The Best & Worst Hemp Soap & Body Wash Brands

The hemp plant is an amazing one. It’s very beneficial for our soils and eco-systems, it’s relatively easy to grow compared to other crops (so it’s good for our farmers), and it has a ton of potential uses and positive benefits.

Despite the fact that it’s completely harmless and non-psychoactive, hemp sadly got caught up in the Drug War and was prohibited from being farmed in the United States until 2018! But now that our culture is beginning to reject the hemp stigmas we’ve been given and see this beneficial plant for what it is, a lot of people are looking to experience the benefits of hemp in various ways—for their bedding, bath towels, backpacks… and body wash!

So, in this article, we’re first going to answer some of your most commonly-asked questions about hemp soap and body wash, and then we’ll give you our recommended (and NOT recommended) brands.

(P.S. If you’re looking for organic and non-toxic hemp shampoo and conditioner, check out this article.)

This article may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase. We only make recommendations that are genuine and meet our ingredient/material standards.

What Does Hemp Soap & Body Wash Do For Your Skin? What Are the Benefits?

Hemp Soap is Good for All Skin Types (Including Dry & Sensitive!)

Hemp soaps and body washes that are made with non-toxic and natural ingredients are great for just about any skin type. The natural oils won’t strip your skin and leave it feeling dried out like a lot of soaps tend to do. Because of the concentration of gamma linoleic acids (GLA) in hemp seed oil, hemp shower gel does a great job at removing excess dirt and oil without clogging pores… just like a great soap should do!

Hemp Body Wash Can Help Soothe Eczema, Rosacea, & Psoriasis

Hemp oil is one of the richest sources of essential fatty acids (Omega 3 and Omega 6). These have incredible anti-inflammatory properties, which help to soothe irritated or extra dry skin, redness, itchiness, and swelling. Of course, those with more serious skin conditions should always check with their doctor first before making changes to their skincare regimine.

Anti-Aging Properties

Those same essential fatty acids and GLA also slow down the oxidation process caused by free radicals (which is basically what aging is). Using hemp face soap can help to slow and/or decrease signs of aging and leave your skin looking and feeling fresher than other soaps can.

It Can Help With Acne and Scarring

This is yet another benefit of the fatty acids that occur naturally in hemp oil. Since it’s naturally anti-inflammatory, hypoallergenic, and anti-bacterial, hemp shower gel can help heal damaged skin while supporting its natural protective barrier.

It’s Good for Sunburns

Another one of the benefits of using hemp in your cleansing routine is that its anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing properties can be great for sunburns… especially considering showers can be painful! Not only that, but hemp actually has a small sun protection factor (SPF) of six, which means it can actually help guard your skin against the sun. (But that doesn’t mean it should be used in place of sunscreen.)

You Can Use Hemp Soap in Place of Shaving Cream

Hemp also has natural foaming properties, so it can be a great replacement for shaving cream, especially for those with sensitive skin.

Does Hemp Soap Have CBD In It?

You’ll notice that some soaps are marketed and labeled as “hemp” soap, while others are labeled as “CBD” soap. So what’s the difference?

Hemp soap and CBD soap are not necessarily the same things. It can be confusing, though, because a) they are related, and b) companies don’t often label their products correctly. So, let’s break it down in the simplest way possible:

• Hemp and marijuana both come from the same plant: cannabis.
• Legally, the main difference between hemp and marijuana involves the THC content, which is the psychoactive component of cannabis.
• Hemp naturally contains little to no THC, and therefore has no psychoactive effects. (Specifically, hemp has to have 0.3 percent or less THC content by dry weight.)
• CBD can be derived from either hemp or marijuana.
• CBD products are only federally legal in the United States if they’re derived from hemp and contain less than 0.3 percent THC.

Hemp soap may or may not contain CBD. But either way, both hemp and CBD are non-psychoactive. Check the label of your hemp soap to see whether or not there is any added CBD.

Body

Is Hemp Shampoo & Conditioner Good for Hair? (+ Best & Worst Brands)

Is hemp seed oil good for your hair? Can it make you high? Plus, our best, okay, and WORST hemp shampoo and conditioner brands.

Does Hemp Soap Relax You?

Because hemp does not have psycho-active properties and you’re not ingesting it or absorbing much through your skin, hemp soap isn’t going to do much to relax you the same way marijuana or even CBD might. It will, however, soothe your skin!

Can Hemp Soap Make You Fail a Drug Test?

Could using hemp soaps, body washes, oils, or other hemp skincare products cause a false positive on a drug test? NOPE! This is because hemp food and body products that are commercially sold in the U.S. are not allowed to contain THC (which is what drug tests look for).

The only possible way that using a hemp product could cause a false positive is if you’re using (most likely ingesting) a non-federally-regulated product. If it’s something you’re worried about, don’t buy from sketchy sellers and don’t be afraid to ask more questions about how and where a company sources their hemp.

Is Hemp Soap Safe to Use? Can Kids Use It? What About Dogs?

As long as you’re buying from trusted sources, hemp soap is completely safe to use, for kids as well as dogs (they even make hemp shampoo specifically for pets!).

Can You Use Hemp Soap On Your Face?

Hemp soap can actually be a great option for a face cleanser! It’s got all the properties listed above (anti-aging, etc.), is a good choice for all skin types (including oily skin and dry or sensitive skin), and won’t strip your skin of its natural oils.

What Does Hemp Soap Smell Like?

