Everything You Need to Know About CBD in Skincare

For a few years now, CBD has been one of the hottest wellness products on the market. You see it in everything from sleep and calming products to focus, general wellness and pain management products. And if you’ve been paying attention, CBD has also become a very popular ingredient in skin-care products. To understand why this cannabinoid has become so popular for skin care, perhaps we should begin by explaining just what CBD is and how it works.

The Skinny on CBD (Cannabidiol)

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a chemical compound found in the cannabis plant. It’s one of a group of compounds called cannabinoids. Cannabinoids, like CBD, actually serve as skin care for the plant itself. There are glands on the surface of the plant, called trichomes, which secrete cannabinoids to protect the cannabis plant against the elements and insect predators, as well attract pollinators.

While these plant-based cannabinoids, or phytocannabinoids, are great for the cannabis plant, they also have remarkable benefits for animals. All animals have an endocannabinoid system, which brings homeostasis, or balance, to many of the body’s other systems. The body produces its own cannabinoids, called endocannabinoids, which interact with receptors in the body’s other systems and, in doing so, help the body to regulate such functions as sleep, pain, inflammation, mood, memory, and much more.

Phytocannabinoids, such as CBD, act very much the same way. When consumed, the cannabinoids interact with these receptors, which then send messages to the body’s various systems to get working. Different cannabinoids have different specialties, in terms of their effects. CBN, for instance, is a cannabinoid that affects the nervous system in such a way that it relaxes the body for sleep. CBD has broader applications. It supports the body in a broad range of functions, making it sort of a Swiss Army knife as a wellness product.

CBD for Skin Care | Hemp vs. Marijuana

Since we’re throwing around the word “cannabis” here quite a bit, I just wanted to take a moment to differentiate the kind of plant we’re talking about when it comes to CBD skin products. Marijuana is the word we use to describe cannabis plants with large amounts of THC (the cannabinoid that people use to get high). CBD skin products, in general, are produced by the hemp plant, which is cannabis with low, non-intoxicating amounts of THC in it. So, in no way will the CBD skin-care products we are talking about get you high.

CBD for Skin Care | Hemp Oil vs. Hemp Seed Oil

We should also make one more distinction. When we talk about CBD oil, we’re talking about oil derived from the buds, leaves and stalks of the hemp plant. Sometimes referred to as hemp oil, this is different from hemp seed oil, which is somewhat self-explanatory. It’s derived from the seeds of the hemp plant.

One way to tell if you’re getting the right type of oil is to look for terms like full spectrum, broad spectrum and isolate. These refer to oils derived from the hemp plant’s buds, seeds and stems, but with different levels of filtering. If you see one of these terms in the ingredients, you should have legit CBD oil and not hemp seed oil.

None of this is to say that hemp seed oil doesn’t have its own benefits, as well. In fact, the oil derived from hemp seeds is rich in essential amino acids, such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, plus wellness-boosting vitamin E. It does not contain any cannabinoids, though. Still, hemp seed oil has been found to have beneficial effects on skin conditions and anti-aging.

But let’s get back to CBD, skin care and the endocannabinoid system.

Does the Endocannabinoid System Affect Your Skin?

We mentioned the receptors that endocannabinoids trigger in various systems of the body. One group of such receptors are called cutaneous ionotropic cannabinoid receptors. These receptors affect such functions as pain and itch perception, epidermal homeostasis (that is, balance), and the promotion and suppression of dermatitis, which is the inflammation of the skin.

You’re probably starting to connect the dots, right? If the endocannabinoid system helps to regulate various functions of the skin, and cannabinoids (most notably, CBD) stimulate the endocannabinoid system, then it’s easy to deduce that CBD has the potential to be a valuable tool for skin care.

What Is a CBD Topical?

A topical is a product that is rubbed onto a localized area of the body, and sinks into the skin. Unlike CBD edibles or CBD vapes, CBD topicals are absorbed by the skin itself, and not absorbed into the bloodstream. You can usually experience the effects of a CBD topical fairly quickly, after just a few minutes. And the effects can last up to six hours. Of course, there are variable factors at play, as well, including your own physiology. We’re all different and react to various chemicals differently. So, if you’re going to experiment with CBD for skin, try it out on a small patch of your affected area and see how you react. Then, add more, if necessary. The nice thing about a CBD topical is that you can’t really overdo it by reapplying a CBD cream or CBD balm. There are no real adverse side effects to worry about on CBD topicals, unless you’re the rare person who is allergic. But again, try a small patch first to make sure everything is okay.

Types of CBD Skin Care Products

Now that we know the science behind using CBD for skin care, let’s take a look at some of the different CBD skin products that are available.

CBD Creams

Water-based creams enter the pores and penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin, down to the tissue below. This is great for a product like CBD Muscle and Joint Cream: Cooling Formula, that gives relief for aches and pains, but is not necessarily a skin-care product.

CBD Balms

CBD balms, on the other hand, are denser and remain more on the surface of the skin. This gives the CBD a chance to work harder on the upper layers of skin. CBD Calming and Moisturizing Balm Stick not only makes use of broad spectrum CBD, but also moisturizing shea butter and Roman chamomile oil, as well as soothing botanicals, like lavender, tea tree and vetiver oils — plus, the aforementioned hemp seed oil. With all of these ingredients working together, the CBD balm renews and rejuvenates the skin, soothing irritation and inflammation as it does so.

CBD Bath Bombs

Bath bombs allow you to immerse your entire body in wellness-boosting CBD, plus a host of essential oils and other active ingredients, like Hawaiian black salt. While it will certainly do wonders for your muscles and joints (not to mention relaxing your mental state), a CBD bath bomb can also be just the thing to pamper the skin over your entire body.

Choosing the Right CBD Skin Care Product

Whatever CBD product you choose, there’s one important factor you should always keep in mind, and that’s quality. There are countless cheaply made CBD skin-care products on the market, with insufficient or impure active ingredients, packed with all sorts of toxins. It’s important to find a company that sells only CBD derived from organic hemp, processed without harmful solvents, and complemented with quality ingredients. Make sure to look for third-party lab reports, which should be available for any CBD product sold by a reputable company. This report will tell you the purity and potency of your product, and can warn you away from substandard CBD products, as well. You can also check customer reviews to see what other people are saying about a skin-care product. It’s your skin, you want to make sure that you’re only feeding it ingredients of the highest quality.

CBD and Skin Care

Research is still in the early stages for CBD and its potential uses as a skin-care product. But there are a lot of exciting products available, and it’s worth having a look. I hope that this guide will help you on your journey.