The cosmetic industry has recently been paying increasing attention to natural cosmetics and natural ingredients with beneficial effect on skin. Among these natural ingredients, hemp extracts and hemp oil have seen increasing use. Hemp has been used for a variety of purposes throughout history. There are three subspecies of hemp, but under the current legislation, only the use of the so-called industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L. subsp. sativa) is allowed. Among all compounds found in hemp, the extract containing cannabidiol, which is one of the cannabinoids, is the most important for use in cosmetics. In addition to extracts, cold-pressed hemp oil is also an important source of natural chemicals in cosmetics with a positive effect on skin health. Positive effects include inhibiting sebum production and keratinocyte hyperproliferation, as well as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and moisturising effect.
In the graduation thesis, we studied a set of 63 cosmetic products containing ingredients derived from hemp. Type or purpose, and technological form were determined for each of the selected products. We examined in more detail the hemp extracts in the products, and defined their role in cosmetic products. Since natural cosmetics is trending upwards, we analysed advertising of hemp extracts, natural cosmetics, and natural cosmetics certification. We also examined the products based on the country of production, as we took interest in whether products made in Slovenia were also present in the market. Analysis of cosmetic products containing hemp extracts, sourced from online stores, has shown a variety of technological forms and purposes of use. The products mostly appear as creams. The most products are found in the facial and body care product categories. Among the hemp ingredients, hemp oil, cannabidiol extract, and extract from the entire plant are the most commonly found. In most cases, only cosmetically active ingredients have an actual role and they are used in active cosmetics for treating acne, for mature skin, and for problematic skin. They are also often found in the role of emollients and humectants. We found that many products were advertised as natural cosmetics, yet they were not all certified as such. Moreover, there is an increasing number of Slovenian cosmetic products in the market.
We can conclude that hemp is a plant with great potential and many possibilities of use in cosmetics.
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