Rosehip oil on an ingredient list: what Cleveland Clinic and WebMD say

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Reviewed October 17, 2026

The short answer

Rosehip oil is an oil pressed from rose hips, the fruit of rose bushes. Cleveland Clinic notes a slight allergy risk and advises testing a little on the forearm first, and that people with oily skin might skip it. WebMD says researchers have not yet found specific side effects of the oil, but says to avoid it with sickle cell anemia.

What is it?

As Cleveland Clinic puts it, the oil sold as rose hip oil and as rose hip seed oil is one product, taken from rose bush seeds, with wild and dog roses often pressed for it. It names vitamins A, C and E and fatty acids as components. WebMD describes the oil as extracted from rose hip, the rose plant's fruit.

What the sources report

• Cleveland Clinic (dermatologist Shilpi Khetarpal, MD): she suggests applying it once or twice every day, and says it may help inflammatory acne, acne scars, fine lines and hydration. These are one dermatologist's statements, not trial results.
• WebMD: in one study of 160 people after skin tumor surgery, those who put the oil on scars twice a day for six weeks had less redness between weeks six and twelve than those who did nothing.
• WebMD: another study of products with rosehip seed oil in them reported fewer acne lesions and less oiliness. Those were products, not the oil alone.

Cautions

• Cleveland Clinic: a slight chance of allergy exists, so test a dab on the forearm before covering the face or body.
• Cleveland Clinic: people with oily skin might want to pass.
• WebMD: researchers have not yet found specific side effects of the oil, but it may cause the same ones seen with rosehip supplements. It says to avoid the oil with sickle cell anemia and to talk to a doctor first.
• Cleveland Clinic: unrefined oil is strongly colored and can leave noticeable color on hands, body and clothes.

What this page leaves out

WebMD also says the oil reverses signs of aging and clears skin, and Cleveland Clinic ties it to collagen stimulation. This page leaves those out as results because neither article gives a study for them. WebMD's advice on eating rose hip is not skin care and is skipped.

How to read it on a label

US cosmetic labels generally list ingredients in descending order of amount, but anything at 1% or less can appear in any order after those above 1%. Its position does not tell you the exact concentration. Judge the whole product, how it feels on your skin, and what changes when you add or drop it.

What not to conclude

This page does not say rosehip oil will fade scars or clear acne for you. It rests on a 2022 Cleveland Clinic article and a 2026 WebMD review. If a product with it irritates your skin, stop using it and ask a dermatologist.