Discover the Benefits of CBD in Skincare: A Comprehensive Guide
Everyone is talking about the wonders of CBD in skincare these days—but what exactly is it? And more importantly, what are the benefits of CBD in your skincare? If you've...
Everyone is talking about the wonders of CBD in skincare these days—but what exactly is it? And more importantly, what are the benefits of CBD in your skincare? If you've been asking these questions, you're in the right place. We're about to take a deep dive into the world of CBD and learn about its potential impact on your skin.
CBD: A Brief Overview
CBD, short for Cannabidiol, is one of the many cannabinoids found in the cannabis sativa species, or hemp plant. But don't worry—you're not going to get high from applying it to your skin! Unlike its cousin THC, the CBD molecule is non-euphoric and is not able to make you feel high when you ingest it or put it on your skin. So, what's all the fuss about?
Turns out, CBD is a powerful antioxidant, with a range of benefits for your skin—think calming/soothing, balancing, visibly brightening, moisturizing, and combating the visible signs of aging. Antioxidants play a major role in skincare because they help our skin stay vibrant and healthy-looking as we face daily free radical damage from the environment.
Uncover the Role of CBD in Skin Care
CBD has been making waves in the skincare industry, and for good reasons. Let’s look at what makes CBD a true game-changer in skincare; The answer lies in its unique properties and how they interact with our skin.
Our skin is equipped with something called the endocannabinoid system, or ECS for short. This system contributes to the overall balance or homeostasis of the skin. To put it simply, when the ECS is happy, the skin is happy too! Now, here's where CBD comes in. CBD helps to balance the ECS system by sending signals to these magical little receptors, telling the ECS system to take a chill pill. In turn, this can lead to healthier, better-looking skin. Cannabidiol has been shown to offer numerous benefits related to calming skin. This benefit makes cannabidiol an intriguing ingredient for interrupting the progression of damage within skin’s uppermost layers that can lead to visible problems like redness, dry/flaky skin, and other skin irritations.
Can you imagine what this means for your skin? It implies that CBD has the potential to address a variety of skin concerns. From acne-prone skin that produces too much oil, to dry skin crying out for hydration, CBD could be the answer you've been searching for. The question remains: does the science back up these claims about the benefits of CBD in skin care? Our next section will delve into this, so stay tuned!
The Main Benefits of CBD for Skin
So, you're curious about the specific advantages of integrating CBD into your skincare routine. Well, you're in the right place! Let's dive into the many benefits of CBD for skin that have been backed by science and are making a noticeable impact on people's skincare routines.
Calming/Soothing Properties: CBD is famous for its skin calming abilities. How does this benefit your skin? Well, if your skin has ever looked or felt stressed-out, which can manifest as irritation, redness due to dryness, and a whole host of skin issues that can feel out of control. CBD helps soothe the skin when under stress. This means healthier-looking, well-behaved skin.
Balances Skin: Remember when we talked about the endocannabinoid system? This is where it gets interesting. Simply put, CBD can help overly oily skin feel less oily and moisturize very dry skin. CBD is all about helping your complexion look and feel balanced when it comes to oily or dry skin.
Antioxidant Boost: CBD also packs a powerful antioxidant punch. Antioxidants fight off free radicals—those nasty little molecules that can cause damage to your skin and speed up the aging process. By fighting off these free radicals, CBD can help keep your skin looking youthful and radiant. Other well-known, proven antioxidants in skincare are Vitamin E and C. CBD is said to rival these, with superior antioxidant power and no irritation like Vitamin C can have.
Skin Barrier Strength: CBD helps fortify your outermost layer, your skin barrier. Your skin barrier is your first line of defense against the world. If your skin is extra dry and your barrier becomes impaired, pathogens and chemicals from the environment can penetrate the skin and cause problems. A weak barrier can also be reactive to skincare products.
The benefits of CBD in skin care are numerous, and the evidence supporting these benefits continues to grow. So, are you ready to explore how to select the right CBD skincare products for your needs? Let's move on to the next section.
The Science Behind CBD and Skin Health
Let's delve into the science that supports the benefits of CBD in skin care. Now, don't worry, we won't get too technical. After all, we're here to make this as easy and understandable as possible. We have also linked to the studies we have cited if you would like to read further for more detail.
Remember, our skin contains cannabinoid receptors. These receptors are part of the endocannabinoid/ECS system, a complex biological system that exists in every organ in our body, including our skin. CBD is a cannabinoid that is synergistic with this system, leading to a variety of visible skin benefits. CBD is a multitasking botanical that naturally works with our skin. Let’s look at a few studies we found!
Genemarkers is a testing facility that has presented a set of data, outlining the effects of CBD in a moisturizing product, proving that the topical application of CBD regulates over 150 markers in the skin and can potentially influence the skin barrier, hydration, and many other key skin issues. The results of this test are stunning and show the possibilities that this multi-tasking ingredient offer.
