DIY Anti-Aging Rosehip Face Serum

Over the years I’ve heard from many of you that this rosehip face moisturizer is a favorite. Rosehip seed oil is amazing for skin, especially for anyone who wants to restore or protect the skin barrier as we age. I started experimenting with rosehip some more and came up with this anti-aging rosehip face serum. It’s easy to apply and even easier to make! 

There’s something special about creating your own skincare. Not only do you know exactly what’s in it, but you can tailor the ingredients to your exact needs. I love this rosehip face serum because it feels silky, lightweight, and leaves my skin glowing without feeling greasy. Over time, it can even help improve tone, texture, and hydration. Plus it naturally supports our collagen production.

Rosehip seed oil is a potent source of antioxidants and skin-loving nutrients. Combined with other oils like evening primrose, sea buckthorn, and apricot kernel, this serum delivers a concentrated dose of fatty acids and vitamins for radiant skin.

Face Serum Skin Loving Ingredients

Each oil in this blend plays a unique role in supporting a balanced tone, improving texture, and protecting the skin’s natural barrier. Together, they create a deeply nourishing, restorative serum that softens fine lines and helps keep new ones from appearing. 

Rosehip Seed Oil

Rosehip seed oil is the star of this blend. It’s pressed from the seeds of wild rose hips and has been used for centuries for healing and regenerative skin care. Rosehip oil is rich in both linoleic acid (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3), which support skin repair, elasticity, and hydration.

It’s also rich in vitamins, including antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E. Vitamin A (in the form of trans-retinoic acid) supports collagen production and cell turnover, helping reduce the appearance of wrinkles and dark spots over time. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps brighten the skin and protect it from free radical damage. Vitamin E nourishes cells and helps strengthen the skin’s lipid barrier, keeping moisture in and environmental stress out.

Rosehip oil also has carotenoids like lycopene and beta-carotene, which give it a rich color. The darker the color, the more antioxidants it has. These compounds help even skin tone, fade hyperpigmentation, and improve texture. Thanks to its tannin content, rosehip oil has a drier, non-greasy finish that absorbs beautifully. I especially love it for oily or combination skin. Research shows rosehip seed oil is helpful for reducing scars, softening fine lines, and improving overall skin elasticity.

Evening Primrose (or Borage) Oil

Evening primrose and borage oils are great sources of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a rare omega-6 fatty acid that plays a vital role in maintaining skin health. GLA supports the skin’s barrier function and helps prevent water loss so skin can better hold onto moisture.

As we age, our skin naturally produces less GLA, which can lead to dryness, sensitivity, and a rougher texture. Using oils rich in GLA helps restore skin softness and elasticity. These oils are also naturally soothing, helping calm irritation and redness. For mature or stressed skin, they can help restore suppleness and elasticity while providing a silky finish.

Sea Buckthorn (or Macadamia Nut) Oil

Sea buckthorn oil is one of the most nutrient-dense botanical oils you can use on your skin. It contains a rare balance of omega-3, 6, 7, and 9 fatty acids, along with an impressive array of antioxidants and vitamins. Palmitoleic acid (omega-7) is especially beneficial. This omega fatty acid helps repair the skin barrier, supports collagen synthesis, and protects against environmental damage, including too much sun exposure.

Sea buckthorn oil’s deep orange color comes from high levels of beta-carotene, lycopene, and tocopherols (vitamin E compounds). These help neutralize free radicals and improve overall skin tone. Studies show that sea buckthorn can improve skin hydration and elasticity and reduce inflammation.

If you substitute macadamia nut oil, you’ll still get plenty of palmitoleic acid and a deeply moisturizing effect. Macadamia oil helps our skin at a cellular level and maintains the lipid barrier for more moisture and skin regeneration. 

Olive Oil and Other Carrier Oils

Olive oil acts as the base for this serum, rounding out the blend and helping it spread evenly on the skin. It’s rich in squalene, a natural lipid that mimics the skin’s own moisturizing compounds. Olive oil also contains vitamins A, D, E, and K, as well as polyphenol antioxidants that help reduce oxidative stress.

If your skin tends to be normal to oily, apricot kernel or jojoba oil make great alternatives. Both are lighter oils that still provide deep nourishment without feeling heavy. For drier or more mature skin, olive or avocado oil are better options. These carrier oils help balance the astringent nature of rosehip oil while enhancing the overall moisturizing and protective qualities of the blend.

Personally I loved the apricot kernel oil version when testing this and my skin felt so silky afterward!

Vitamin E 

While this ingredient is optional, vitamin E oil helps keep the other oils from oxidizing and going bad as quickly. It has the same effect on our skin. Vitamin E helps shield the skin from free radical damage, reduces inflammation and supports faster healing. This makes it especially useful for skin that’s been exposed to a lot of sun or wind.

Frankincense Essential Oil

Another optional ingredient, but well worth using! Frankincense essential oil is great for both its aroma and its skin benefits. It promotes a sense of calm and focus, but it’s also highly regarded for its skin rejuvenating effects. Studies show frankincense can reduce inflammation, promote cell renewal, and even out skin tone. It’s also known for fading stretch marks and scars, making it a perfect complement to rosehip seed oil in an anti-aging formula.

How to Use Anti-Aging Rosehip Face Serum

This serum has a silky texture that glides on smoothly and absorbs quickly. The combo of rosehip seed oil and sea buckthorn give it a rich orange color. While it does seem dark in the bottle, I’ve noticed it fades as it absorbs into skin. My skin drinks this up and it leaves me feeling soft and moisturized, but not greasy. Obviously if you’re using olive or avocado oil you’ll have a richer face serum that may not sink in quite as fast. 

To use, massage a few drops onto clean skin. No need to follow up with a moisturizer or lotion. Store the face serum in a cool, dry place for the best shelf life.

This face serum is super quick to put together and I love how it feels on my skin. I’ve noticed a smoother texture and a more even skin tone since experimenting with it. Combined with the earthy scent of frankincense it’s such a calming addition to your daily skincare routine. 

What are some of your favorite natural ways to care for your skin? Leave a comment and let us know!