She is growing hemp on property that’s been in her family for hundreds of years
She Biology founder Chinenyem Nwadiugwu recently started growing hemp plants on her family’s property in Cross to help source her organic CBD-infused skin-care line.
By the Numbers
■ 200-plus: Years the Nwadiugwu family has farmed their land, where they now grow hemp for She Biology’s skin-care products
■ 6: Years in business
■ 3: Number of part-time employees handling product development and shipping
■ $1.5 million: Goal for strategic capital investment
She Biology founder Chinenyem Nwadiugwu discovered the calming properties of CBD after the stress of her previous role as a software engineer took a toll on her well-being, leading to severe eczema, insomnia, and other health issues. The experience inspired her to create a skin-care brand that incorporates CBD and prioritizes natural healing. “A friend introduced me to CBD, just for sleep,” recalls Nwadiugwu. “I slept through the entire night. I thought, ‘If it can help me rest, maybe it can also help my eczema flare-ups.’ So, I decided to put it on my skin.”
Nwadiugwu envisioned She Biology as a wellness company, integrating her mother’s nightly rituals of applying creams and soaking her feet—a practice that combines relaxation with self-care. She collaborated with CBD farmer Ellie Maas Davis of Ogee Farms on John’s Island, a biologist, and a chemist to develop the Rich Skin Face Serum, designed to be gentle yet effective for sensitive skin.
Since its founding in 2018, She Biology has expanded to include a wide range of skin-care products, wellness supplements, and yoga accessories. Best-sellers include the Superfood Rosewater Essence, a pre-serum treatment that gently exfoliates, purifies, and hydrates, preparing skin to absorb the benefits of subsequent products; the Repair Hemp Retinol Face Cream, which hydrates and protects with retinol, vitamin C, and hemp extract; and the Repair Hemp & Retinol Face Wash, blending African black soap, aloe vera, retinol, and phytocannabinoid-hemp oil.
She Biology uses hemp sourced from Mary Hill Hemp Farms, a woman-owned, North Carolina farm known for its organic cultivation of CBD. Recently, Nwadiugwu secured land on her family property in Cross to grow her own hemp. By controlling her supply chain and using clean, organic ingredients, Nwadiugwu says She Biology can ensure that each product is sustainably and locally produced, upholding strict standards for quality and purity. “I want people to know exactly where their CBD comes from,” she explains. “We’re committed to complete transparency, even down to the certificate of analysis.”
Nwadiugwu has had to overcome challenges of marketing CBD, a non-psychoactive hemp compound, which can be legally used in skin-care products for its calming and anti-inflammatory benefits. Strict CBD advertising regulations forced her to get creative, focusing on influencer partnerships, pop-up events, and wellness trade shows to build brand awareness. “Our [social] accounts were shut down multiple times because we couldn’t advertise like larger brands could,” she notes. Her strategic approach helped She Biology secure a presence on major e-commerce platforms and expand into international markets, including South Africa, where demand for clean, natural skin care is rapidly growing.
She plans to scale She Biology by partnering with retailers like Credo Beauty, increasing the brand’s presence globally. By encouraging customers to treat skin care as a mindful ritual, Nwadiugwu aims to create a line that champions overall wellness, inspiring users to incorporate calming, CBD-infused products into their daily routines. “I want She Biology to be a household name,” she says. “I want to grow from a small business to a global brand.”
