On a regular basis, we are hearing of new reasons for using CBD products. CBD oil is being used for relief from epileptic seizures, arthritis pain, anxiety, and depression, even for help with eating and a better appetite. By far, one of the biggest markets for CBD oil is now products that are used for skincare.
Everything from sunburns, wrinkles, and acne can now be treated with a CBD product. No, these creams and lotions don’t work miracles overnight, but with just a little time, skin can be left glowing and healthier than ever with CBD oil. Before we look at a few skin conditions in more detail, let’s take a closer look at exactly what CBD oil is.
What is CBD oil?
Cannabidiol, more commonly known as CBD, is one of the many components extracted from the cannabis plant. That being said, CBD doesn’t have THC, the element found in marijuana that people use as a mind-altering substance, producing a high. This means, regardless of the method or amount being used, a CBD product will not get someone high.
The compound of CBD is extracted from the cannabis plant as a powder. Normally, CBD is then combined with an oil, such as coconut, olive, or hemp. The effectiveness of CBD is enhanced, creating the name CBD oil.
When it comes to using CBD oil in skincare products, it is extracted from the leaves and flowers of the hemp or cannabis plant, often giving a THC level that is so low, it can’t even be detected. Also, another common misconception, CBD oil is something completely different from hemp seed oil. While both are able to provide great results for your skin, these two products are usually marketed interchangeably, but CBD has a higher concentration in cannabidiol. This is different from a hemp seed oil which will only have very low amounts of cannabidiol if any at all.
If a product is making the claim to have CBD, the name regulated by the FDA should be provided on the label of ingredients as cannabidiol. Any other names of the label such as “CBD enriched hemp seed oil” doesn’t necessarily mean the product actually has cannabidiol. If you want to be positive, ask for the company’s assay, commonly known as the product’s specification.
CBD for treating Acne
There is plenty of research that has been completed establishing the fact that acne is an inflammatory condition in the skin (1). While there are many factors that contribute to acne being triggered, we have learned through study and research that anything that is being applied to the skin’s surface that reduces inflammation, helping to soothe the skin, will more than likely reduce the number of breakouts visually, especially redness that is caused by acne.
There has also been a ton of research and study showing CBD oil provides anti-inflammatory benefits when it is applied to the surface of your skin (2). Because of this, CBD is a great ingredient for skin that is prone to acne. CBD provides calming results that help reactive skin feel and look better.
There has also been researched and a study showing CBD could potentially decrease the production of oil in the skin, due to the balancing effect on the oil flow of the skin. This being said, most of the scientists researching CBD have agreed that more scientific studies are needed for these results to be confirmed.
CBD for wrinkles and anti-aging
As mentioned earlier, CBD oil is extracted from a plant. Because of this, it shouldn’t be a surprise these products have antioxidant properties. The antioxidants found in these CBD products, specifically for skincare, is how the products can be used as topicals to decrease aging’s visible signs. Free-radical damage is counteracted, reducing the appearance of inflammation. By using an anti-aging cream with CBD oil, you will be able to make issues such as skin dullness, a ruddy skin tone, and wrinkles disappear.
Yes, there are several other skincare products currently on the market that can make these same claims. Because of this, it’s impossible to say that a CBD oil product is the best or only antioxidant available. The products with CBD oil are simply ones that should be considered. The more of these CBD oil products you begin using, the better the effects will be on your skin.
CBD oil for sensitive skin
Preventing acne and making skin look younger isn’t the only benefit that comes with using CBD products for skincare. Also, we’ve been able to learn that CBD oil has many properties that soothe the skin. The substantial skin normalizing and skin calming effects created by CBD oil are able to minimize the issues related to the sensitivity of someone’s skin. This includes reactivity and redness. Because every type of skin is affected every day by stressors in the environment, the soothing mechanisms of CBD are able to keep a user’s skin in check.
Finding the best CBD skincare products
There are probably more skincare products with CBD oil than we could count and list in one article. Because of this, there are a few specific things you can look for, providing you with the best possibility of finding the exact skincare CBD product you need. Here are a few tips to remember.
Be sure the list of ingredients uses the word “cannabidiol.” As mentioned before, there are other terms commonly being used that aren’t compliant with INCI. Also, make sure to remember, CBD oil is not the same thing as hemp seed oil or an extract.
With CBD skin products, it is popular for many brands to list the content of total cannabidiol in milligrams. Sometimes, these measurements can be broken down even further per use. If you find this, it is a great indication of a legitimate CBD product. That being said, there currently isn’t a consensus in regards to exactly how much CBD is needed by the skin per application. We simply know from research that skin contains receptor sites for the ingredient, interrupting signals that can create an act up in the skin.
Look for a brand that provides certification from a third party in regard to the purity and stated amount of the CBD. This ensures you will get what the label is stating.
When buying CBD skincare products, you don’t want to purchase something that is in a jar. Instead, look for more stable packaging other than a clear jar or bottles. These forms of packaging expose the plant ingredient, which is delicate, causing the effectiveness to decrease. These products usually will not provide the effects you are looking for due to the product being damaged.
There are differations with CBD oil products, especially with skincare. A brand may advertise CBD being broad-spectrum, full-spectrum, or isolate. None of these terms are currently being regulated, so the more you know, the better off you are.
CBD isolate: This means it is pure CBD. There are not any other cannabinoids or substances that naturally occur such as terpenes or flavonoids.
Full-spectrum CBD: This means, along with the CBD, you also receive everything else that occurs within the hemp plant. This includes very low amounts of THC, as well as other cannabinoids such as CBG and other antioxidant compounds.
Broad-spectrum CBD: This means no THC has been detected. While full spectrum CBD will have very small traces of THC, but this isn’t the case with broad-spectrum CBD. For the record, with full-spectrum CBD, the THC level will always be under .3 percent in order to not be considered active.
As long as CBD oil has been extracted within proper parameters, the skin will always benefit from the use of CBD oil products. As more study and research is completed, we feel comfortable in saying many more people will begin using these products to better care for and maintain their skin.
Related: Can CBD Help With Sunburn Relief?