Hemp Extract

Hemp extract: What is it? Will it get you high? And how might it benefit your skin?

These are the questions we seek to answer in this article. There’s a lot of confusion out there about what the difference is between hemp, CBD, and marijuana. Luckily, we’re going to get to the bottom of this, before explaining all of the reasons why you should be adding hemp extract to your skincare routine ASAP. 

Overview

First thing’s first, we need to explain what hemp extract actually is, so here it goes: Hemp extract is a type of oil that is sourced from the seeds and stalks of the hemp plant. Although this might make you wary, we can confirm that there is zero chance hemp extract will get you high.

That is because in order to be legally sold, it must contain less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. (For those that don’t know, THC is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana that makes you high.)

Although hemp extract can come from the seeds, it is not the same as hemp seed oil, so be sure to look at product labels very closely. Whereas hemp seed oil is derived straight from the seeds and thus does not contain any cannabidiol, or CBD, hemp extract contains many phytocannabinoids, and this includes CBD.

Overall, hemp extract contains lots of CBD but very little THC (but again CBD is non-psychoactive, which makes it extremely safe for topical use in skincare). In addition (just to explain even further), hemp and marijuana are completely different plants. Hemp is mostly grown outdoors and the stalks can grow to be as tall as 20 feet, whereas marijuana is typically grown indoors and is much smaller, with stalks only reaching about 5 feet in height. 

Benefits

Now onto the good stuff: how hemp extract can benefit your skin!

This oil really has a wide multitude of benefits, which is why we think it should be on everyone’s beauty shelf.

First off, it has serious anti-aging properties. As it comes directly from the hemp plant, it’s not surprising that it would contain antioxidants. These antioxidants allow hemp extract to counteract damage caused by the free radicals and reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and dull skin.

Second, hemp extract is great for people with sensitive skin. It is known for its calming, soothing anti-inflammatory properties, which is why it’s a popular ingredient among those who suffer from skin sensitivity, for example redness.

Like hemp seed oil, hemp extract can also help people with acne-prone skin. For those whose acne is often triggered by skin inflammation, hemp extract can help owing to its anti-inflammatory powers.

Numerous studies have shown that hemp extract can regulate your skin’s production of sebum, ensuring your skin doesn’t overproduce oil and clog your pores. Reducing inflammation while simultaneously moderating your skin’s sebum production is a winning combination when it comes to decreasing acne breakouts.

Safety

Given its extremely low THC content coupled with its suitability for sensitive skin, hemp extract is absolutely safe for topical use. With all new products, it’s a good idea to do a patch test, but allergic reactions are uncommon even among those with skin sensitivity.

Finally, one great thing about hemp extract is that it’s a trendy ingredient right now. This means that it’s being studied more than ever before. Thus, it’s likely that all types of hemp oil have even more skincare benefits than we currently know about. Stay tuned!