To some people, the idea of using an oil on the face would be a complete anathema. For anyone who has spent the best part of their teenage years battling spots and oily T- zones, it's fair comment. But just like there are good fats and bad fats in a diet, so there are good oils and bad oils for the face — and Vital Touch's Organic Rosehip Seed Oil falls firmly into the former category.

This particular oil is sourced in Chile and in South America Rosa Mosqueta (as it's often referred to) has been used as a skincare treatment for centuries. Apparently, if used every night it will reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, within two to three weeks. This is thanks to one of its components — Tretinoin — which is a derivative of Retinol (vitamin A) which helps with skin regeneration. Hmmm. We'll see, but in the meantime I like the idea of using an all-natural, organic product. It doesn't have a sweet, rose-scented fragrance, but rather a faint, rather earthy smell.

I love the feel of oil on my face, but if it doesn't appeal to you, Vital Touch suggests adding a few drops of the oil into a face cream to enrich it. It's also recommended that it's used at night — again, ideal if you're concerned about your face looking shiny. I've decided to be more hardcore in my trial and use it morning and night under my moisturiser and am happy to report not a single spot or greasy patch in over a week!

As a substitute for my usual serum, the Rosehip Seed Oil has done its job — my face feels instantly soothed once I have massaged it in after showering. And as it's known for its restorative powers and therefore lots of functions I've tested its capabilities even further. I've massaged a few drops onto a dry patch on my upper arm, which, after a week feels less rough (a body lotion hadn't helped). The flakey area at my temples has also been treated to a few drops — this works well if you apply a little at night before washing your hair the next morning. And, at the risk of painting a picture of someone falling to bits, I've also massaged the oil into my rather brittle finger nails to strengthen them. Vital Touch also says the oil is great for stretch marks, eczema and psoriasis, but as these are a few of the complaints I can't claim, you'll have to take their word for it!

www.vitaltouch.com