"Hemp Seed Oil" : green gold for your cosmetic & Soap Lab

Hemp (Cannabis sativa) is one of the eldest plants in the history. It comes originally from Asia but was cultivated in Europe as well. Today it is cultivated in Eurasia, United States and Chile. 

Almost every part of plant was used from flowers to fibers. Flowers and leaves are used to produce the narcotics: Marijuana, Bhang and Hashish. Today, only hemp sorts with a THC (tetrahydrocannabiol) content of less than 0,3% are allowed to be cultivated. Be relieved that your hemp seed oil would be free of narcotics.

Hemp seed oil is one of the most amazing plant oils with a magnificent fatty acid profile both for culinary and for skin care application.

It has a very low content of saturated fatty acids. A low content of oleic acid but a very high content of omega-6 fatty acid (linoleic) and a high content of omega-3 fatty acid alpha linolenic acid. With a ratio near to 3:1 which is the ratio required by the human metabolism. All of these essential fatty acids are basic for a healthy diet and healthy skin and couldn't be produced by the body and should be metabolised from food. In addition to all those fatty acids, low contents of a very rare omega-3 acid, stearidonic acid (C18:4), a fatty acid with 4 unsaturated bounds have been measured in hemp seed oil as well. This is an explanation to the fascinating anti-inflammatory effects of the oil which makes it one of the most valuable plant oils in skin care specially for damaged, inflamed, irritated, dry, itchy and ageing skin.

Of course it contains, in addition to triglycerides some phytosterols, tocopherols, vitamins and minerals. (They are only available in virgin, unrefined oil)

Hemp seed oil has a dark green color, very similar to avocado oil and darker than virgin olive oil.

With a high concentration of unsaturated fatty acids, it has a short shelf life and should be kept in dark containers and away from heat (although an alpha-tocopherol content of ca. 130 ppm acts as a good antioxidant). This is why one should only apply hemp seed oil in salads and cold dishes. It is no cooking oil.

Being an excellent anti-inflammatory agent it could be applied in all skin care products such as oils, butters, creams, cream gels, balms, masks etc.

It is better to apply it in cold process creams and cream gels or to add it after all other ingredients are melted and to heat it as little as possible.

It is an excellent oil for soap making as well. Either as an stand-alone oil or in combination with other oils. If you're applying it in a soap as an stand-alone oil, try to calculate 10-20% water discount to promote hardening soap.

Here once more the most important data about hemp seed oil:

INCI Name     CANNABIS SATIVA SEED OIL

CAS # 89958-21-4
EC # 289-644-3

Iodine value: 148–167
Saponification number: 190–195

Here you can order organic and unrefined hemp seed oil @ SkinChakra® Online Shop.