The Hemp Body Butter was another of the products that was included in the tin that I bought in the christmas sales. I have tried the body butters in the past and find them a lovely luxurious treat for thirsty skin, so was looking forward to how this one would compare.

I must admit, one of the big attractions for me with the body butters is the wide variety of lovely fragrances that you can buy. I was curious as to what the hemp variety would smell like, as all the products in the hemp range tend to have a slightly different scent, depending on what other ingredients have been added. The scent of this product seemed a lot weaker than the scent of the hand cream, which has a very strong, grassy, herbal fragrance. I found that this product didn't seem to have much of a scent when in the tub, though curiously, it seems to smell stronger when you apply it to the skin, perhaps as it may react with the natural oils on the skin or body heat. I'm not crazy about the smell, and if you buy products like this for the scent, steer clear of this one, as it smells a bit medicinal!

Body butters can vary hugely in consistency, and this is one of the more solid varieties. The nearest thing that I can think that compares to the consistency is butter itself! The product is high in cocoa butter and shea butter, which are very thick, rich ingredients, so the product is idel for very dry skin.

The butter comes in a 200ml tub, which in my opinion is a bit big. I'm not overly keen on tubs where you have to dip your fingers in and out constantly, as I think they are a breeding grounds for bacteria. I would prefer to decant this into smaller containers for hygiene purposes. The tub has a screw top lid, which is easy to open, and all the product information and ingredients are listed on the label on the bottom of the tub.

The active ingredient is cannabis seed oil, which is high in Omega 3 and known for its skin benefits. The type of cannabis used in this product is not the narcotic variety, and all Body Shop products follow a fairtrade policy for ingredients.

The butter is a pale green avocado colour and has small green dots of colour in it. When you touch it with your finger, the solid butter seems to melt into the skin, leaving a slightly waxy sheen. Ideally it should be used on very dry flaky areas of skin, or areas like elbows and feet. I don't think it is ideal for the hands, as it does not really sink in very well and tends to sit on the skin, although you could slather some on at night under a pair of cotton gloves as an overnight treatment.

Although I loved the feel of the butter on my skin, my sensitive skin was a bit reactive to the product, and I had some redness when I used it on sensitive ares such as my neck. For this reason, I would be reluctant to use it on areas where the skin is thinner such as the face and neck. I do actually prefer the hand protector cream to the body butter, as the hand cream sinks into the skin better and I don't react to it.

I think that this butter is a little touch of luxury, and it is an ideal product to combat the effects of the harsh winter weather. I think a 200ml tub would probably last about 6 months of daily use, as a little goes a long way.

Although I liked the product, I do prefer the other body butters more, and would probably not buy this particular variety again, as the hemp hand cream suits me better. Despite this, it is still a great product and many people with dry skin would find it beneficial, and thus I award it 4 stars.