What's in our Healing Hemp Skin Cream?

Our Healing Hemp Cream is crammed full of moisturising, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic goodies. But what are these wonders, and why have we chosen them? Where do we sit on the science of skin cream, and how much do we fluff up these ingredients for the sake of sales?

Let's start at the very beginning (of skin care science, not, like the actual beginning!).

Will our Healing Hemp Cream make you look younger or reduce wrinkles? No, it won't. You'll have healthier, more hydrated skin; you may have a slight glow (that's the carrot juice); you may have slightly more skin elasticity (that'll be the grapefruit peel) - but younger? Physically less wrinkles? No, that's impossible.

BUT, our Healing Hemp Cream is a great moisturiser for body, hands and face. It really comes into its own when your skin exhibits signs out of the "normal" range of conditions. Dry skin, rough skin, grazes, scrapes, acne, bruises, stretch marks, scaring, dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis are conditions where you want to bring out the Healing Hemp.

Hemp Seed Oil forms the basis of our cream (after water, that is) because it is rich in protein, polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega 6 and omega 3. Due to its high content of omega 3 and omega 6, hemp oil has a composition similar to skin lipids, which makes it an excellent natural emollient and moisturizer. It is especially useful for dry, tired or dehydrated skin and nails. It increases the skin elasticity and water retention capacity in tissues. Hemp seed oil has also been found to help heal skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and other rashes.

But there are 17 other important ingredients in our cream. When formulating the recipe with our pet biochemist (no you cannot have her, she's ours!) we wanted to ensure the trifector of a hard working skin cream: a moisturiser, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. 

1. Moisturiser

Seems obvious, but we wanted a great moisturiser, that was non-greasy, did not leave any kind of tactile film on the skin and had little or no ingredients that could actually irritate the skin (that's why we left out tea tree oil).

Mousturisers can do two things: reduce water loss from the skin, like Cetearyl Olivate or Hemp Seed Oil, or increase the water content of the top layers of the skin by drawing moisture from the surrounding air, like Argan Oil.

2. Antiseptic

An antiseptic used on the skin can go to work immediately, either killing or slowing the little beasties that feed on burns, wounds, grazes or weak skin that lead to rashes, itchiness and a general torrid time.

Bergamot (a little green citrus from France) inhibits the growth of germs and fungi in the skin. Hemp Seed Oil, Pot Marigold Flower Oil (used by the Greeks and Romans) are mild antiseptics. 

3. Ant-inflammatory

Anti-inflammatories reduce swelling (and pain) brought on by infection, bruising or a specific condition like eczema.

Chamomile, Rose Hip Oil, Pot Marigold Flower Oil, Hemp Seed Oil, Carrot and Avocado Oil are natural anti-inflammatories found in our Healing Hemp Cream.

Besides the ingredients we use that are moisturisers, antiseptics or ani-inflammatories we've also added some others with more specific tasks.  Avocado Oil protects skin from UV light while Frankincense can reduce blemishes, scars and stretch marks. Carrot brightens the skin and fights excessive skin oil production and Grapefruit Peel Oil gives your skin more elasticity. Rose Hip Oil specifically combats dermatitis, eczema and light sunburn.

We really do back the quality and effectiveness of this cream - if you purchase this product and are unsatisfied in any way we will refund you. 

The total list of ingredients in our Healing Hemp Cream: 

Aqua, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, Cetearyl Olivate/Sorbitan Olivate, Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil, 1,2 Propanediol, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Polysorbate 20, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol/Ethylhexylglycerin, Prunus Amaygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Dausus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root, Simmondsia Chinesis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Rosa Damascena Extract, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium, Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Oil, Boswellia Carterii (Frankincense) Oil, Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) Fruit.

The total explanation of our ingredients and their health benefits (if any):

Aqua (Water)

Most of our ingredients carry a certain amount of water, and we add a specific amount to get the right cream consistency.

Medical Value: None in this context

Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil

This is the good stuff. Contains protein, polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega 6 and omega 3. Due to its high content of omega 3 and omega 6, hemp oil has a composition similar to skin lipids, which makes it an excellent natural emollient and moisturizer. It increases the skin elasticity and water retention capacity in tissues. 

Medical Value: Proven

Cetearyl Olivate/Sorbitan Olivate

Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil (Rosehip)

Improves skin texture, and reduces scars and skin discoloration.

Medical Value: Anecdotal 

Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil

1,2 Propanediol (Propylene glycol)

A solvent used in most cosmetics to keep all the ingredients liquid.

Medical Value: None (and not hazardous at this amount)

NOTE:

Occasionally people are allergic to Propylene glycol. Mostly these people are slightly deficient in Vitamin D. Individuals who cannot tolerate propylene glycol experience inflamed dry skin in the facial area, or small red dots on the body. Propylene glycol allergies are more common in countries with less sun (Vitamin D deficiency).

 Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil

Polysorbate 20

Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil

Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil

Phenoxyethanol/Ethylhexylglycerin

Prunus Amaygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil

Dausus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root

Simmondsia Chinesis (Jojoba) Seed Oil

Carbomer

Keeps emulsion from separating into their oil and liquid components.

Medical Value: None (and not hazardous)

Sodium Hydroxide 

An inorganic compound we use to control the pH levels of our cream. 

Medical Value: None (and not hazardous at this amount)

Rosa Damascena Extract

Medical Value: None

Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil

Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil

Citrus Aurantium

Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil

Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Oil

Boswellia Carterii (Frankincense) Oil

Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) Fruit