CBD is everywhere now so it’s too big of a surprise that it’s popping up in skincare products as of late. In 2018 a bill was passed that allowed CBD products to be sold in the US opening up the floodgates to the beauty industry. We all know from experience though that just because something is a fad, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s worth the hype (I’m looking at you JNCO jeans and frosted tips). CBD has been known to have excellent skincare properties, but is this fad as great as it seems?
What does CBD do for the skin?
Obviously we should probably talk about what CBD actually is, because to be honest, most may not be all that sure about it other than the fact that it comes from a pot plant. CBD (cannabidiol) is a chemical compound derived from the cannabis plant, but unlike THC, it doesn’t have the psychoactive effects so NO it will not get you high (darn). CBD, unlike hemp seed oil (which has been in skincare products for much longer than CBD) is an active ingredient that has been known to hydrate and to have anti-inflammatory properties. One of the greatest things about it is that it works really well in tandem with other plant ingredients (think botanical/essential oils) to help the ingredients penetrate deeper into the skin. Some of the most prevalent CBD benefits:
Hydration- CBD in skincare has been shown to combat dryness
Treat Chronic Skin Conditions– Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, CBD has been shown to combat the effects and irritation of eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis. It’s also been known to calm rosacea flare-ups.
Acne Control– CBD helps regulate the overproduction of sebum in those with acne-prone skin causing fewer breakouts and less oily skin. It can also help reduce the inflammatory elements of active acne (redness, swelling, pain).
Balance Hormones– There have been studies that link the use of CBD with the decrease in certain hormones that are present in times of stress (cortisol, kinase, nitric oxide)
Neutralize Free Radical Damage- It calms and nourishes the skin barrier.
Is CBD worth the hype?
All of these benefits sound amazing, so I’m sure you’re thinking that it’s worth it, but here comes the “but.” It can be great, BUT the problem is that there is no system in place to regulate commercial CBD products,meaning companies can say they contain a certain amount of CBD, but there is no organization to test to make sure they’re being completely honest with their labeling. Let’s take this case study published by Johns Hopkins Medicine just last year for example:
“In a case series of 105 topical cannabinoid products, 18% were over labeled (>10% less CBD than advertised), 58% were under labeled (>10% more CBD than advertised), and 24% were accurately labeled for CBD; THC was detected in 35% of products (all contained less than 0.3% THC, the legal limit for hemp). Products often made therapeutic or cosmetic claims.”
Without the regulations of CBD in skincare, it’s difficult to know whether the product you are getting really does contain what it says it does and if it’ll have the proposed benefits (not to mention the fact that some of the products in this study actually contained THC as well). I say difficult though, not impossible, because CBD does have amazing benefits when it comes from trusted products and brands. Which brings us to the (maybe somewhat confusing) conclusion that YES CBD is great but NO you shouldn’t just be buying up every serum, lotion, nail polish, hair product that claims to have it in there.
We’ll save you some trouble and give you some AMAZING vetted CBD products. At 614 Beauty, we recommend:
By Sadie Young