions.

The study omitted sunscreen during its late-autumn treatment period. That is not a routine we recommend copying. These findings do not establish an SPF or show that rosehip oil can replace tested sun protection.

Read the 2025 facial-skin pilot study

What does this mean for our skincare?

Ingredient research helps inform formulation choices, but a finished product is more than one ingredient. Concentration, the other ingredients, processing, packaging and storage can all influence its characteristics.

We include rosehip oil in our Honey & Rosehip Face Cream, Rosehip & Raspberry Seed Oils Facial Serum and Cosy Cuddles Baby Balm.

None of these three papers tested our finished products. Their findings should therefore be discussed as research into the ingredient, not clinical proof for our formulations.

Customer feedback offers another valuable perspective: how a product feels and fits into someone’s routine. It cannot establish which ingredient caused a reported benefit.

Our balanced conclusion

Rosehip oil is a scientifically interesting skincare ingredient, with a composition that merits investigation and preliminary human findings worth following.

These papers do not establish that it reverses ageing, heals wounds or protects against the sun. They show promising observations alongside important gaps.

Larger, controlled studies with longer follow-up and well-characterised formulations would help clarify which benefits are dependable, for whom, and under what conditions.

In the meantime, we can appreciate rosehip oil without asking it to live up to claims the evidence cannot yet support. For us, thoughtful skincare means curiosity, carefully chosen ingredients and honesty about what is known and what remains uncertain.

Frequently asked questions

Has rosehip oil been proven to reduce wrinkles?

The 2025 pilot study reported lower average wrinkle scores after five weeks, but its small size and lack of a control group prevent a firm conclusion that the oil caused the change. It is preliminary evidence, not proof of a dependable effect for every user or product.

Can rosehip oil heal wounds?

The wound-healing review concluded that evidence was insufficient to recommend rosehip oil for treating wounds. Cosmetic skincare should not replace appropriate medical care.

Is rosehip oil a sunscreen?

These papers do not establish an SPF for rosehip oil or our products. A rosehip cream or serum should not replace tested sun protection.

Does rosehip oil suit everyone?

No ingredient or formulation suits every person. Check the complete product ingredients, particularly if you have known sensitivities, and consider patch testing.

References

1. Oargă Porumb DP, Cornea-Cipcigan M, Cordea MI. Unveiling the mechanisms for the development of rosehip-based dermatological products: an updated review. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2024;15:1390419. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1390419.
2. Belkhelladi M, Bougrine A. Rosehip extract and wound healing: A review. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2024;23(1):62-67. Published online 21 August 2023. doi: 10.1111/jocd.15971.
3. Oargă DP, Cornea-Cipcigan M, Nemeș SA, Cordea MI. The Effectiveness of a Topical Rosehip Oil Treatment on Facial Skin Characteristics: A Pilot Study on Wrinkles, UV Spots Reduction, Erythema Mitigation, and Age-Related Signs. Cosmetics. 2025;12:125. doi: 10.3390/cosmetics12030125.