When you think of CBD, the first thing that comes to mind is probably marijuana. Weed. Pot. Something like that. But instead of a stoner image, CBD now has the reputation as a luxury wellness and beauty ingredient. Loosening of cannabis laws and the enthusiasm around emerging science has legitimized the medicinal claims surrounding CBD. This year, Barney’s opened a high-end cannabis lifestyle shop in Beverly Hills and retailers like CVS and Walgreens are following suit.
But there are some questions we should tackle before we start putting CBD oil on our skin and in our bodies. Will it de-stress you? Give you great skin? Can it get you high? And if not, why do people care about it so much? So let’s break it down so we can figure out if we want to start down this trend…
What is CBD?
CBD, short for cannabidiol, is one of over 80 compounds called cannabinoids extracted from the cannabis sativa plant. The two most well-known of these are CBD, which does not get you stoned, and THC, which does.
So, can CBD get you high?
No, no, a thousand times, no. Which is precisely what’s making CBD so popular right now.
What are the benefits of CBD?
Prior to legalization, no one really knew how beneficial CBD could be. It has anti-inflammation properties, vitamins A, D, and E, and essential fatty acids. The public is starting to view it more like a vitamin. Now that cannabis is legal in much of the U.S. (medical marijuana in 33 states and recreational cannabis in 10 states, plus Washington D.C.), more people have had a chance to experience the plant in a whole new way.
What does CBD in beauty products do?
Topical CBD’s most enticing attributes are its anti-inflammatory and pain-killing properties. Scientists are finding more evidence that it can treat dry skin, psoriasis and eczema, which is why the ingredient is popping up in so many face creams, serums, and body lotions. Inflammation is the root of all evil, whether that’s acne or the signs of aging.
Acne is a pain in the ass to treat because of its many components: blocked pores, excess sebum, inflammation, and proliferation of bacteria. A 2014 study found that CBD helps suppress breakouts by regulating oil production of the sebaceous glands. That could be good news if you’ve got acne and want to avoid drugs like Accutane. There’s more research to be done, of course, but skin doctors are intrigued by the potential of a new non-steroidal tool in their arsenal. If CBD can control inflammation and oil production, it would treat two parts of acne-lesion formation. That’s a big deal because currently, we’ve been doing that with retinoids, which actually makes the skin worse before it gets better. (As skin acclimates to the treatment, a process called retinization initially causes more inflammation in the form of redness, dryness, and peeling.)
Also, for people who can’t — or don’t want to — pop pain pills (ME!), topical CBD takes down the ouch level and reduces swelling. That’s why we’re seeing it in so many rubs and balms, used for achy joints or sore muscles before and after workouts, as a chicer alternative to Bengay. Sign me up. My husband has me rub CBD lotion on his back every night because of soreness and he swears it helps. So I might start this as well as I train for the 1/2 marathon and get sore muscles.
SIDE NOTE: It is important to know that CBD oil is not the same thing as hemp seed oil. The two are often marketed interchangeably, but CBD oil is richly concentrated in cannabidiol, whereas hemp seed oil only contains trace amounts of cannabidiol, if any.
To ensure that you’re truly getting skin care containing CBD, look for “cannabidiol” on the ingredient list.
What are the best CBD products out there right now?
This one required a lot of research as I wanted to make sure I was linking options that have true CBD in them and not just hemp seed oil:
Now, am I going to start using CBD oil on my skin? I’m not entirely sure yet. I think there is more research that needs to be done. Perhaps if I had acne and nothing else was working, I would try it. Luckily I am not dealing with some of the issues that CBD helps. But someday I might. I’m curious if anyone has tried any CBD products and if so, did you see an improvement?
I hope you found this topic relevant and helped demystify all things CBD.
xx, H