Furthermore, a study in the Journal of Clinical Investigation discovered that CBD helps oily skin to look less oily and to potentially help calm the chaotic look of acne-prone skin. So, when you apply CBD topically, you're not just slathering on a product and hoping for the best.
If you want to take a deep dive and attempt to decipher more scientific research, this study from Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol offers a detailed look at the potential of topical CBD for skin for a number of conditions concerning skin health. Read more below:
Lastly, a 2019 study in La Clinica Terapeutica studied the impact of CBD on their patients with uncomfortable feeling skin and found that the topical administration of a CBD ointment, without any THC, to be a safe and effective non-invasive alternative for improving the quality of life in their patients. Read more about it here.
So, there you have it. These are just a few of the many scientific studies about the topical use of CBD on the skin that prove that CBD skincare is more than just a trend. The science behind CBD and skin health is compelling, isn't it? Now that you understand the science, we can start exploring how to choose the right CBD skin care products.
Select the Right CBD Skin Care Products
Okay! Now that we have a solid understanding of the science behind CBD and skin health, let's talk about choosing the right CBD skincare products. With the market flooded with CBD-infused products, picking the right one for your needs can feel like finding a needle in a haystack. But worry not! Here are some tips to help you make a smart choice.
Check the INCI first: The INCI is the ingredients list on your skincare product! You want a product where CBD is listed as "Cannabidiol.” If the ingredients list reads “Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil” this is not CBD; Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil is hemp oil and your product will not contain CBD if it does not say Cannabidiol. Some brands also will list the milligram dosage that the product contains, but this is not always the case. The amount of CBD in a product should be .5% or more of the total weight to influence the skin.
The formula: The total formula is important for the product to be efficacious. Look for products that combine CBD with other botanicals, skin identical ingredients, vitamins, antioxidants, and clean functional ingredients. The supporting ingredients in the formula will determine efficacy on the skin and that the CBD is being delivered to the skin so it can do its job. How will you know if this is happening without being a cosmetic chemist? You might not, but product reviews are a good place to start!
Ask questions: Don’t shy away from doing a bit of brand research before you buy. Ask where the company sources its CBD, if the extract is THC free, and how much CBD is in the product. You're looking for brands that use high-quality, organically grown hemp. It's also a plus if they have a Certificate of Analysis for their CBD extract, which ensures purity and potency.
Types of CBD: The type of CBD used will be most effective when combined in a total formula with other synergistic botanicals and ingredients that have affinity for the skin. With skincare applications, the type of CBD used is most effective because of the delivery system (the ingredients that help with product penetration into the skin), not the type of extract used.
Bear with me while I attempt to explain this so that it makes sense! When you are using .5% - 1% CBD extract in the total skincare formula, the trace amounts of other compounds from the extract will be so minute that they will probably be ineffective. Those trace compounds (which were at .3% or less of the total .5 -1% CBD extract will only amount to .003% or less in your skincare) will be lost in the processing of the product with heat, etc. and other ingredients will be dominant. With ingestible CBD products, it may be more important to use a specific type of CBD extract because it is the only botanical working in the formula and at higher concentrations where the trace compounds can effect delivery and have synergistic effect with the CBD.
There are three common types of CBD extracts: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate.
- Full-spectrum CBD contains all the compounds found in the hemp plant, including trace amounts of THC.
- Broad-spectrum CBD also contains other compounds but without any THC.
- CBD isolate, as the name suggests, is pure CBD.
Apply CBD Products for Optimal Glow
We've got the right CBD skin care product in hand—now what? It's application time, of course! But before you dive in, it's important to remember: more isn’t always merrier. You don't need to slather on a thick layer for the CBD to work its magic. A little often goes a long way.
Start with a small amount of product and gently rub it onto your skin. Take a moment to enjoy the process, maybe even give yourself a mini massage. After all, taking care of your skin should also be a moment of relaxation, right?
Next, and this is key, be consistent. Consistency is everything when it comes to reaping the benefits of CBD in skin care. Just like your regular skin care routine, CBD products need time to do their job. Apply your product daily, or as directed by the manufacturer, for the best results.
Also, remember to patch test any new product before applying it all over your face. Apply a small amount to your inner arm, or neck skin and wait 24 hours to see if any adverse reactions occur. Better safe than sporting a rash, wouldn't you agree?
Lastly, always apply your CBD skin care products on clean, dry skin. This ensures the product can penetrate your skin properly and offer the full range of benefits.
Now, armed with your newfound knowledge, you're all set to make the most of the benefits of CBD in skin care. Enjoy this addition to your self-care routine and let the glow begin!
