It’s almost impossible not to have heard about the virtues of CBD in recent years, with this legal derivative of the cannabis plant making waves and quickly becoming the go-to plant medicine alternative for a range of different health conditions, ranging from chronic pain and autoimmune illnesses to Parkinson’s, epilepsy, and even stress and depression.
Today, cannabidiol – which is free of the psychoactive compound of THC and therefore widely available in health food and online stores – can be found in all sorts of products designed to make it easier for users to get their daily dosage, from oils and tinctures to food and drink items like teas, gummies and even chocolate.
But while there has long been a case for including CBD in your daily regime, with new scientific studies and reports emerging on its efficacy seemingly by the day, we don’t tend to hear as much about the benefits of topical use.
Despite this, we’ve seen a range of CBD-infused moisturisers, body creams and oils come to market over the past few years, with chronic pain sufferers some of the first to praise them for helping to ease their daily symptoms. But now, it seems that the virtues could go beyond this alone, and there is a growing case for the use of CBD hemp creams in the fight against the visible signs of ageing.
Hemp seed oil, which is produced from crushed hemp seeds, is contained inside the cannabis sativa plant’s woody fibrous herb, and is high in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, making it an excellent moisturiser and a great carrier oil when combined with other proven anti-ageing skincare ingredients.
Primarily renowned for its hydrating effects, hemp seed oil is effective in moisturising the skin of the face without clogging pores, exacerbating acne, or creating breakouts – and is a particularly good choice for those with oily skin. CBDfx.com has a great selection to choose from here (https://cbdfx.com/products/cbd-hemp-cream/) – but before you rush over and buy some, here’s all you need to know about this up-and-coming skincare hero.
CBD face creams: The new hero of anti-ageing?
Luxury CBD facial creams, moisturisers, and masks have been creating quite the stir amongst skincare experts of late – but have already been available for some while. Hemp-based lip balms, hand creams and other lotions and potions are also nothing new, having been on our shelves for several years now – but only now are they beginning to gain the recognition they deserve for their impressive properties in relation to the skin.
Industrial hemp and its products, including seeds, extracts, and cannabinoids (CBD), have been legal since the farm bill was signed in 2018, as long as the THC percentage is less than 0.3 percent. Different countries have different rules pertaining to CBD, however, so if you’re planning on travelling with yours, then be sure to check the local legalities to avoid any potential issues.
Because CBD oil is sourced from the hemp plant, some of the labelling on skincare products can be confusing. CBD oil and hemp oil are not the same thing, so before you buy, it’s essential to have a basic understanding of the differences to ensure you’re investing in the right product for you.
According to recent research, full-spectrum CBD oil appears to be more potent than hemp oil in terms of nutrients, anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidant qualities. And, because CBD oil is more expensive, you’ll want to be sure you know what you’re getting and paying for.
Cannabidiol should be listed on the label of any CBD product – whereas Cannabis sativa seed oil should feature on the ingredients list of any hemp seed oil product.
To make sure you’re getting your money’s worth before purchasing CBD oil or CBD facial treatments, be sure to check whether it contains CBD oil, what kind of carrier it uses and whether or not it is organic. It’s also wise to check the means of extraction – if hazardous chemicals or metals have been used, then avoid. Additives and preservatives are also best avoided – and of course, if buying online then it’s vital to check that it meets legal requirements and contains less than 0.3 percent THC.
What role does CBD oil have in skincare?
CBD oil is higher in nutrients – particularly antioxidants, which combat the free radicals that are known to damage skin and cause ageing. Antioxidants can help to protect the skin from the effects of ageing and environmental stresses, which can result in wrinkles, creases, and uneven skin tone.
While further study into the advantages of CBD oil for skin health and ageing is still being conducted, existing studies show that full-spectrum CBD oil offers anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and moisturising properties for normal ageing, sensitivity, troubled, and damaged skin – so by the looks of things, it’s certainly worth a punt.
CBD for acne-prone skin
According to scientific research, acne is a chronic inflammatory condition. Although a variety of variables can cause or contribute to acne, we do know that anything you use on your skin to reduce inflammation and soothe it is likely to lessen breakouts and redness, which is what makes CBD an effective choice.
In numerous trials, it has been found to offer some impressive anti-inflammatory properties when applied to the skin, gently calming the skin and minimising the angriest of breakouts.
CBD oil for wrinkles and anti-ageing
CBD oil, as a plant derivative, is high in antioxidants, which through topical application, can effectively help to reduce the outward signs of ageing. CBD anti-ageing creams, when used consistently, have demonstrated an ability to noticeably reduce the appearance of wrinkles, brighten skin tone and reduce redness by counteracting free-radical damage and lowering the appearance of inflammation – so, so far, the results are looking promising.
Other antioxidant-packed products tend to make similar claims, so CBD isn’t the only or ‘best’ antioxidant to look for; however, it’s certainly one of several to consider. The more antioxidants you can treat your skin to, the better, and the more amplified effects you can expect.
CBD oil for sensitive skin
CBD’s soothing and calming qualities pack a powerful punch when it comes to reducing redness and the type of reactivity that is commonly associated with skin sensitivity. Because environmental stressors influence all skin types on a regular basis – even normal and combination – CBD’s relaxing action can help keep everyone’s skin in balance, so even those with few imperfections and minimal irritation stand to benefit from this nourishing ingredient.
How to find the best CBD skincare
While we’ve covered the basics of how to identify a quality CBD skin product, there are some additional factors to consider to ensure you are getting the very best that money can buy. And, although these may, at times, require a little additional digging, it’s worth going the extra mile when it comes to your skin.
To ensure you’re getting what the label says you are, ask the brand to confirm whether or not they verify third-party certification on the purity and claimed amount of CBD, or see if you can find this information online.
And, opt for CBD skincare that comes in stable packaging – no jars, transparent bottles, or anything else that exposes this fragile plant ingredient to a lot of light or air, which can ultimately render it ineffective.
CBD isolate is a CBD-only substance that contains no additional cannabinoids or naturally occurring compounds such as flavonoids or terpenes. Full-spectrum CBD refers to everything that happens in the hemp plant, including trace levels of THC, other cannabinoids including CBG (cannabigerol), and antioxidant chemicals, in addition to the CBD.
THC is not detectable in CBD with a broad spectrum. THC can be present at a minor level in full-spectrum CBD, but it must be below 0.3 percent to be declared non-active.
It is preferable to use a full spectrum CBD face cream. Hemp oil made just from hemp seeds, is not a full-spectrum extract, which means it includes minimal levels of medicinal phytocompounds like CBDs, terpenes, minerals, and other trace chemicals that have been shown to have remarkable skin-healing properties.
If your skin cream doesn’t include full-spectrum extracts, you’re likely missing some substantial skin healing effects, which is where CBD creams made from pure CBD oil come into play – so bear this in mind when researching and shopping. A great place to get full spectrum CBD creams is Dutch Natural Healing.
The bottom line
CBD oil does provide skin benefits as long as it’s appropriately extracted – so provided you look for a high-quality product that is transparent about its processes and ingredients, you could just be onto a winner. As research into CBD oil’s topical advantages continues to progress, we can expect to see some exciting revelations come to light – and over the coming years, can expect to see CBD products become a staple in a growing number of people’s anti-ageing skincare regimens.
