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Hemp seed

Linoleic-rich, fast-absorbing oil from humble hemp seeds

Cannabis sativa

A person cups a small pile of hemp seeds beneath fanned hemp leaves.
Illustration

The short version

A lightweight oil pressed from industrial hemp seeds. It naturally has little to no cannabinoids, though trace amounts can show up in some products. It’s rich in linoleic acid, so people like it as a quick-absorbing skin softener and a light hair gloss.

Family
Cannabaceae
Part used
Seed (cold-pressed oil)
Comes from
Central Asia; grown widely as industrial hemp

Good for?

Used as a light face and body oil that sinks in fast and leaves a soft, non-greasy finish. Many choose it when they prefer linoleic‑rich oils for an easy-wearing feel on oilier or combination skin. Also used as a pre‑wash hair oil or scalp massage oil to add slip and softness. It’s prone to going off, so people buy it fresh and store it cool.

Does it actually work?

In animals.

Tested on animals, not yet on human skin or hair.

Evidence grade 2 out of 5.

“Most of the support is preclinical.”

What the studies say

Most of the support is preclinical. In cell studies, hemp seed–derived vesicle‑like nanoparticles boosted procollagen and tempered UVB‑related enzymes, and cold‑pressed oil encouraged fibroblast migration in scratch tests, suggesting wound‑repair potential in vitro. A hemp seed oil nanoemulgel reduced inflammation in a mouse psoriasis model. The oil showed in‑vitro antibacterial activity against staphylococci relevant to skin, though not against all species tested. Human data for cosmetic skin benefits are missing; one randomized trial tested topical hemp seed oil for knee osteoarthritis pain, not for skin appearance or barrier outcomes. A forensic study found some hemp seed products can carry trace cannabinoids, with oral use producing the highest urinary signals and dermal use much lower.

What's inside

  • 45–60% of total fatty acidsLinoleic acid (LA, omega‑6)Major essential fatty acid; linoleic‑rich profile
  • 15–25%Alpha‑linolenic acid (ALA, omega‑3)Contributes to high PUFA content
  • 10–15%Oleic acid (omega‑9)Minor to moderate fraction
  • 2–6%Gamma‑linolenic acid (GLA, omega‑6)Present as a small but notable fraction
  • 5–7%Palmitic acidSaturated fatty acid fraction
  • ~60% of sterol fractionBeta‑sitosterol (of sterols)Dominant sterol reported in cold‑pressed hemp seed oil

Read this first

Generally well tolerated, but patch test if you’re sensitive. It’s high in polyunsaturated fats and oxidizes readily; store cool, use fresh, and discard if it smells paint‑like or grassy‑rancid. Trace cannabinoids may be present in some products; oral use shows the highest detection, while dermal use is low but not zero.

The stories

1 in the Journal

Research Desk · Face oils

Face oils for oily skin: linoleic vs. oleic, ranked

The idea that 'linoleic oils are better for oily, acne-prone skin' rests largely on small lab studies and a few pilot clinical observations; the literature here is promising but mostly preclinical and frequently tests oils inside blends or nano‑formulations.

  • Skin

Reviewed

Sources

  1. Hemp Seed-Derived Vesicle-like Nanoparticles Modulate Dermal Collagen Homeostasis and Attenuate UVB-Induced Photoaging-Related Responses. — Park HS, Shin S. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
  2. Low-level urinary cannabinoid findings after controlled administration of hemp seed products in Türkiye: Interpretive value of Δ8-/Δ9-THC-COOH patterns. — Soyturk H, Goren IE, Atasoy Aydin A, Daglioglu N. · Forensic science international · 2026
  3. In vitro antibacterial activity of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) extract seed oil against multidrug resistant bacterial pathogens in small animal veterinary dermatology. — Toppi V, Pirolo M, Rampacci E, Scattini G, Musa L, Della Rocca G, Di Salvo A, De Benedetti M, Guardabassi L, Proietti PC. · Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997) · 2025
  4. Polysaccharide-based self-assembled hemp seed oil nanoemulgel ameliorates skin inflammation in a psoriasis mouse model. — Hwang HY, Truong VL, Nitin N, Jeong WS. · International journal of biological macromolecules · 2026
  5. Physicochemical Characterization, Microencapsulation, and In-vitro Wound Healing Potential of Cold-Pressed Industrial Hemp Seed Oil. — Duman E, Evcin A, Duman S, Kesik Oktay M, Riaz MF, Sabri MM, Hussain F, Chandio AD. · Journal of oleo science · 2026
  6. Effect of Topical Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Seed Oil on Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial. — Abbasifard M, Moosavi Z, Azimi M, Kamiab Z, Bazmandegan G, Madahian A, Raeiszadeh M. · Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses · 2025
  7. The ameliorative effect of hemp seed hexane extracts on the Propionibacterium acnes-induced inflammation and lipogenesis in sebocytes. — Jin S, Lee MY. · PloS one · 2018
  8. Cannabidiol exerts sebostatic and antiinflammatory effects on human sebocytes. — Oláh A, Tóth BI, Borbíró I, Sugawara K, Szöllõsi AG, Czifra G, Pál B, Ambrus L, Kloepper J, Camera E, Ludovici M, Picardo M, Voets T, Zouboulis CC, Paus R, Bíró T. · The Journal of clinical investigation · 2014
  9. Evaluation of a Retinol Nanoemulsion Gel Enriched with Black Seed and Rosehip Oils for Acne Management. — Reddy A, Ravichandran A, Magham SV. · Drug research · 2025
  10. Self-Nanoemulsion Loaded with a Combination of Isotretinoin, an Anti-Acne Drug, and Quercetin: Preparation, Optimization, and In Vivo Assessment. — Hosny KM, Al Nahyah KS, Alhakamy NA. · Pharmaceutics · 2020
  11. Unveiling the mechanisms for the development of rosehip-based dermatological products: an updated review. — Oargă Porumb DP, Cornea-Cipcigan M, Cordea MI. · Frontiers in pharmacology · 2024
  12. Safety Assessment of Rosa canina-derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics. — Johnson W, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA, Klaassen CD, Liebler DC, Marks JG, Shank RC, Slaga TJ, Snyder PW, Gill LJ, Heldreth B. · International journal of toxicology · 2022
  13. Evaluation of Biophysical Parameters of the Skin of Patients With Atopic Dermatitis After Application of an Ointment Containing 30% Cannabidiol and 5% Cannabigerol. — Burczyk DD, Wcisło-Dziadecka D, Olczyk P, Chełmecka E, Burczyk WK. · Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology · 2025
  14. CBD-Containing Hemp Extracts and Isolated CBD for Acne: A Systematic Review of Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms, Clinical Signals and Sustainability. — Komane B, Kaye T. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
  15. The Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol in Skin Conditions. — Redmond MC, Finn DP. · Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 2025
  16. Cannabinoids for Dermatological Applications: Mechanistic Insights, Clinical Evidence, and Emerging Nanotechnology-Enabled Delivery Strategies. — Pareek A, Kumari L, McMahon LR, Chuturgoon A, Pareek A. · Pharmaceutics · 2026