Over the past couple of years I've been experimenting with foraging to create my own herbal teas, as well as facial oils, creams and shower gel. One thing I've learned is how to make Rosehip Oil, which is a bit of a gem in the skincare world. It's been used by people for centuries and it became particularly popular during World War II when fresh produce was difficult to find (it would be made into a syrup to ward off coughs and colds in the winter months). But it can also be added to skincare, shower gel and lotion bases as it has great beauty benefits. I've created batches of Rosehip Oil which I use to create facial oils, hand cream, cuticle oil and shower gel.
What is Rosehip Oil?
So let's take a closer look at Rosehip Oil. The oil is extracted from the seeds of wild rose bushes; I get mine from the Dog Rose bush in my garden. These are the same bushes that give us those lovely rosehips in autumn. Rosehips look a bit like berries, but are longer.
Rosehip Oil has numerous benefits for your skin - firstly, it's packed with vitamins, particularly Vitamin C and Vitamin A (in the form of retinol). Vitamin C helps brighten your skin and fade dark spots, whilst retinol can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It also contains vitamins D and E.
Rosehip Oil is also full of essential fatty acids like omega 3 and 6. The omegas do wonders for hydrating your skin and locking in moisture. So, if you've got dry or dehydrated skin, Rosehip Oil might be your new best friend.
Rosehip Oil also contains antioxidants. These little warriors fight off free radicals which cause premature aging and skin damage. So, slathering on some Rosehip Oil can help protect your skin from those baddies too!
As if that wasn't enough, it also improves the appearance of scars and stretch marks, over time.
How to make Rosehip Oil
There are a few recipes online for making Rosehip Oil, I found one that sounded fairly simple and utilised things I already had in my house!
You will need:
Rosehips
A carrier oil (sweet almond oil or grapeseed oil is ideal)
Pestle and mortar
Slow cooker or oven
Muslin cloth
Bowls
Dark glass bottle for storage*
Additional essential oils (optional)
*Dark glass is better as it preserves the oil by keeping the light away.
1) Pick the rosehips when they turn bright red, in late summer/early autumn. Get as many as you like, I'd recommend a couple of handfuls. Bear in mind you'll need a lot more carrier oil if you pick more rosehips, so perhaps start with a smaller amount. Try to leave some of the hips on the bush for the birds.
2) Put the hips in a sieve and rinse them under the tap then pat them dry.
3) The rosehips may feel quite hard, so to soften them, freeze them overnight or for 4 - 5 hours.
4) Once they are frozen, remove them from the freezer and defrost them by running them under warm water for a few minutes.
5) Now they should feel a bit more squishy, you'll need to squash them in a bowl with a pestle. They won't squash completely, just do the best that you can. You're aiming to release the seeds from inside the hips.
6) Once they're mashed up, put them into a large bowl and add your base oil - you'll need 1 part rosehips to 2 parts oil. Example - half a cup of rosehips = 1 cup of base oil. Give them a stir.
7) Slowly cook them - either in the oven in a heatproof bowl on the lowest heat for 4 - 8 hours, or in the slow cooker on low heat for 4 - 8 hours. I usually cook them for closer to 4 hours and that is long enough.
8) Once cooked, scoop out the rosehips and oil mixture. Strain them through a muslin cloth into a bowl so you end up with just the juice and none of the rosehips or seeds.
9) Pour the finished oil into a dark glass jar and leave it to cool without the lid on.
10) Once the oil is cold, label your jar and store it in a dark cool place, i.e. a bathroom cupboard.
11) When you want to use the Rosehip Oil, simply add a few drops to a base cream or a base gel (i.e. if you want to create your own shower gel). You'll only need to add a few drops so it will last for ages! You can create your own face/body cream, bath oil, facial cream cleanser or massage oil.
12) If you want to make a facial oil, use the Rosehip Oil as the base/carrier oil and add a few drops of your favourite essential oils. I like to add Frankincense, Geranium and Tea Tree and I use 3-4 drops of the finished oil mixture on my face each morning and night. To make it easy to access I purchased a dropper oil bottle (in the centre of the picture below) so I only get a few drops when I need them.
Personally I enjoy making the oil as much as I enjoy using it, it feels great to utilise nature's offerings and make a natural yet super healthy product 🌹
Comments