The year is 2021 and the world has changed irrevocably. Loved ones have been living apart for almost a year, masks obscure strangers’ smiles and their grimaces, and terms like ‘lockdown’ and ‘social distancing’ have entered the popular vernacular. You might even have been paid by the government to stay home. You will have certainly been relentlessly let down by them.
But stranger and more unfamiliar than all of this…it’s 2021, and we’re rubbing the oil of a cannabis derivative on our faces in the pursuit of fresher, more radiant features.
Rest assured, it’s not as crazy or faddish as it sounds. In fact, the use of CBD oil and now, CBD cream, as part of a holistic skincare regime, even has some grounding in science.
Research suggests that because CBD oil (which forms the basis of most CBD creams) is rich in omega oils, it boasts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which can help to sooth flare ups and lead to a brighter, clearer complexion. But let’s not shoot our shot in the introduction; read on to have your questions answered on using CBD cream as part of your new skincare regime.
DOES CBD CREAM ACTUALLY WORK?
According to Medical News Daily, who did a useful breakdown of the various studies (some ongoing, some speculative) concerning CBD and skincare, there are some potential benefits to the beauty industry of this seemingly ubiquitous product:
- CBD oil contains ‘’many compounds with oil-reducing, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties that may help improve acne’’.
- It may also help regulate production of sebum, an excess of which can lead to acne.
- CBD oil may also be useful in reducing triggers of eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis.
- It might also help reduce the signs of premature ageing via the product’s antioxidant properties, which have the potential to tackle the oxidative stress which contributes to the appearance of wrinkles.
Of course, it should be stressed that, since CBD oil is a fairly new phenomenon (in terms of its market potential, at least) research into its effectiveness is ongoing rather than conclusive.
HOW IS CBD CREAM MADE?
CBD cream is, essentially, a topical product made from typical skin care ingredients like coconut oil, Shea butter, eucalyptus oil, and so on. However, alongside the flavouring and herbal ingredients that many skin care products typically contain, it also includes a sizable quantity of CBD oil.
This CBD is extracted from hemp plants and suspended within oils like hemp seed oil and coconut oil. By mixing the CBD oil into the cream, users can not only enjoy the skin care benefits of using a moisturising cream, but also the potential anti-inflammatory properties of the product, too.
HOW DO I USE CBD CREAM?
While most forms of taking CBD involve users directly ingesting their CBD products, via droplets of oil on the tongue, capsules, or gummies, CBD cream is entirely different – it requires users to apply it topically to specific areas.
Many incorporate CBD cream or oil into their normal daily skincare routines, using it as a moisturiser directly after cleansing, or in a more targeted, topical application on flare ups and blemishes.
The product has also found its way into facemasks, bath oils, and many other products in recent years.
DOES CBD GET FROM THE CREAM INTO THE USER’S BODY?
A study by Hammell et al. for the European Journal of Pain found that applying CBD topicals directly to injured or inflamed areas actively helps to diminish the inflammation in that area, and it’s that topical application that has the most potential in the world of beauty, cosmetics and skincare.
Some also believe that a little CBD oil may be absorbed into the bloodstream via its application as a cream in your skincare regime. However, if you’re keen to explore the potential (though not yet proven) benefits of CBD oil – stress relief, help with tackling insomnia, possible treatment of chronic pain – rather than include it in your skincare regime, then it might be more sensible to seek out a general product which you consume orally.
A NEW TAKE ON SKIN CARE
Thanks to CBD cream’s composition, the product has found its way onto cosmetics shelves and into the bathroom cabinets of Brits looking to diversify and modernise their beauty regimes.
It pays to do your due diligence; a premium CBD cream should display exactly the amount of oil concentration within it. Look for 8mg or above if you value high potency. The company should also display that their results and ingredients have been verified by independent testing facilities.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Though studies are still ongoing and results as of yet inconclusive, the potential for CBD in the world of skincare is vast. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for this exciting product.