Rose Oil in Skin Care: Benefits, Uses, and Drawbacks

Rose Oil in Skin Care

Rose oil is a fragrant and beneficial ingredient in some skin care products. It is an essential oil derived from the petals of Rosa Damascena.

Rose oil is used in a number of skin care products, but is not extremely common because it is expensive and dehydrating to some skin types.

To see if rose oil is right for your skin care regimen, take our questionnaire and shop by your Baumann Skin Type.

What is rose oil?

Rose oil, Rosa Damascena, is a fragrant essential oil derived from rose petals.

Rose oil has been used in fragrances for thousands of years, but is not omnipresent in modern day skin products.

When it is used in cosmetic products for its fragrance, it is usually in a diluted form or low concentration. This is why it is often seen at the end of the ingredient list on the product label.

Rose oil It is an essential oil with a nearly non-existent level of fatty acids, meaning it is not a true oil.

However, it still has many properties that are considered beneficial for skin care like anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and skin lightening properties.

Is rose oil commonly used in skin care?

Rose oil can be found in a wide variety of skin care products from massage oils to cleansers, but it is not nearly as common in skin care as other flower oils like sunflower seed oil, evening primrose oil, or rosehip oil.

The main reason rose oils are not super common in skin care is because they:

are not affordable

lack hydrating fatty acids

can damage dry skin.

Uses of rose oil

What is rose oil used for in skin care?

Rose oil is predominantly used as a fragrance in skin care.

It is also used as a preservative because of its anti-microbial activity and is even used in some HIV treatments through oral consumption. (1)

Another commonly used antimicrobial oil in skin care is tea tree oil.

Rose oil is not often used as a hydrating face oil because it does not have any moisturizing fatty acids or many of the other beneficial features typical of true oils.

Some moisturizers use rose oil in small concentrations for fragrance.

Many product types like cleansers use rose oils for their anti-microbial nature.

Some sunscreens use rose oil for its UV protective properties (2).

Skin lightening gels use rose oil as it is a weak tyrosinase inhibitor that stops the production of the pigment, melanin. (3)

If you’re wondering if rose oil is right for your skin, take the Baumann Skin Type questionnaire, and shop by your skin type!

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Rose oil benefits for skin

Rose oil has many benefits when used on the face and body.

Four of the most notable benefits of rose oil in skin care are:

Antimicrobial (anti-bacterial, anti-viral)

Skin lightening (tyrosinase inhibition)

UV Protection (2)

Fragrance

side effects of rose oil

Rose oil side effects

Rose oil is not dangerous for the skin unless you are allergic to roses.

It is possible to have an allergic reaction to rose oil.

Is rose oil safe for use in skin care?

Rose oil is completely safe for use in skin care unless you have an allergy to it.

The EWG rating for rose oil is “3” which basically means “not the safest,” but that is based entirely on its status as a common allergen.

It does not affect your hormones, is not toxic, and is safe during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

What kind of oil is rose oil?

Rose oil is an essential oil extracted from flower petals.

It lacks any significant concentration of fatty acids, so it is not a true oil, neither saturated nor unsaturated.

Rose oil is not a hydrating or moisturizing oil, unlike evening primrose oil or rosehip oils.

rose vs rosehip

Rose oil vs rosehip oil

Rose and rosehip oils come from two different flowers and have different INCI names on skin care labels.

Rose oil’s INCI name is (Rosa Damascenas), and rosehip oil’s INCI name is (Rosa Rubiginosa).

Rosehip oil is derived from Argentinian, fruiting rose bush seeds.

Rosehip oils derived from these seeds are rich in beneficial fatty acids for skin care like linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, and even some saturated fatty acids like myristic acid.

Rosehip oil also contains oleic acid.

This means that comparatively, rosehip oil is by far better for dry skin than rose oil is.

What kinds of fatty acids are in rose oil?

There really aren’t any significant levels of fatty acids present in rose oil besides a small concentration of one long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid which seems to have a positive impact on neuron function. (1)

Using rose oils for their fatty acids is a dead end; however other kinds of roses and flowers like evening primrose, safflower, and sunflowers all contain beneficial fatty acids for skin care.

Take the Quiz

rose oil for hair care

Rose oil for hair care

As rose oil lacks hydrating or reparative fatty acids, the only functions rose oil would have in hair care are killing bacteria and imparting fragrance.

If your hair is dry or otherwise damaged, oils like coconut oil would be better for your hair.

Hair is made of thick proteins that need to be hydrated to stay healthy, just like the rest of your body.

Rose oil skin lightening

Rose oil is used in multiple products to treat dark spots or other kinds of hyperpigmentation. It is a weak tyrosinase inhibitor.

Rose oil can also be used in products designed for melasma or PIH.

There are no indications that rose oil is unsafe for pregnancy, which means it might work for your regimen if you are looking to treat melasma while pregnant.

Rose oil, like other tyrosinase inhibitors, can be paired with a PAR-2 blocker like niacinamide for increased skin lightening effects.

If you have an allergy to rose, make sure your skin lightener does not list “Rosa Damascena” as an ingredient.

is rose oil safe for dry skin?

Rose oil for dry skin conditions

Rose oil is not recommended for use for any dry skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis because it is not very hydrating and does not repair the skin barrier.

The best oils for dry skin conditions contain high concentrations of fatty acids such as linoleic acid, a soothing anti-inflammatory with many hydrating/moisturizing fatty acids.

Three great oils for dry skin with linoleic acid are:

Argan oil

Evening Primrose oil

Sunflower oil

Best skin care products containing rose oil:

Here are some of our favorite skin care products containing rose oil! Be sure to shop by your Baumann Skin Type, because rose oil may be right for your skin!

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

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