Tips for Making Rosehip Oil Recipes

Rose hips are used in many cosmetic products. Making your own rose hip oil to rejuvenate and add fragrance to the skin is very simple, and you can customize the oil in many different ways. When making rose hip oil, it is important to keep a few things in mind to ensure that you are successful.

History

• Rose hips have been used for centuries by women who sought beautiful, soft skin and a pleasing fragrance. They were commonly added to water to make rosewater, which women used as a tonic to freshen their skin. Over the years, a variety of other methods for using rose hips in cosmetic recipes have been developed, making it a popular additive to soaps, lotions and creams.

Choosing Rose Hips

• Rose hips that are to be used to make rose hip oil can be dried or fresh. Many people prefer to use dried rose hips, because it is easier to purchase the amount necessary to make cosmetic products. When purchasing dried rose hips, look for products that were harvested from organic plants that were not treated with chemicals, as these chemicals could damage the skin.

  Fresh rose hips can be used to make rose hip oil, but they are much harder to come by. Rose hips should be harvested at a certain time of the year, usually after the first frost in fall. The best rose hips come from certain species of roses, like the Rugosa, so the rose bushes you have available may not be suitable for use. As with the dried hips, only use fresh hips that come from organic plants that were not treated by pesticides or other chemical sprays.

Choosing a Carrier Oil

• An essential part of any rose hip oil is the carrier oil in which you diffuse the rose hips. More than 20 different carrier oils are commonly used for cosmetic products, and each has its own properties that make it beneficial. While some oils are rich in nutrients that are good for your skin, they are not always suitable for use in rose hip oils because of their overpowering scent.

  The best types of carrier oil to use for a rose hip oil recipe are those that are light and unscented. Sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, apricot oil, jojoba oil and safflower oil are all light oils that are easily absorbed by the body and do not have strong scents that will overpower the natural scent of the rose hips.

Storage

• To keep your rose hip oil as fresh as possible, store it in dark-colored bottles in a cool place away from sunlight. Bottles should be closed securely using a tight fitting lid or cork stopper, and any bottles that will not be used immediately should have a layer of wax placed around the lid to prevent contamination.

  For best results, only make small batches of rose hip oil at one time unless you are planning on giving the oil away or selling it immediately. Rose hip oil should be discarded if not used within six to eight months, as after that time it can become stagnant.