CBD seems to help with practically everything – including skin health. Presently, CBD-infused products make rounds for their purported health-giving potentials. From a loss of appetite to chronic pain, early results from ongoing research suggest CBD is one compound to watch out for in the health, fitness, and overall wellness niches. Interestingly, the natural chemical has also found a good home in beauty products. CBD’s surging reputation in the beauty niche is traceable to its purported anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties. CBD-based researchers think the compound may help alleviate skin inflammations, including irritation, redness, acne, sensitivity, etc. Reading on, you’d discover how much your skin can benefit from CBD application – as well as CBD’s safety and legal concerns. But before we proceed,
What is CBD?
CBD means Cannabidiol, one of over a hundred compounds (called cannabinoids) in cannabis – both hemp and marijuana. Among the many compounds in the controversial cannabis, CBD is most prominent after THC, the main psychotic component in cannabis. Although both CBD and THC promise pretty similar potentials, CBD seems more widely tolerated and accepted – notably in the legal and wellness niches. Understandably, this sentiment is mainly caused by THC’s dreaded ‘high’ nature. As more results from ongoing CBD-THC-based researches surface, people are more enlightened about CBD’s zero-high effect. Interestingly, this compound may have a lot of offers for the skincare community. Lately, CBD has shown up as a crucial active ingredient in several beauty products.
Why CBD-Infused Beauty products?
While CBD research has been widely limited, a research review perceives the extract may help handle a range of health conditions, including psoriasis, dermatitis, acne, etc. Little evidence shows CBD’s antioxidant properties help shield skin cells from the likely adverse effects of free radicals. While the promises sound good, how exactly do these happen?
Quickly, let’s examine four ways CBD can add value to your skincare regimen.
CBD handles acne and oily skin
While genetics, diet, and hormones are typical causes of oily skin, CBD may help curb their effects. A 2014 research found CBD oil may reduce the production of excess sebum from the sebaceous glands. Sebum accounts for that shiny skin appeal we all crave. The study also suggests CBD may prevent activation of inflammatory proteins such as pro-acne agents Reports from a more recent study by the same authors show CBD oil’s high-potent anti-acne property.
Combats wrinkles
Being a high-potent antioxidant, CBD may help fight free radicals. For your skin, this translates to reduced wrinkles and other signs that come with aging. CBD may also encourage the development of new skin cells. A 2011 publication featured a study that suggests CBD may, through the endocannabinoids system (also called ESC, this system regulates specific body functions across the body), influences basal skin cells’ life cycle, which may, in turn, deliver younger-looking skin.
CBD helps dry and/or itchy skin
Old research found an 86.4 percent reduction in itches in 14 patients who applied ECS-stimulating substance on their skins. This result is traced to the ECS’s receptors to which CBD in topical products bind. This makes CBD creams and lotions uniquely efficient. Even more, CBD has produced some evidence suggesting it may help alleviate symptoms of eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis.
CBD manages sore muscles
Workouts are usually trailed by aching muscles. Thankfully, research suggests, CBD may help soothe your sore muscles. Thanks to its muscle- calming properties. For this, medical cannabis has been a typical prescription for muscle stiffness chiefly caused by Multiple Sclerosis. That said, while it’s one thing to desire these significant pluses for your skin, buying your CBD skincare products can be a bit challenging. Briefly, let’s discuss how you can reduce the mistakes when sourcing your CBD products.
How to Buy a CBD-infused Skincare Product?
The FDA has left a whole lot to be desired of CBD regulations. Currently, the CBD market attracts a truckload of products from different
manufacturers. Among these, a lot do not satisfy basic quality standards. While many contain hidden harmful substances, others are deceitfully labeled. With such irregularities, choosing from the lots on the market becomes a challenge, particularly for the uninitiated buyer. No worries, though… The tips discussed below will help make a well-informed decision when sourcing for the best CBD product for your skincare needs.
Know the company
Before you invest in any product, please do your research to know, at least, the company’s profile and their prestige in the industry. While any brand can offer good-enough quality, reputable brands have their goodwill at stake; hence, strive to make a statement of quality with every product. More, such credible products are honest about their products’ ingredients, sourcing, etc. As mentioned, misleading labeling, inaccurate CBD content claims, and toxin-laden ingredients are common issues with most products on the CBD marketplace.
What do the ingredients say?
Manufacturers have successfully used the lingering widespread confusion between ‘hemp,’ ‘marijuana,’ and ‘cannabis’ as a market ploy. Well, don’t let the terms on the label fool you. For clarity: while CBD oil (or hemp oil) is extracted from cannabis’ stalks, leaves, and buds, the hemp seed oil is derived from the seeds of hemp. While these two extracts are not the same and offer entirely different results, many manufacturers use them interchangeably. Too often, many users end up buying one instead of the other, and, in the end, obtain far below typical expectations.
Consider full spectrum
While CBD-alone applications were thought more practical, emerging research results believe the full spectrum CBD, with its entourage effect, may offer more potent results.
Quick notes: Full-spectrum CBD contains all chemical components in cannabis – including THC.
Broad-spectrum mimics full-spectrum, except that it contains no THC
CBD isolate refers to CBD in its unrest state with over 99 percent CBD concentration.
The future of CBD for Skincare Indeed, CBD has attracted global attention within a remarkably short span. While it promises to aid general wellness, research has found a particular link between CBD and skin health. Besides CBD, researches have exposed the potential benefits of other components in the cannabis plant. So while, CBD (and THC) seemingly have all the attention presently, in the future, these additional members may be found as skin-friendly – or even skin-friendlier – than our beloved CBD.
