The good news about CBD - the non-intoxicating cannabis compound - just keeps on coming. CBD’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties not only provide muscle and pain relief, but can also help treat a wide range of skin concerns, from acne to anti-aging.
Beauty is of course big business, and the global CBD skin care market is expected to hit $1.7 billion (US) by 2025. So what do you need to know before you click add to cart at Sephora.ca?
Although related, CBD oil is not identical to hemp seed oil. While often marketed as the same, CBD oil is richly concentrated in cannabidiol (hence the short form CBD), whereas hemp seed oil only contains trace amounts of cannabidiol, if any.
Ironically, while cannabis is legal in Canada, CBD is still highly regulated internationally. Due to various restrictions, many major skin care brands’ CBD products are not yet available in Canada.
Which Skin Care Problems Can CBD Solve?
Who amongst us (besides the very young, sigh) does not want more youthful skin? That’s the promise behind harnessing the antioxidants in CBD to counteract free-radical damage. This lessens the visible signs of aging by diminishing issues like wrinkles, skin dullness, and ruddy skin tone. Woo-hoo!
CBD might also be effective in fighting acne, as it helps reduce the production of sebum in the skin. Studies show CBD may also help treat eczema and psoriasis
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CBD Skin Care Shopping Tips
With new products popping up everyday, what should you look for in CBD skin care? Here are some shopping tips:
- Make sure the ingredient list states “cannabidiol”. As noted, hemp seed oil or extract isn’t the same as CBD oil
. - Look for stable packaging - a tip that applies to all your skin care products. Jars, clear bottles or other packaging that exposes ingredients to a lot of light or air will make them less effective.
- Some brands advertise their CBD as being “isolate”, “full spectrum”, or “broad spectrum”. While these terms are not regulated, they can be helpful differentiators:
- CBD isolate means pure CBD, no other cannabinoids or other naturally occurring substances like flavonoids or terpenes.
- Full spectrum CBD means everything that occurs in the plant alongside the CBD, including trace amounts of THC and other cannabinoids such as CBG (cannabigerol) and antioxidant compounds. THC must fall below 0.3% to be considered inactive.
- Broad spectrum CBD means no THC is detectable.
It’s exciting to see how research is proving that CBD benefits the skin. Long may it grow and help us glow!