CANNABIS IN BEAUTY? INTRODUCTION TO HEMP (CANNABIS) OIL & OLVITA + SHOPPING EXPERIENCE AT HEMPLINE COSMETICS #AD

I won't be persuading you that smoking weed has anything to do with a beautiful complexion. Whatever my opinion on the subject, Cannabis are illegal to purchase in U.K., however Cannabis Oil (or Hemp Oil) is a well known (and legal!) beauty ingredients who has quite surprising benefits to our health, skin and much more. Cannabis oil can be, in fact, beneficial in your beauty routine. 

When I was first contacted by Hempline Cosmetics, I did my research and found that many of the cosmetics they sell have been infused with Cannabis Oil. That made me think of many factors, the use of Cannabis Oil can benefit my skin, hair and body care as well as maintining my health and here's what I came up with.

Hair care

Ok, so I've been going on and on about my hair lately! Since the cut, my confidence is off the charts and I love to care for my strands! Adding a little Hemp Oil to the routine can't kill me right? 

Cannabis contains Cannabis Sativa and essential fatty acids that stimulate hair growth, adding natural shine to your strands. It also contains Linolenic Acid which has strong moisturising properties and can improve scalp health and helps diminish dryness. It contains vitamin E and proteins boosting hair cell regeneration and helps rebuild and revitalise your damaged strands. 

I chose India Hair Shampoo with Cannabis Oil* as it's advertised for dry, dull and damaged hair. Having blonde hair means having a lot of fun (LOL) but it also means dry split ends, and a constant battle with your locks. I choose formulas based on the condition of my hair and I can't wait to see any long term effects of using Cannabis Oil in my routine. After the first couple of uses, I find it washes my hair nicely, giving a lot of foam from a little product so 400ml should last me forever. Sadly it has SLS really high up (second!) in the ingredients list, which contradicts the moisturising properties of Cannabis Oil, Collagen and Panthenol which are sadly nearly at the end of the list. I try to avoid SLS in my body care or use products which contain a little, in everything other than hair care. I mean if Kiehl's Shampoos also list it second, it's good enough for me. It's a very specific ingredient which I'd love to avoid fully but I just enjoy foamy shampoos for now, at least. I recommend you try it, as it works really well for cleansing hair and doesn't leave it feeling super dry either. Buy it here (RPR £8.30 for 400ml)

Ingredients/Inci: Water, sulfate laureth sodium, cocoamphoacetate sodium, betaine, coco-glucoside, oleate of glycerol, propylene glycol, PEG 150 distearate, PEG-7 glyceryl cocoate, phenoxyethanol, etyloheksylogliceryna, cocamide MIPA oil, Cannabis sativa, soluble collagen, rubber biosaccharide1, fragrance, lactic acid, hydroxypropyl guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, disodium EDTA, panthenol.

I wanted to try the series, so I also chose India Hair Mask with Cannabis Oil*. The formula is creamy but light, I find that I use quite a bit to fully coat my hair with it. It is recommended to massage the product thoroughly and massage the scalp with it too. It feels more like a conditioner than a mask, as I'm used to richer formulas. I left it on for 2-3 mins before rinsing thoroughly. I found my hair to be soft and manageable after use, but nothing miraculous. Again the ingredients are quite heavy chemically speaking with alcohol being the second on the list. I don't know how well it would work in long term given it's recommended for dry and damaged hair. Having said that my hair was lovely, light and easy to manage after washing. Buy it here (RPR £9.00 for 200ml)

Ingredients/Inci: Aqua, cetearyl alcohol, dipalmitoylethyl hydroxyethylmonium methosulfate, ceteareth-20, phenyl trimethicone, bis-diglyceryl polyacyladipate-2, glyceryl stearate se, cannabis sativa seed oil, parfum, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin, bis-cetearyl amodimethicone, ceteareth-7, ceteareth-25, dmdm hydantoin, panthenol, cetrimonium chloride, disodium edta, bht, lactic acid, linalool, butylphenyl methylpropional.

Skin & Body Care

Fatty acids found in Hemp Oil are similar to those found naturally in our skin. It makes for a great addition to any moisturiser. It provides superb moisturising and protecting properties. Dry & dehydrated complexion can fully utilise the effects of Hemp Oil. 

I was interested to see how well it'll work for me, given I battle dry skin & dehydration. I chose India Serum for Very Dry Skin with Cannabis Oil*. Hemp Oil increases elasticity and has strong regenerating properties. In this serum it was combined with other active ingredients such as Aloe Vera (soothing and regenerating), D-Panthenol (moisturising) and Vitamin E (protecting epidermis & regenerating collagen fibres, also softening & smoothing). The serum can be used for face, but also hands to kickstart your usual hand moisturiser. The formula is light and sinks in quickly. It hasn't broken me out, however, it does contain paraffin, so it's something to be wary of. Alcohol is also present. I find the formula to work more as a moisturiser than an actual serum, as I'm used to more gel-like formulas in serum, whilst this one is a light, yet rich cream. As with haircare, the scent is very generic cream like. It's not too lingering, which is a plus. I think I prefer it more as a hand moisturiser than face one and would recommend it as such. The product contains 60ml and only a little is needed, so it'll go a long way. Buy here (RPR £8.30 for 60ml)

Health & skin benefits:

As a nutritional supplement Hemp Oil can thin the blood, helping to prevent varicose veins showing on the skin. It is made from the only edible seeds that contain gamma-linolenic acid. Linolenic Acid is responsible for regulating hormone levels which can have a positive effect on your hormonal health (hormone-related mood swings, hormone-related acne breakouts etc). Hemp Oil is shown to be effective with people who suffer from anxiety, which can be affected by hormonal changes. Hemp Oil regulates your hormone levels quite efficiently. 

