Products

The Skin Healing Benefits of Hemp Lotion

By Julie Ries
Nataliya Melnychuk, Unsplash

Quick summary:

  • Not all hemp lotions contain CBD
  • Hemp seed oil has key amino acids and essential nutrients for skin health
  • Hemp lotion is more environmentally friendly than many other body moisturizers

Hemp has long been a coveted restorative and healing resource for many cultures near and far, however, it wasn’t until quite recently that the plant made its way into the mainstream health and wellness scene.

As more and more states legalize the sale, purchase, and use of cannabis, hemp-based products seem to be popping up all over the place.

Take hemp lotion, for example. The topical cream has skyrocketed in popularity over the past few years—but with so many options available, it can be difficult to know what to look out for and which products to buy.

But, before we get into all that, let’s start at square one and break down why hemp lotion is so good for you in the first place.

What is hemp lotion?

An all-natural, pure, and non-toxic moisturizer, hemp lotion provides a ton of health benefits for your skin and your body.

Its key ingredient is hemp seed oil (sometimes referred to as cannabis sativa seed oil) that is packed with essential fatty acids (EFAs). Similar to many other moisturizing ingredients like flaxseed or sunflower seed oil that contain a rich amount of EFAs, hemp oil extract can offer anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe and hydrate dry, dull skin.

Hemp seed oil has a 3 to 1 ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 EFAs, which is the ideal balance for our skin. Because of this, hemp lotions are comedogenic, meaning they have a fast absorption rate and can moisturize our skin without leaving our pores clogged.

Hemp-infused skincare products also contain an abundance of vitamins high in antioxidants—including vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E—which are known to fight aging, prevent wrinkles, and protect our skin from harmful UV rays and other environmental stressors.

According to Dr. Erica Steele, a board certified naturopathic doctor with the Holistic Family Practice & Detoxification Center, hemp seed oil is not only excellent for nourishing our skin, but that magical mix of fatty acids can help relieve certain skin conditions as well.

“A balanced intake of essential fatty acids is vital to the skin’s health, and hemp oil’s positive unsaturated essential fatty acids are helpful in alleviating dryness as well as signs of aging,” Steele explained. “Our diet of Omega-6 fatty acids has doubled while the Omega-3 have reached an all-time low creating imbalances such as dry skin, dandruff, eczema, and psoriasis inflammatory skin responses.”

In other words, hemp lotion’s got what it takes to build strong, healthy skin.

Does hemp lotion have CBD?

Not all hemp lotions contain CBD, but it may be used in some topicals to offer additional benefits.

CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a non-psychoactive compound in cannabis plants that has anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain killing) properties. Studies have shown that hemp-derived CBD soothes sore muscles, alleviates stress, reduces insomnia, and clears up acne. Additionally, many CBD creams have been cited to help ease certain skin conditions, like allergic dermatitis, psoriasis, and eczema.

Essentially, when CBD is added, the body lotion not only moisturizes the skin, but also helps alleviate inflammation and pain. Hemp lotions infused with CBD oil tend to be bit more expensive, but according to some health experts, lotions with CBD can do more for your skin, so the added cost is well worth it.

Best CBD-Infused Hemp Lotions

Spruce Topical CBD Cream

If you’re looking for a body cream that works wonders on aches and pains  but still allows you to get plenty of skin benefits, this hemp oil lotion from Spruce contains 300mg of CBD for soothing pain relief.

Charlotte’s Web Hemp-Infused Cream

This hemp infused CBD cream contains 750mg of hemp extract in a tube of 2.5 fl oz, and features natural skin benefiting ingredients like vitamin B5, aloe, arnica and shea butter that work to nourish and soothe the skin.

What should I look for when buying hemp body lotion?

Like any product, consumers need to read the labels and know what type of hemp lotion they’re getting.

When artificial additives creep into the mix, the healing powers of hemp can become diluted. Be on the lookout for inactive ingredients—such as dyes and fragrances—and try to avoid them, as they don’t do anything for our skin and may even cause irritation.

If you’re interested in trying out a hemp lotion that contains CBD, look for lab test results from the brand before purchasing, and check out their ingredients list to ensure they are using other skin-healing ingredients like aloe leaf juice or rosemary leaf extract, for example.

Did we mention hemp lotion is good for the environment?

Unlike petroleum and mineral-based oils that many lotions and balms use, hemp is a very renewable and sustainable resource. It grows naturally and it’s ubiquitous.

“Once the crop is grown, the steps to obtain something like hemp oil are three fold—cleaning the seeds, cold-pressing the seeds, then refining the oil via filtration,” Annie Rouse, co-founder of Anavii Market, said. “Beyond farming inputs, no additional inputs are necessary to obtain the finished product.”

The hemp plant is extremely resistant, meaning it doesn’t need loads of pesticides. It doesn’t need to be washed with chlorine or harmful chemicals in the ways that wood and cotton do. Not to mention the rest of the plant doesn’t go to waste.

“After harvest, the remaining biomass can be ground back into the soils as compost, which provides tremendous support for healthy soils and in return a reduced carbon footprint,” Rouse added.

Looking for a hemp body lotion?

If a CBD cream isn’t what you’re looking for, below you’ll find two of the best hemp body care lotions that will work as a powerful moisturizer to rejuvenate and protect your skin. So, lather up. Your skin—and the environment—will thank you.

Hempz Natural Herbal Body Moisturizer: Sweet Pineapple & Honey Melon

  • Contains 100% pure natural hemp seed oil
  • Pineapple extract for softer skin
  • Honey Melon Extract with Vitamins A and E for hydrating skin

Earthly Body All Natural Hand and Body Lotion with Hemp Seed and Argan Oil

  • All natural ingredients
  • Enriched with nutrient-rich blend of hemp seed oil and argan oil
  • Non-greasy formula so you don’t feel like you are wearing lotion

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