Cannabis is Good for More Than Smoking
Cannabis is a product that already has multiple uses, and as we learn more we will find many more uses for this wonder plant. Cannabis is showing up in many skin care products from facial care to all over body care and for many different indications. Below I look at cannabis, and in particular CBD as it relates to products meant to be used on the face.
Our body, including our largest organ, our skin, is exposed to damage daily from pollution and dirt, sun, chemicals and stress. The damage from these pollutants causes an increase in free radicals which may cause heart and other diseases and cancers.
How does this relate to cannabis - you are probably wondering.
Hang in there.
One of the best ways to combat the aging that comes with this damage is to stay away from all of the above. Short of living in a bubble, we are left with finding other ways to protect our skin from future damage and finding ways to reverse past damage. Antioxidants help protect your cells from the effects of free radicals. We have naturally occurring antioxidants, but there are other sources of antioxidants that can be consumed or applied topically to our skin that can help make up for deficiencies. Some great sources include fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds and whole grains, and now we are finding out that both THC and CBD are antioxidants.
CBD is showing up in many different skin care items from drugstore topicals and serums to high end sheet masks. This could certainly be a short lived trend, however I think it will be a long standing ingredient in skincare in the future as it is not only a good source of antioxidants, but it is said to be even stronger than vitamins A, C and E because of the way it interacts with our naturally occurring endocannabinoid system.
When looking for skin care items we should be looking at protecting our skin and preventing damage, and for many people, myself included, it needs to help reverse the signs of aging caused by pollution and sun. CBD is promising as a new ingredient with its anti-inflammatory, moisturizing and emollient properties, and with these properties it is able to help reduce wrinkles, dullness and redness.
It should be understood that CBD oil and Hemp oil, while they are often talked about and marketed interchangeably, are two different items. CBD is rich in cannabidiol, whereas hemp only has trace amounts, and this is the ingredient which has all of the properties we are looking for. When looking at the ingredient list of your products make sure it says cannabidiol.
Something else to look out for when looking for skincare that contains CBD is that it is ‘full spectrum’ CBD. Cannabis contains many compounds of which CBD and THC are only 2. THC is what is going to give you the high some people are looking for, however CBD and the other compounds do not. CBD isolate is just the CBD and nothing else. It is believed that the isolate is not as effective and the compounds of the whole plant work better together than alone. The different compounds when used or consumed together can be compared to eating a well balanced diet. Blueberries alone a good for you, but a diet full of berries, beets, spinach, carrots and nuts is better.
Previously we saw hemp in a few products on shelves, but that was more for the edgier crowd - not something to be seen in high end department stores. Now that medical marijuana is legal in many states, and recreational weed legalization is gaining steam, people are beginning to research and understand the benefits of the plant beyond smoking. CBD is being looked at more like a multivitamin with built in anti-inflammatory properties, vitamins A,D and E and its essential fatty acids.
Are you interested in adding CBD to your skin care regime? Some products to look at are Beboe Therapies serum or face mask,Herbivore botanicals Emerald CBD + Adaptogens Deep Moisture Glow Oil, Saint Jane, Kiehl’s Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil Herbal Concentrate, and Josie Maran Skin Dope CBD Argan Oil.