I chose OlVita Cannabis / Hemp Oil* for its anti-bacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties. Adding one tablespoon a day to my salad/ smoothie can help with the health of my bones, cell renewal, tissue renewal and general health of the organs. It has shown to have cancer preventing properties. Adding a few drops to my skincare routine helps to protect my complexion against free radicals, curing hormonal breakouts and gives my skin a healthy glow. This is more of a dry oil, which sinks in pretty easily. It should be used as the last step in your routine. Perhaps consider mixing it with your other favourite oil? I've been using a combination of OlVita Rosehip Oil, Hemp Oil, Rasberry Seed Oil & Borage Oil (a couple of drops each) in the evening after my usual moisturiser. It gives my skin such healthy glow in the morning plus none of the mentioned oils should block up your pores! Buy it here (£18.00 for 500ml & £9.70 for 250ml)

Pet care 

If you have pets you know the joy of brushing & caring for their coats. Pet hair is affected by many factors so a good diet is shown in how shiny, strong and healthy the hair looks. A little (half to one teaspoon depending on the weight) of hemp oil added to your pet's food, can make their hair shiny and healthy looking. Always consult your vet of course if your pet displays any food allergies prior to changing their diet. Hemp Oil is a quite dark in colour and has a nutty flavour to it, so your pet should be fine if you add it to their breakfast or dinner bowl. 

Shop at Hempline Cosmetics

Hempline Cosmetics is a home to many brands. What got me hooked when I was asked to choose the products I'd like to review, were OlVita Pure Oils. How many times have I mentioned their oils before! I use their Rosehip Seed Oil, Rasberry Seed Oil, Grapeseed Oil and much more in my routine already, so I was happy to introduce Borage Oil and Wheat Germ Oil to my routine too! 

As mentioned above I love mixing oils and using them as the last part of my evening skincare routine! Oils such as Rosehip Seed, Rasberry Seed and Borage claim their well-earned place in my facial routine. My skin has never looked better and I have these to thank for that. The newest addition is OlVita Borage Oil* (currently not in stock), so let's talk about it for a bit. Unrefined borage oil is obtained by cold-pressing borage (Borago officinalis) seeds. Borage Oil has a high content of unsaturated fatty acids: linoleic acid and gamma-linoleic acid (GLA). Additionally, borage oil contains mineral salts (among others, silica), vitamin C, tannins, flavonoids, saponins as well as trace elements such as magnesium, potassium, zinc and iron. Have you ever used Evening Primrose Oil? Borage Oil's that - on steroids! It is known to have strong anti-inflammatory properties. It's used in acne treatments as well as healing dermatitis, eczema and other skin related issues. Due to an extremely high content of essential fatty acids and linoleic acid, it is recommended for dry & mature types, fighting dullness, fine lines and wrinkles and giving your skin a healthy makeover. It sinks in quickly too! I love using it in combination with other ageing preventing oils such as Rosehip Seed! This duo can be your best friend at fighting premature ageing! 

There are certain oils that can be used around a delicate eye area. I've been using Grapeseed oil for a while now in the evening after my usual eye cream as it has strong brightening properties. Now given OlVita Wheat Germ Oil* (RPR £10.00 for 50ml) has joined the ranks, the duo is killing it in terms of caring for my under eyes! Wheat Germ Oil is a brilliant anti-ageing oil used in treatments of mature skin. It's lifting properties are great at fighting wrinkles, saggy skin etc. Mature ladies usually have hooded eyes (and some of us who are just born with it LOL) so a bit of lifting in that area? I was unable to say no, now could I? Whilst I can't really speak for long term effects - see you in 30 years b*tches - I find the light oil works wonder on the lids. I find even with very first uses, that my eyelids look healthier? Ok, that sounds weird but I can see the difference in skin texture there. I will continue to use the mixture of both Wheat Germ and Grapeseed Oil and I will surely report back! Wheat Germ Oil also has brightening properties and it's even known to reduce puffiness. Whilst I can't fully vouch on that just yet, but so far it's definitely has reduced that tired looking eyes effect in the morning. Both oils can be used even in the morning as they sink in pretty easily and work great under makeup! I'm tempted to use it as part of my cleansing routine. I even bought pharmacy like dark glass bottles and I may play little chemistry lessons and mix my own cleansing oil! It is shown to have anti-ageing benefits as wheat germ oil contains omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E, antioxidant compounds that help you to slow down the ageing process. When wheat germ oils are applied on your skin in pure form, it can absorb into your skin quickly but it's recommended as an overnight treatment. Isn't it the best? 

You can buy all the pure oils and cannabis oil infused hair and skincare through Hempline Cosmetics with free UK delivery on all orders too! Have a browse whilst you're at it as there's plenty of oils (both food supplements and cosmetic oils) to choose from! All pure oils and other cosmetics have an extensive products descriptions which make browsing quicker, as you know exactly which oils are good for you! 

Thank You For Reading,

Love