Rosehip, Argan and Jojoba Oils: What Each One Does

Short answer: Jojoba is a light liquid wax that feels close to skin's own oils and keeps well. Argan is a balanced, medium-weight oil that suits dry skin and hair. Rosehip is the lightest of the three and the richest in omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, but it oxidises fastest. Choose by feel and by how you store it.

• Lightest feel: rosehip, closely followed by jojoba.
• Most stable on the shelf: jojoba, by a wide margin.
• Richest for dry skin and hair ends: argan.
• Best overall for most people: a blend, which is why body oils rarely use just one.

How do rosehip, argan and jojoba oils compare?

They differ most in fatty-acid profile, which drives how each one feels and how long it lasts once opened.

	Rosehip	Argan	Jojoba
INCI name	Rosa Canina Fruit Oil or Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil	Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil	Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Source	Seeds of wild rose hips	Kernels of the argan fruit	Seeds of the jojoba shrub
What it is	An oil high in linoleic and linolenic acids	An oil with oleic and linoleic acids in balance, plus vitamin E	A liquid wax made of wax esters
Feel	Light, "dry", sinks in quickly	Medium, silky, slightly cushioning	Light, smooth, not greasy
Shelf stability	Lowest; keep cool and closed	Moderate	Very high
Often chosen for	Skin that wants a light oil and a soft, even-looking finish	Dry skin, rough patches, dry hair ends	Most skin types, including oilier skin; hair

What is rosehip oil good for?

Rosehip oil suits people who want the softness of an oil without a heavy layer. Most of its fatty acids are linoleic (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic (omega-3), and oils built that way feel thinner and absorb faster than oleic-rich oils such as almond or olive. Skin feels supple and looks smoother, with a soft sheen rather than shine.

Cold-pressed rosehip oil is often golden to orange. That colour comes from natural carotenoids. You will read online that rosehip contains meaningful amounts of retinoids, or that it fades scars. Neither claim holds up well enough to rely on. Value it for its texture and its comfort.

The trade-off is stability. Polyunsaturated fatty acids react with oxygen more readily, so rosehip oil goes rancid sooner than argan or jojoba. Buy small bottles, keep the cap on, and store it somewhere cool and dark.

What is argan oil good for?

Argan oil suits dry skin and dry hair. It comes from the kernels inside the fruit of the argan tree, which is native to south-west Morocco. Its mix of oleic and linoleic acids gives it a medium weight: richer than rosehip, lighter than shea butter. It naturally contains vitamin E, which helps the oil resist going stale.

On skin it softens rough patches and leaves a satin finish. On hair it is one of the most popular finishing oils, because one or two drops make dry ends look glossier and feel smoother without much weight. Cosmetic argan is pressed from unroasted kernels. Culinary argan is roasted and smells nutty, so the two are not interchangeable.

What is jojoba oil good for?

Jojoba is the most versatile of the three. Technically it is not an oil but a liquid wax, made of long-chain wax esters. Wax esters are also part of the oil skin produces itself, which is one reason jojoba tends to feel familiar rather than heavy on most skin types, including oilier ones.

Its other strength is stability. Jojoba resists oxidation far better than most plant oils, so it stays fresh for a long time and helps formulas do the same. That is why it appears in so many finished products. In our range alone, jojoba oil is part of the day cream, the night cream, the vitamin C serum and the face exfoliator, usually to keep skin feeling soft and comfortable.

Which oil should you choose for your skin type?

Choose by how your skin feels by mid-afternoon, not by what an oil is famous for.

• Skin that turns shiny by midday: jojoba, or a light rosehip, two or three drops at night only.
• Normal skin: any of the three; rosehip or jojoba under a moisturiser, argan on drier days.
• Dry or tight-feeling skin: argan, or a blend, pressed over a hydrating serum.
• Body: a blend, applied to damp skin after showering.
• Hair ends: argan or jojoba, one drop at a time.

Why do body oils blend several oils?

Because each oil covers a gap the others leave. A blend can feel light when you apply it, soft an hour later, and stay fresh in the bottle. Our Omega 6-9 Glowing Skin Body Oil combines argan, rosehip, jojoba, sweet almond, sunflower and raspberry seed oils with vitamin E. It absorbs quickly and leaves a silky, radiant-looking finish. Pump two or three doses into your hands after a shower and massage into slightly damp skin with upward strokes. Add a second thin layer on dry elbows, knees and shins. It contains sweet almond oil, a nut oil, so skip it if you have a tree-nut allergy.

Face formulas use the same logic on a smaller scale. Our Vitamin C Brightening Serum pairs vitamin C with jojoba, rosehip and avocado oils so it softens as well as brightening the look of dull skin, typically over four to six weeks of daily use. It contains fragrance.

How do you use a face oil?

Use two or three drops as the last step at night, or mix one drop into your moisturiser. Press the oil onto skin that is still slightly damp from your serum, so it holds water in rather than sitting on a dry surface. In the morning, keep any oil light and let it settle for a few minutes before your sunscreen, which should always be the final step.

Common mistakes with plant oils

• Using oil instead of moisture. Oils soften and seal. They contain no water.
• Buying large bottles of rosehip. It oxidises faster. Small and fresh is better.
• Storing oils in a warm bathroom window. Light and heat speed up rancidity.
• Expecting an oil to fade marks or scars. No plant oil does that.
• Using too much. More oil means more shine, not more benefit.

Frequently asked questions

Is rosehip or argan better for the face?

Rosehip suits people who want a light, fast-absorbing oil. Argan suits drier skin that likes a richer feel. Both work best over a hydrating serum, pressed onto slightly damp skin.

Is jojoba oil good for oily skin?

Many people with oilier skin find jojoba comfortable because it is light and not greasy. Use two or three drops at night and judge it after two weeks. No oil suits everyone.

Can I mix rosehip, argan and jojoba oil?

Yes. Mixing gives you a lighter feel and better stability than rosehip alone. A ready-made blend saves you the guesswork and keeps the proportions consistent.

How do I know if a plant oil has gone off?

Smell it. A sharp, stale or paint-like smell means it has oxidised and should be replaced. Check the open-jar symbol on the pack for how long it is meant to last after opening.

Which is best for hair: argan, jojoba or rosehip?

Argan and jojoba are the usual choices for dry ends because they add shine without much weight. Rosehip works too, but it is less stable. Use one drop at a time and keep oil off the roots of fine hair.

For more, browse our body care collection.

Last reviewed: October 2026.