What is the difference between hemp oil and cbd oil

Now that cannabis is largely legal in the United States, personal care and wellness companies are fighting to be at the forefront of the surge in the cannabis industry. While you’ll have to go into a dispensary to find cannabis products that contain THC—the psychoactive chemical found in cannabis—CBD and hemp products are fairly common, and perfectly legal, in the personal care industry.

However, it’s important to know that there are major differences between CBD and hemp oils. Not all cannabis products are created equal, and you should take some time to understand the different forms, and benefits, that cannabis products are available in. Where products with THC can be found to do things like relieve stress and anxiety, lull you off to sleep, or provide a recreational use, CBD offers many medicinal effects. Hemp, on the other hand, is derived from the seeds of the cannabis plant and offers no real psychological or medicinal effects.

All products that come from the Cannabis Sativa plant are derived from hemp, but not all hemp products contain CBD or THC. Such is the case with many hemp products that you see in the personal care market. Hemp seed oil—which is what you will find in products that are marketed for their use of hemp—contains just trace amounts of CBD and even less THC (meaning you will not get high nor will you feel any medicinal effects from its use).

That doesn’t mean that these products don’t have an inherent use in personal care and wellness products, though. In body care specifically, there is a wide range of benefits that consumers can get from hemp oil because it’s also rich in essential vitamins and nutrients that make it great for skin care.

Nutritionally, hemp seeds are rich in fatty amino acids. When the oil is extracted, these essential fatty acids can help boost the appearance of the skin while treating skin disorders such as eczema. The oil is rich in both Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids, often with a 3:1 ratio that makes it optimal for treating skin. Its rich presences of fats makes it great for treating dry skin as well, as it can help moisturize and nourish the skin when absorbed.

Hemp seed oil is also rich in antioxidants and antibacterial properties that make it great for skin and hair care products. As an additive in beauty products, hemp works to neutralize the presence of free radicals caused by things like pollution that can cause aging and increase the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It can also act as a natural barrier that prevents bad bacteria from being able to flourish on the skin microbiome—the delicate ecosystem of bacteria that lives naturally on the skin and is responsible for things like the immune system and balance of acne-causing bacteria.

Despite the fact that legalization varies state by state, it may still be hard to find CBD products in any store that doesn’t specialize in cannabis products specifically. Hemp products, on the other hand, are available anywhere you can find other personal care products. This will also be the defining factor in whether or not you’re buying CBD or hemp oil-infused products. If a product advertises to contain cannabis but is available in a drugstore or beauty shop, it more than likely contains hemp seed oil.