When you hear the word “hemp,” your first thought may be its association with a certain illegal substance (though many US states have legalized cannabis and hemp products for certain medical conditions.) Or perhaps you’re into boating and are aware of the little-known fact that hemp is used in the manufacture of nautical rope.
But, were you aware that hemp is one of the most regenerative skin care ingredients in nature, or that hemp skin care is a growing industry in the U.S.?
Didn’t think so. But it’s true.
The hype about hemp: dispelling the myths about hemp seed oil and hemp butter
There are two main derivatives of hemp, a.k.a. cannabis, that are used in the skin care industry: hemp seed oil and hemp butter. Hemp seed oil, as its name implies, is extracted from the seeds of the hemp plant, and hemp butter is produced from the oil.
Contrary to popular belief, neither hemp seed oil nor hemp butter contain any THC, which is the psychoactive compound found in marijuana, so you will never get “high” by using hemp skin care products. Also contrary to popular belief, both hemp seed oil and hemp butter are perfectly legal to sell and to use in the U.S., so don’t let worrying about jail time affect your opinion of hemp skin care products.
Now that we’ve cleared that up, it’s time to start talking about the benefits of hemp seed oil and hemp butter for skin. There are so many! But we’ve highlighted a few of the most interesting facts about hemp skin care below:
- Hemp has a good ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 fatty acids, both of which are essential for your skin’s metabolism but aren’t produced by your body, so they need to be absorbed via an external source. Hemp’s Omega 3 to Omega 6 ratio also helps combat the damaging effects of the sun’s UV rays, providing you with natural sunscreen-like protection.
- Hemp protects and firms skin just as it does for nautical rope, giving you long-lasting, healthy, youthful skin.
- Hemp is grown organically, without pesticides or chemical processing, making it a much better source of skin care nutrients than synthetic skin care ingredients or heavily watered-down natural ingredients.
Other benefits of hemp skin care products:
Hemp seed oil provides intense moisturizing and regeneration, especially for damaged, sensitive skin. Check out Tre’Yours Avocado Hemp Regenerative Cream by Castle Baths (pictured) and see how it helped one man avoid scarring after a face lift.
To learn more about the many benefits of hemp skin care, check out our detailed skin care ingredient articles on hemp seed oil and hemp butter.
