Rosa Canina Seed Extract — derived from the seeds of the dog rose plant — is the form of rosehip we use in the Velvet collection. It’s worth explaining the distinction, because rosehip appears in many forms in skincare and they behave differently.
Cold-pressed rosehip oil is the most common form. It’s a carrier oil with a high linoleic acid content, used primarily as an emollient and for its fatty acid contribution to the skin barrier. It has a characteristic nutty scent, moderate stability, and is prone to oxidation without adequate antioxidant support.
Rosa Canina Seed Extract — a CO2 supercritical extract — is produced differently. CO2 extraction uses pressurised carbon dioxide as a solvent rather than heat or chemical solvents, which produces a more concentrated extract that retains a higher proportion of the plant’s bioactive compounds, including carotenoids, tocopherols, and the fatty acids the plant is known for. The result is a more potent, more stable extract that requires a smaller quantity in a formula to achieve meaningful contribution.
In the Velvet collection, Rosa Canina Seed Extract is used alongside Marula Oil and Bakuchiol — a combination chosen to support the collection’s purpose of helping skin appear smoother and more revitalised. The extract contributes its skin-conditioning properties in a concentrated, stable form that doesn’t compromise the formula’s clean, elegant texture.
The distinction matters because the specific form of an ingredient determines how it behaves in a formula. Rosehip oil and rosehip CO2 extract are both derived from the same plant. What they contribute, and how they do it, is different.