Hemp ( “cannabis sativa”) and marijuana’s legal relative is on a high right now (…as we know!) And the best things about this ancient medicinal plant are its superhero nutrient content and incredible versatility.
From hemp’s omega 3-loaded mini nutty seeds sprinkled on muesli (or add a tablespoon of hemp oil to your smoothies for a quick 94% fix of your recommended daily omega 3 intake) to hemp fibre, otherwise known as “bast”, there’s almost no end to hemp’s uses, which criss-cross the worlds of beauty, health, fashion, furnishings – and even construction. Apparently, hemp basts, if harvested correctly, are stronger than steel.
Hemp is the “legally acceptable” member of the cannabis plant family, but it’s actually very different from marijuana because hemp contains negligible traces of THC which is the natural psychoactive chemical that can get you high.
What hemp does deliver is a full-blown smorgasboard of well-documented wellbeing benefits. From its anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects to its ability to boost the health of hair, nails and skin, it’s one of those “good for lots of things” green healers. While hemp seeds – alongside colourful fruit and veg, organic berries, dark green leafy veg and turmeric – is a cancer fighting food we could all add to our daily nutrient intake.
Always ahead of the curve, Anita Roddick’s HEMP range launch was more than a clever PR move, it was a rebel-style salute to one of our planet’s most amazing, nutritious, healing plants
Over 20 years ago, long before hemp began grabbing beauty headlines this time around, Anita Roddick’s new (at the time) Hemp Range proved to be not just one of the best PR successes for the The Body Shop, but also one of the best-selling ranges in its history.
The Body Shop’s Hemp Hand Protector, “vacuumed” into its now iconic sleek, silver, unisex-style tube, is still one of the company’s top selling products worldwide.
The hand cream that started it all
gets a 2018 limited edition makeover
Flaunting a big cannabis leaf on the front of The Body Shop’s Hemp Range tins and tubes was so controversial and “daring” back in the day that police in the south of France swooped in and seized products from a local Body Shop, justifying the raid saying the products were likely to encourage marijuana use (as well as clear up any eczema patches on the “flics” elbows – ha!).
For more on this story, here’s a blog post I wrote for The British Beauty Council
As laughable as that south of France Body Shop raid seems now, there’s still quite a lot of confusion around marijuana v. hemp. And while the fight to legalise cannabis for medical use in most countries continues (and while CBD oil and CBD cigarettes are much easier to get hold of – e.g. Switzerland openly sells the cigarettes at its Coop stores) it’s good to know that this ancient medicinal plant is now getting the attention it deserves on the beauty stage.
This year’s “it” beauty ingredient
While some brands (The Body Shop, Dr Organic and Dr Bronner’s to name three) have been infusing their skincare and hair offerings with hemp for years now, reggae’s 7-fingered leaf is making a name for itself across more brands lately, as this year’s fastest-trending skincare ingredient.
So from Dr Bronner’s iconic 18-in-1 Hemp & Lavender Pure Castille Liquid Soap (eco washing machine “detergent”, floor cleaner, shower, shampoo, you name it – and I’ve got this one in my bathroom at the moment) to Dr Organic’s excellent hemp hair reviver, here are 9 beauty and wellbeing products that celebrate the healing power of hemp.
Row by row, starting from TOP LEFT:
THE BODY SHOP HEMP GIFT SET
Why we love it: Renegade beauty in a box – including the legendary hand cream – and it’s testament to Anita Roddick’s fighting spirit. Buy HERE
MALIN+GOETZ CANNABIS PERFUME OIL
Why we love it: With fig, pepper, orange, lemon, sandalwood and patchouli for one, long festival season summer…
Buy HERE
THE TEA CAN COMPANY’S CBD OIL INFUSED HEMPtea
Why we like the look of them (haven’t tried these yet): “Some pure pharmaceutical grade CBD oil with your tea or just milk or sugar?”
Buy HERE
DR BRONNER’S 18-in-1 HEMP & LAVENDER PURE CASTILLE LIQUID SOAP
Why we like it: Face, Body, Hair, Laundry, Dishes – and Pets (the Unscented one). The whole 18-in-1 liquid soap range (including our other favourites Peppermint, Rose and Citrus) won Best Multi-tasking Eco Product in this year’s Beauty Shortlist Awards. These are super gentle, with so many different uses, and you don’t need a lot of product.
Buy HERE (large size 946ml)
Ingredients: Water, Organic Coconut Oil*, Potassium Hydroxide**, Organic Palm Kernel Oil*, Organic Olive Oil*, Lavandin Extract, Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Lavender Extract, Citric Acid, Tocopherol
*CERTIFIED FAIR TRADE INGREDIENTS
**None remains after saponifying oils into soap & glycerin. Made with organic and certified fair trade ingredients, packaged in a 100% post-consumer recycled bottle.
“GOOD HEMP” CULINARY OIL
Why I like it: I’ve been using hemp oil for years now as well as good Greek olive oil and Moroccan argan oil, but because of hemp’s distinctive nutty-green taste which I find alters the taste of salad dressings, I don’t use it in salads or cook with it. I put a tablespoonful in smoothies (an easy way to pack a whopping 94% of your omega 3 daily intake in one go).
Buy HERE
EVE LOM RADIANCE FACE OIL
Why we like it: Hemp Oil joins forces with Avocado and Abyssinian Oils, Vitamin C and an Amino-Acid Based Emollient for a nutritious “skin food” style oil treatment. This oil can help plump, brighten and was designed to even out skin tone.
Buy HERE
NEAL’S YARD REMEDIES WILD ROSE BEAUTY BALM
Why we like it: I find myself recommending this – and Jane Scrivner’s Nourishing Balm – practically every time someone asks for a really good natural beauty balm to invest in – this Neal’s Yard wonder is supremely versatile (face mask, eyebrow tamer, lip glosser, cleanser, nourishing face balm, nails, dry patches, you name it, basically!) and the 50g glass jar lasts a long time.
Whenever I finish a pot, I wash the labelling off in warm, soapy water and pop a tealight in for a lovely indigo glow on summer nights, outside.
This one has a nice oils and ingredients line-up, including hemp, jojoba, shea butter, rose, starflower, geranium and frankincense…
It would be nice to see a portable, handbag version (limited edition?) for summer, and I wish they did a mini-tube or pot of this, I’d be using it on my lips constantly in winter!
Buy HERE
DR ORGANIC RESCUE SHAMPOO WITH HEMP OIL
Why we like it: Hemp to the rescue, here. Best used consistently, this”SOS” shampoo helps stimulate hair growth, and boost overall condition and volume. It works well as an additional super-charger along with Dr Organic’s Hemp Shampoo & Conditioner.
Buy HERE
MU LONDON ORGANIC HEMP MOISTURISER
Why we like it: It’s Soil Association certified (organic) and a real SOS skincare product – rich, nourishing and healing and packed with good oils. But…it’s almost impossible to get hold of!
MuLondon are on summer leave, it’s unavailable at Ecco-Verde, available in Australia (but the site that sells it is closed now, till the end of July) so this product is elusive to say the least. Gah!
Ah well.
It’s a hemp iced tea in the sun with Bob Marley, then.
Happy 4th July to all our US friends, here and in the USA!