In the hope of squeezing just one blog post out of April 2015, I've skipped over a few product trials that I should have reviewed before getting to this one. Besides, I know what you ravenous hags want: my face with a ton of acne on it, right? Lots of grease, some tears, and a review of a fabulous holistic skincare treatment that is referred to, by some, as "liquid gold."
Due to it's high concentration of vitamin A, rosehip seed oil is the only natural product that is considered a substitute for retinol or tretinoin (retinoic acid). My past experiences with Retin-A were nothing short of fantastic; my forehead has never looked as clear as it did during my Retin-A heyday. I remember having a dermatologist look at my skin under one of those magnifying dermatologist lights and say "Your forehead is clear." Also, "Is yous a professional gorgeous person? Wowy wow wow."
When I decided to get more natural with my routine, the Retin-A was the first thing to get the axe. Years ago I tested out an old bottle of NOW brand rosehip oil that my mom had kicking around her medicine cabinet. My experience was lackluster, but when I got real serious about my acne research, I realized my half-assed trial was probably closer to quarter-assed.
Not all rosehip oil is made equal. If you're looking for a high quality rosehip oil, look for cold-pressed, unrefined, organic oil that is from Chile. Because the oil has a tendency to oxidize, rosehip in a dark glass, airtight pump is ideal. Store it in the refrigerator to extend it's shelf life; rosehip oil will only be good for about a year once opened and exposed to air. By-the-by, "rosehip seed oil" and "rosehip oil" are the same thing. Rose oil, is not. As such, rosehip oil does not smell like roses.
I got a bottle of InstaNatural from my mom for Christmas and it sat in my refrigerator for 3 months before I cracked the seal. You don't have any clue how freakin' jazzed I was about this trial. I've read that supermodels and fellow professional gorgeous people love rosehip seed oil, and that Princess Shiny Locks herself used it when she was pregnant with the future king of the British Empire.
I'm drooling all over myself. I want this bad.
Ingredients:
- InstaNatural Rosehip Seed Oil (100% pure, organic, unrefined rosehip oil)
- St. Ives Exfoliating Pads
- Spot treatments as needed
Method:
- Obtain some rosehip seed oil. You're gonna look mahvelous dahling.
- Store it in your refrigerator until you can't hardly wait any longer.
- Choose a good place to spot test it. I chose my forehead because I have bangs. Yay bang.
- Clean your face and dry it as usual. I did my normal washcloth+water routine.
- Put a teensy tinesy bit of rosehip oil into the palm of your hand and rub it between your fingertips. I found just a half-pump of oil was plenty.
- Apply it to your spot test area. I only used it once per day during the forehead trial.
- If you're using an exfoliant while using rosehip oil, apply it at a different time of the day than the rosehip oil to minimize the chance of irritation.
- After 1-2 weeks, if you're feeling ballsy, apply it all over your face for another 1-2 weeks.
- Turn into a real princess.
Conclusions:
Before we get to the hot-sexy pics, let me say that rosehip seed oil does not really smell like old fish or rotting flesh like so many people complained about in the Amazon reviews. Wanna see a dead body, kid? No, you don't Amazon reviewers, because it will surely punch a hole in your olfactory bulb. Rosehip oil is darkish orangish in color, and smells like a multi-vitamin. It's stronger smelling than other oils, but it does not smell like actual vomit garbage, I swear it.
The feel of the oil was better than I expected as well. It absorbs quickly, and is not super greasy - I'm sure this is due, in part, to the fact that I purposely applied the smallest amount possible while testing it. It's also due to the fact that rosehip oil is high in linoleic acid, which is a preferred trait for those with oily skin; FYI, for comparison fun, Rosehip has 44% Linoleic acid, Hemp has 56.48%, and Grapeseed has 70.6% (this blog post is very helpful if you want more information).
Please note: InstaNatural doesn't even recommend this rosehip for people with acne, but what the hell do they know anyway. My forehead trial was relatively uneventful, so suck it rules/comedogenic ratings.
Before & After Rosehip Seed Oil
"Forehead Trial" After = results after two weeks of testing Rosehip on forehead only
| Before & After Rosehip Seed Oil :: The Acne Experiment |
Yeah! I'M GONNA GET ME SOME soft, beautiful, amazing skin, that is naturally this way because I only use the oils of this plant, native to Chile. I applied it to my whole face for a day or so before I realized trouble was abrewin' in forehead land. Below you will find the fruits of that eruption:
| holy hell. |
Before & After Rosehip Oil
"Chin Trial" - After = results after testing Rosehip on chin only
In case you can't see it in the after photo, I've aggravated the perioral dermatitis gods. I know it's the oil too, because I applied it slightly beyond my chin, and I had those little bumps slightly beyond my chin too. And just so you know, as I write this 3 weeks later, it is still messed up.
I'm giving this oil to my dog.
Just kidding I'm giving it to my Mom. She'll probably love it.
Next Up: Caru Witch Hazel + Bee Balm Toner (Hydrosol)
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Special Note: I had a person in the comment section of a different blog tell me that rosehip oil is best used diluted with another carrier oil like Jojoba. I'm too afraid to try this oil mixing myself, but if any of YOU have experience with it, I'd love to hear about it.
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Testing Rosehip Seed Oil on Acne :: Crappy Candle
| All Images © Crappy Candle / The Acne Experiment |
