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Liz deSousa for BYRDIE
By now, we've all learned that essential oils are a necessary part of our routine if we want to keep our skin in tip-top shape. Clear skin, a brighter complexion, evened-out discoloration—there are a lot of purported benefits to incorporating an oil or two into our everyday skincare. From coconut to Moroccan oil, it seems that we've heard ad nauseum about every oil we need—until now. Allow us to introduce you to the next "It" oil in skincare: hemp seed oil. We spoke with several experts and asked them to break down the benefits of hemp seed oil, from how great it is for dry skin to why we should mix it into a salad.
Keep reading for all you need to know about this multi-use ingredient.
Hemp Seed Oil
Type of ingredient: Hydrator
Main benefits: Reduces inflammation, hydrates, regulates oil production.
Who should use it: In general, people with acneic or combination skin.
How often can you use it: As often as you would use any oil—roughly twice a day.
Works well with: Acids and retinoids as it may mitigate the irritation they cause.
Don't use with: Hemp seed oil can be used universally.
What is Hemp Seed Oil?
Hemp seed oil—not to be confused with hemp oil, which is a blanket term for all oils that come from hemp and can include cannabidiol (CBD) oil—is made out of purely hemp seeds. CBD oil, in turn, is made from leaves, stalks, and flowers of hemp (and sometimes seeds as well). "Hempseed Oil is the oil derived from the seeds of the hemp plant which is a cannabis plant cultivated for non-drug use. The oil is legal and used in large quantities for cosmetics, nutritional supplementation, and skin oils. It can be legally used when it has a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of less than 0.3 percent," says Raymond Schep, a Member of the CA Association of Toxicologists.
"It can be marketed on its own or as an ingredient in moisturizing topicals," says Jennifer L. MacGregor, MD, a dermatologist at Union Square Laser Dermatology. "Make sure you know the difference between hemp seed oil and CBD oil. The latter absorbs into the skin and binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain. It can have effects that are only beginning to be understood on anxiety, mood, sleep, and many other conditions. CBD can also have low levels of THC which has obvious psychoactive effects."
While other kinds of hemp oil are rich in cannabinoids as mentioned, hemp seed oil typically has no-to-few cannabinoids and contains mostly omega fatty acids. So, if you were worried about getting high off of hemp seed oil, you won't. You can already find it in a variety of skincare products, and you can even eat it.
Benefits of Hemp Seed Oil for Skin
- Locks in hydration: According to Amity Spiegel, an esthetician at CAP Beauty in Manhattan's West Village, hemp seed oil is high in omega acids 3, 6, and 9, all of which help repair the skin barrier and form a seal over the skin to keep moisture trapped inside.
- Attracts moisture: "It is also a humectant, so it draws moisture to the skin," she says.
- Anti-inflammatory: Those same omega acids in hemp seed oil also help lower inflammation in the skin.
- Soothes skin: "Hemp seed oil is rich in fatty acids, which help hydrate and soothe inflamed skin," says Joshua Zeichner, MD a dermatologist and Associate Professor of Dermatology and the Director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
- Anti-acneic: Zeichner also says it "may even modulate skin oil production," which is huge for people with acneic or overly oily skin.
How to Use It
Naturally, hemp seed oil is being integrated into plenty of beauty products as a hydrator and anti-inflammatory. In particular, we love to use it with retinoids or after acids because it's so effective at staving off inflammation. It works wonders for redness and acne, too. It's pretty easy to know how much to apply—just use as much as you would any other oil.
Tammy Fender, an esthetician and founder of her eponymous beauty line, is also a huge fan of incorporating hemp seed oil into your diet because its nutrients are so good for your body. "I especially like to use raw hemp seeds in cooking, because they are in their natural state, so the body can absorb all the nutrients they offer most easily," she says. "Hemp seeds are great in salads, granolas, smoothies, and mixed in with grains, deliciously delivering vitamins A and E, but also essential trace minerals and a wealth of antioxidants."
"It has a crispy, nutty taste and can be used on salads as a replacement for olive oil," adds Spiegel. "It is high in omegas and full of essential amino acids that help make younger, smoother-looking skin and reduce inflammation in the body." Because it is a highly volatile oil, she does say it must be kept refrigerated and not heated.
The Best Products with Hemp Seed Oil
This product from Herbivore comes in both CBD-free and CBD-inclusive versions, and which one you use is up to you. While the CBD-inclusive iteration is great for inflammation, the mixture of hemp seed oil, adaptogens, and squalane will likely be good for you regardless of which one you buy.
When Milk Makeup came out with a full line of hemp oil-based products, we were a little skeptical. It's the perfect marketing gimmick. But we soon fell in love with the nourishment the Kush line provides—in particular, this lip balm, which comes in four shades as well as clear and leaves your lips hydrated.
Everyone loves a good retinol, but we don't feel as positively about the irritation that comes along with them. MARA uses hemp-derived CBD and cannabis sativa seed oil meant to mitigate the inflammation you may experience, as well as fermented green tea, so you can get your antioxidant fix, too.
Kiehl's was one of the first brands to get on the hemp seed oil train, which is why their oil is now a crowd favorite. It also includes oregano oil, something else we don't see advertised much in skincare, for purification and elimination of bacteria.
Dr. Bronner's very well may have been your first foray into the world of natural beauty—it was for plenty of us, although we didn't know it at the time. But what you probably didn't realize is that hemp oil is one of the primary ingredients of the basic multi-use soap, and yes, it's been that way forever.
Cannabis sativa seed oil is particularly great in masks, this one from Origins being one of the most popular items to utilize it as an ingredient. This mask promises anti-inflammatory and hydrating properties that make quick work of plumping your skin and getting rid of any redness. It's perfect for a night out.
For those who want CBD in their products, you can't beat CBD- and manuka-honey-based brand Cannuka. Their skin balm is wonderful for any kind of skin irritation or even soreness.
