From seed to shelf
Clean seed is cold-pressed into oil, which is then blended with ingredients such as plant butters, aloe and beeswax to make creams, balms, lip care and soap.
Hemp body care
Light, nourishing hemp seed oil makes a natural base for everyday body care.
At a glance
Why hemp seed oil
Hemp seed oil is a light plant oil pressed from the seed. It blends easily with plant butters and waxes, which makes it a natural base for creams, balms and soap.
Uses theSeed
Light oil
Hemp seed oil feels light on the skin and absorbs easily.
Rich in fatty acids
It carries the same omega fats that make hemp seed a good food.
A natural base
It blends well with plant butters, waxes and essential oils.
A closer look
Hemp seed oil in body care
What the oil is, how it is used and how to find it on a label.
What hemp seed oil is
Hemp seed oil is pressed from the seed of the hemp plant, usually cold-pressed to keep it fresh. Unrefined, it is green and smells mildly nutty and grassy.
It is rich in omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, the same fats found in hemp seed foods. Refined oil is paler, with almost no smell.
How it is used
In creams and lotions it is one of the oils that softens and moisturises. In balms and lip care it is mixed with beeswax or plant butters such as shea and cocoa butter.
Soap makers use it alongside other oils for a gentle bar, and it also goes into hair oils and massage blends.
Hemp seed oil and CBD oil
They are different products. Hemp seed oil is pressed from the seed and contains little or no CBD. CBD oil is extracted from the flowers and leaves.
They are regulated differently too. Products that contain CBD fall under separate rules in South Africa, while hemp seed oil is used as an ordinary plant oil.
Finding it on a label
On an ingredient list, hemp seed oil appears under its international cosmetic name, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil.
Ingredients are usually listed from the largest amount down, so the higher it appears, the more hemp seed oil the product contains.
Keeping it fresh
Hemp seed oil is rich in delicate fats that go stale with heat and light. Keep products in a cool place with the lid closed, and use them within the time shown on the pack.
Good to know
Questions and answers
Short answers to what people ask us most about hemp.
Is hemp body care the same as CBD?
No. Hemp seed oil is pressed from the seed and contains little or no CBD. CBD products are made from other parts of the plant and are regulated differently.
What does hemp seed oil do in a cream?
It acts as a light, nourishing oil, much like other plant oils such as sunflower or jojoba.
Is hemp seed oil natural?
Yes. It is pressed from the seed, with nothing added, before it is blended into a product.
Is hemp seed oil legal in South Africa?
Yes. Hemp seed oil is sold in South Africa as a plant oil for food and body care. Products that contain CBD fall under separate rules.
What is hemp seed oil called on a label?
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil. That is its international name as a cosmetic ingredient.
How should I store hemp body care?
In a cool place out of direct sun, with the lid closed. Heat and light make the oil go stale sooner.
Still have a question?
Ask us about any use of hemp.
Talk to us about body care
Interested in hemp for body care? Get in touch with Afri Hemp.
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