CBD oil in Beauty Products?
Thanks to CBD, cannabis is getting a glowing review as a luxury wellness and beauty ingredient. The boutiquification of CBD has made it the IT beauty products of the moment. Everyone from the likes of Olivia Wilde, Mandy Moore, and Busy Philips are sporting and supporting the movement. Not since the evolution of Kale have we seen so much hype around a green leafy, and the number of beauty products containing the stuff is growing like a weed… pun intended. By now, you’ve seen CBD-infused versions of everything from lip balm to face serum, but very little information is out there to explain the basics. What does CBD oil in beauty products actually do? Can you get high?
What is CBD?
CBD, short for cannabidiol, is one of over 80 compounds called cannabinoids extracted from the cannabis sativa plant. The two most well-known of these are CBD, which does NOT get you high and THC, which does. CBD didn’t pique much interest until scientists started studying the health and wellness benefits of low-THC compounds. So, the question still stands, can you get high? The answer is NO, a thousand times, no. This is precisely the reason behind CBDs ultimate popularity right now.
Why is CBD everything?
Honestly, prior to marijuana legalization and scientific studies that stemmed from the controversy, nobody really understood how beneficial CBD was. Cannabidiol has anti-inflammation properties, vitamins A, D, and E, along with essential fatty acids. The Public is starting to view CBD as a supplement, great for infusing into everyday life.
How does CBD work?
Our bodies make our own cannabis-type chemical called anandamide, also known as the bliss molecule. If you are a runner, you know the natural high. CBD naturally elevates the levels of your own endocannabinoid, increasing anandamide in your body and brain. This in turn has anti-inflammatory effects along with activities at other receptors throughout the body. These effects are still being studied, however most of the attention that the media is giving comes from its use in controlling treatment-resistant epilepsy, anxiety, and even breast cancer.
If you ingest CBD in a supplement or edible, it enters the bloodstream much like Tylenol, interacting with the body’s many endocannabinoid receptors. If you use it topically, it acts only on the area where it is applied.
What does CBD in beauty products actually do?
Topical CBD’s most enticing attributes are in its anti-inflammatory and pain-killing properties. Scientists are finding even more evidence that it can help treat skin disorders like, dry skin, psoriasis, and eczema… exactly the reason why the ingredient is appearing in so many face creams, serums, and body lotions. As we all know, inflammation is the devil when it comes to the signs of aging and acne. Without anything new coming down the pipeline to treat symptoms, CBD might be the magic potion to have clear skin with a youthful glow. There is more research to be done of course, but dermatologists are intrigued by the potential of a new non-steroidal tool to have in their arsenal. Imagine a treatment that doesn’t make your skin worse, before it can get better.
Also, for people who can’t or don’t want to pop pills, topical CBD takes down ouch levels and reduces swelling. That’s why we are seeing it as a main ingredient in so many rubs and balms used for achy joints and sore muscles, without that pungent Bengay smell. The same properties make CBD oil the perfect massage lotion, too.
Is CBD legal?
Yes, if it’s extracted from industrial hemp. If the plant has less than 0.3% THC content, it is considered hemp according to Section 7606 of the Agricultural Act of 2014… also known as the Farm Bill. If it has more THC, it is considered cannabis and not hemp, which makes it illegal in certain states that don’t allow medical or recreational marijuana use. You are not going to buy a CBD skin cream and get taken down by a SWAT team.
What’s next for Cannabeauty?
Terpenes! Terpenes are the part of cannabis that gives it a distinct smell. In a nutshell, think of it like an essential oil. Research suggests that the terpenes in cannabis may work synergistically with cannabinoids to enhance medicinal effects. Cannaromatherapy, anyone?
Source: Meirav Devash from Allure June 25, 2018