Hemp soaps come with a variety of smells. Standing on its own, hemp oil has an earthy smell, but it’s not overpowering (it doesn’t have that skunky smell that likely comes to mind when you think of marijuana). It actually has a lot more to do with the fragrance (either natural or synthetic) that’s added to the soap to give it its scent. That might be something soothing like lavender, something “hippie” like patchouli, or something refreshing like citrus. The recommended brands below come in a variety of scents, so pick your preference!

What to Look for in a Hemp Soap or Body Wash

Just like with any personal care or cleaning products, it’s good practice to prioritize natural, organic, and non-toxic ingredients over synthetic chemicals. Look for ingredients like shea butter and coconut oil, which many of the recommended brands below use. Look for brands that leave out toxicants like parabens and phthalates, and watch out for sneaky ingredients like “fragrance/parfum.” If you have sensitive skin, you may also want to avoid sulfates (more info on that here).

Bear in mind that because of marketing trends, many hemp products are marketed as “natural,” but that doesn’t always mean they don’t contain icky ingredients!

The Best Brands for Non-Toxic and Organic Hemp Soap and Hemp Body Wash

Here are our favorite brands for hemp soap and body wash. All of these brands have been vetted for natural, organic, and/or non-toxic ingredients.

Dr. Bronner’s

You probably know of Dr. Bronner’s—it’s been around for a long time. Their safe, natural, and eco-friendly castille “magic” soap (which comes in liquid and bar version) is made with organic hemp oil (which is now sourced in the United States!).

P.S. You’ll notice that there are several brands of castile soap recommended here. It’s led some people to ask: does all castile soap have hemp? Not necessarily! All castile soap is made from plants, nuts, and/or vegetable oils. Most commonly, those are coconut, hemp, almond, and/or walnut oil (or some combination of those). So while a lot of castile soaps do use hemp oil, they don’t all use hemp.

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Rawganique

Rawganique is a brand we trust to produce completely natural, chemical-free clothing, accessories, home goods, and more. They also have a great castile soap that comes in liquid and bar form. Along with organic hemp seed oil, it also contains coconut oil, castor seed oil, and more.

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Hipee Craft

This eco-friendly and non-toxic artisan soap maker handmakes hemp bar soap that comes in a variety of scents like Orange & Ginger, Rose Clay, Lavender, Dirty Chai, Mushroom(!), and more.

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Xeba Botanica

This Etsy shop carries handmade hemp soap bars to exfoliate your skin along with hemp facial bars (which are more gentle) and liquid castile soap. In addition to hemp oil, theses soaps also contain coconut oil, soothing shea butter, and more. Plastic-free packaging, too!

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Amber’s Organics

Amber’s Organics is another handmade shop that carries natural and good-for-your-skin hemp soaps, body washes, and other skincare products. Amber gets creative with her branding and products—like this bar soap called Hippie Snob and this Beer Protein Hemp Shampoo Bar (what?!).

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Opa’s Soap

Opa’s EWG-Certified hemp bar soap uses hemp seed oil, citrus, and sage for an earthy sweet smell.

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The Yellow Bird

This chemical-free, all-natural Patchouli, Hemp, Clay Soap Bar is made by hand in small batches.

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Zatural

Completely free from any toxic chemicals, this brand combines hemp oil with shea butter and essential oils of rosemary, lavender, and peppermint.

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Body

The 15 Best Non-Toxic, Sulfate-Free Body Wash Brands

You’ve likely heard that “sulfate-free” products are a good thing, but what even are sulfates anyway, and why should you consider using sulfate-free body wash (Plus: which non-toxic body wash brands can you find at Target, Walmart, and drugstores?)

The Just-Okay Brands for Hemp Soap & Body Wash

These hemp soaps are pretty good, but they have a few ingredients that give us pause.

Jason

A great option for the guys, Jason’s Men’s Face + Body Wash contains hemp seed oil and aloe to calm the skin. Most of the ingredients in this hemp cleanser are completely safe; only those who are sensitive to limonene, linalool, and/or benzyl alcohol should be at all concerned about this one.

Hempz

This skin and haircare brand (which is available at stores like Target and Walmart) carries some products that are better than others. The main concern is that almost all of their hemp bath soap and haircare products contain “fragrance.”

Shea Moisture

Shea Moisture (also available at Walmart and Target) is a brand that’s generally better than most, but sometimes contains a couple of problematic ingredients. Their Indian Hemp & Shea Butter Inflammation Therapy soap bar does contain certified organic and fair trade ingredients, but it also contains unspecified “fragrance” as well as FD&C colors.

RenPure

This is yet another hemp body wash brand that you get in big box stores that is not terrible, but not great. It also contains unspecified “fragrance” as well as several different ethoxylated ingredients.

Nubian Heritage

This is a pretty good brand that uses some organic and/or fair trade ingredients, but does contain some questionable ones too (like fragrance).

Hemp Soap Brands We Don’t Recommend

These brands that make hemp body wash and soap contain more than a handful of toxic and/or potentially harmful chemicals, and we recommend you stay away from them. (Notice that some of these brands market themselves as “natural!”)

• Dr. Teal’s
• Old Spice
• Nature’s Beauty
• Every Man Jack
• Paul Mitchell
• Aromatherapy Rituals
• Hemp Code
• Vivo Per Lei
• Marrakesh
• Malin & Goetz
• Pharm to Table
• Luseta

Conclusion

Hemp can be beneficial in so many ways, no matter what skin type you have. Just be sure to watch out for greenwashing and use one of the recommended natural and non-toxic hemp soap brands listed above.

Do you see any brands we’re missing? Let us know and we’ll rank it!

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Featured image credit: Elsa Olofsson