Rose hips are the berry-like fruit that are the seed pods of roses. They form after the flower goes by. So if you were trained like me to be an efficient, tidy gardener and deadhead your faded blooms, you'll never see them.

Used historically for both food and medicine, rosehips actually have more vitamin C than oranges. They store well when dried, making them a staple for Winter teas. You should be able to find them in any herbal or natural foods shop.

Rosehip seed oil is made by cold-pressing the seeds. It's called a “dry” oil, meaning it soaks into skin easily and does not leave a greasy residue.

I include it in my Summerlands Eye Creme, Summerlands Facial Elixir, Flower Moisturizing Creme, and Flower Body Butter. High in essential fatty acids, vitamin a, and vitamin e, it helps with cell regeneration and promotes an increase in collagen and elastin levels. The result is firmer, smoother, and more youthful-looking skin.

Rosehip seed oil is also used to treat stretch marks, UV damage from overexposure to the sun, scars, eczema, psoriasis, hyper-pigmentation, dermatitis, and age spots, as well as brittle nails, and dry or damaged hair.