We tried it: How to use Pai Rosehip oil.

I’ve had these little tan spots on my temple for months. They aren’t like the beauty marks that cover the rest of my body, and I’ve had the worst time figuring out what they are.

My sister, bless her heart, finally brought some clarity to the situation. “Mackenzie,” she said, “They’re age spots.” Age spots?! *Cries in aging millennial.* Armed with the knowledge of my skin’s betrayal against me and a bottle of rosehip oil, I decided it was time to take action.

Rosehip oil is rife with skin-brightening, glow-inducing benefits that make it sound like the crowning glory of skincare oils. Victoria Beckham loves it, Kiera Knightly swears by it, and even Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge and future Queen of England herself, is obsessed with the stuff.

So, what’s the deal? Does it really work or is it just another failed beauty fad, like placenta pills and sheet masks infused with gold? I grabbed my vial of Pai Rosehip Oil BioRegenerate and sat down with board-certified dermatologist Anna Chacon, M.D. to explore the what’s, why’s, and how-to’s of skincare’s latest sweetheart.

Rosehip oil does more than just moisturize your face — it’s also great for stretch marks, surgery scars, and other spots that could use a little of rosehip oil’s TLC.

A couple of months ago, I had an outbreak of some sort on my shin and calf. I’ve talked about my sandpaper gams before but… all you need to know is that it looked like a train wreck, and it was an insanely itchy mess. It’s mostly healed now, but ever since then, the skin on my lower leg has been super dry and scaly.

I’ve been slathering on moisturizers religiously to keep the itching at bay — jojoba oil as a base layer, followed by a super thick cocoa butter and tea tree salve my mom made me, then topping it off with Weleda Skin Food to seal in moisture. My cocktail of hydration works for a few hours, but by nighttime, my leg is back to feeling like dragon skin.

After one application of Pai Rosehip Oil BioRegenerate, my leg felt like a cherub’s blessed bum. I don’t have any way to prove this to you, so you’re just going to have to take my word for it — it was really soft.

Unfortunately, it takes a lot of oil to lube up my leg, so I don’t do this every night. But if I ever start dating again, it’ll be a good trick to keep up my sleeve.

Rosehip oil is safe to use every day, for all skin types. The packaging for Pai Rosehip Oil is reminiscent of cult-favorite Dr. Bronner’s, with writing covering the box both inside and out — one of these informative quips reads, “Use overnight and allow it to dry before going to bed.”

Dr. Chacon adds that while rosehip oil is effective at night, it’s also safe to use in your morning routine. “Rosehip oil can be used up to twice a day, morning and night,” she says.

Here’s how to use rosehip oil in your daily routine:

Step 1: Wash your face with a gentle face wash.

Step 2: After you use your toner and any exfoliants, apply two to three drops of rosehip oil to your hand and massage into slightly damp skin.

Step 3: Let the oil absorb completely, then follow with a moisturizer and sunscreen if you’re using rosehip oil during the day. I love the Babo Botanicals Clear Zinc Sunscreen — it’s the only one I’ve found that doesn’t make my eyes sting.

The scent

To be honest, Pai Rosehip Oil smells a bit like Thanksgiving stuffing, and I mean that in the best way. It’s not an overwhelming scent, just very herbal.

But if you’re anything like me (and since you’re reading this, you probably are), you undoubtedly prefer refreshing herbal scents over cloyingly sweet fragrances.

Pai says the reason for the earthy scent — and the oil’s deep orange color — is due to the oil’s potency. “It looks and smells potent because it is exactly that. Skin nutrition in a bottle.” Yum.

The texture

“But what’s it feel like?” I can hear you saying through the screen.

If you’re worried about feeling greasy after using rosehip oil, don’t be. Rosehip oil has a lightweight texture that absorbs quickly, leaving behind skin that’s super soft and seriously glowy. My dry skin literally eats this stuff up, and I usually follow it with a moisturizing cream for an extra dose of overnight hydration.