The Woman Who Made Hemp Beautiful: Honouring Anita Roddick’s Skincare Legacy
Before hemp became a household word in beauty, before ethical skincare had its own category, and long before the rise of “clean beauty” — there was Anita Roddick.
The founder of The Body Shop, Anita was more than a businesswoman. She was a changemaker. A trailblazer. And in many ways, the reason brands like ours at Made In Hemp exist today.
A Champion of Ingredients with Purpose
Anita Roddick was one of the first people in mainstream skincare to talk not just about what goes into your products — but why it matters. She sourced with integrity, advocated for ingredient transparency, and brought global attention to the power of nature in skincare.
Among the most memorable of her contributions was her championing of hemp seed oil. At a time when hemp was largely misunderstood or avoided by the beauty industry, Anita saw its potential. Rich in essential fatty acids, deeply moisturising, and gentle on sensitive skin, hemp seed oil was everything she looked for in an ingredient: effective, ethical, and environmentally sound.
Thanks to her persistence, it gained a place not only in store shelves, but in the conversation around sustainable, plant-powered skincare.
A Legacy That Lives On
At Made In Hemp, we talk about “plant power” a lot. And we mean it. But it was Anita Roddick who helped open the door — for brands, customers, and even policymakers — to see hemp as more than a misunderstood crop. She brought it into the world of beauty with confidence and care.
More than two decades later, we continue to see the ripple effects of her work. Hemp seed oil is now widely recognised and celebrated for its skin-loving benefits. Ethical beauty is no longer niche. And thousands of small, values-led brands continue to emerge — carrying on the spirit she sparked.
A Shared Vision
We may never meet the people who inspired our journeys. But we feel their presence in the path they helped clear. For us, Anita Roddick is one of those people.
Like her, we believe skincare can be both effective and ethical. That nature holds incredible wisdom. And that business, at its best, can be a force for good.
We’re proud to be part of the next chapter in hemp skincare — one she helped start.