The beauty industry has been taken by storm with the arrival of all the new CBD and hemp products. They come with the branding of being natural, in a time when the trend is to go all eco-friendly. Moreover, the laws are relaxing, and the research evidence is just mounting, making CBD beauty products more appealing to a wide range of US population.
What makes CBD so appealing to the beauty industry? For starters, CBD has a unique set of health benefits, which ideally fall well within the category of what beauty products have been marketing for years. It is anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, and anti-oxidant, and it soothes your body. All that has a direct impact on making your skin healthy and beautiful.
Read this article to know about the CBD and hemp seed oil benefits for skin.
What is CBD Hemp Soap
Soaps can be made from both CBD oil and hemp oil. The hemp seed oil is extracted from hemp seed, while regular CBD oil is taken from the hemp leaves and flowers. Hemp seed oil has a pale green color, and it can be turned into soap without much difficulty.
Hemp and CBD soaps come packed with vitamins and essential fatty acids, which is good for your skin. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, making it ideal for those who are suffering from skin conditions like eczema.
Unlike most of the anti-bacterial soaps, hemp-based soap does not have Triclosan, which is responsible for drying your skin. This makes it perfectly healthy to use hemp-based soap on your face, sunburns and you can even use it for shaving as well.
What is CBD
CBD stands for cannabidiol, one out of more than a hundred chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant. You may have heard about THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which can make you ‘high.’ Unlike THC, CBD is neither psychoactive nor addictive, and it does not make you feel ‘high’ if used.
Much of the benefits of CBD is attributed to its effects on the endocannabinoid system of the body. This system is a collection of neurotransmitters and receptors, which is spread across the brain, immune system, nervous system, skin, and many other tissues and organs.
Is Hemp Oil the Same as CBD?
Hemp is one of the two types of the cannabis plant. Much of the CBD is extracted from hemp plants since hemp is high in CBD and low in THC, unlike marijuana, which has more THC and less CBD. Therefore, sometimes, CBD oil is mistakenly named hemp oil, as a general term.
However, technically the two are not the same, because hemp oil comes in either broad spectrum form or full spectrum form and can have all or most of the chemical compounds found in the hemp plant, whereas CBD oil is a more refined form or CBD, which is either pure CBD or have a majority of CBD in its composition.
Legality
The 2018 Farm Bill of the federal government paved the way for CBD to be licensed in all 50 states in the United States. However, different states still have different opinions on THC and thus make it complicated when it comes to the legality of hemp. Since hemp can even contain small amounts of THC, and in some parts of the USA, such small amounts are not tolerated.
The legal status of hemp and CBD is a little tricky for you to understand. Especially if you are not from a state where recreational marijuana is legal, you better check with proper healthcare or beauty professional to find out which products you can use within your state.
To learn more about CBD, its benefits, myths, and legal aspect, please follow this link.
CBD oil Benefits for skin
Moderates Oil Production
Acne is one of the most common skin conditions, and millions of people suffer from it as a result. Out of the many reasons for causing acne, one leading cause is excess production of oil from the sebaceous glands in the skin.
CBD acts on the endocannabinoid system of your body, which influences these sebaceous glands. When you use CBD oil, it activates the endocannabinoid system to work on the sebaceous glands to reduce oil production. Less oil means that there is less chance of acne.
These facts were proven by a 2014 study, which effectively showed how CBD could help to counter the acne vulgaris.
Moisturizes and Soothes Inflammation
Dry skin is one of the common skin problems. CBD soaps have essential fatty acids like omega 3, omega 6, and Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) which adds more moisture to your skin.
There are natural oils in the human skin which keeps our skins moist. The usual soaps we use, make our skins dry by removing these natural oils. For example, the anti-bacterial soaps have Triclosan, which can remove such oils. CBD soaps do not do this, and thus makes you retain the moisture.
CBD has been proven as an anti-inflammation agent. It does so through the endocannabinoid system, which can down-regulate the inflammation process.
Inflammatory conditions like eczema and acne (especially the scarred acne) can significantly benefit from this anti-inflammatory nature of CBD.
Relieves Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis is a common skin condition that is seen over 15% of the population. Most of the time, it is the young children who get affected by this condition. The disease is characterized by redness, thickened skin, itchiness, and dryness. Common sites are scalp, knees, elbows, hands, and feet.
While what exactly causes atopic dermatitis is not known, CBD can help with the inflammation and itchiness of the condition. CBD is not irritant to the skin of your children, and therefore you can use the same soap you use, with your children.
A 2013 study illustrated how CBD with its moisturizing properties could help with atopic dermatitis.
Has Anti-Aging Properties
CBD has anti-aging properties and antioxidant properties which will fight off the free radicals and help to bring in a youthful look to your skin. It does this through the endocannabinoid system. CBD oil also comes with several vital vitamins like vitamin A, a bunch of B complex vitamins, C, D, and E, and also it has many essential fatty acids and minerals which makes your skin healthy.
Vitamin A keeps the skin healthy, vitamin C helps in the collagen production, while vitamin E helps with fighting free radicals which otherwise damage your skin.
Safe for Sensitive Skin
When your skin has less sebum production, it becomes dry and irritable. Some skins are allergic to most products. This kind of skin is called a sensitive skin since it gets easily irritable and red when you try any chemical on it.
CBD oil can regulate sebum oil production. Not only that it reduces surplus oil production, but it can also increase if the production is too low. Moreover, by acting on the immune system, it can give more protection against various allergens as well.
When you get sunburns, you will feel pain when you take a shower as the damaged skin is exposed. Apply a hemp-based soap on the sunburned skin, which will reduce the pain and allows the skin to recover from the sunburn quickly.
How is CBD used for skin?
First, let's go through the main types of CBD beauty products applicable for improving skin conditions.
CBD Hemp Soap
Using hemp and CBD soaps are one of the easiest ways for you to take the benefits of CBD. You can use it just like your regular soap and can apply to both body and face without a problem. Since hemp-based soaps do not make your skin dry like most other soaps or irritate it for that matter, you can use it on any skin, whether your skin is dry, oily or sensitive.
CBD Lotions
There are many CBD and hemp lotions in the market. Lotions are a good way to apply on your skin without risking the general body functions. When you apply lotion, it is taken in by the skin, but do not enter your bloodstream, so you do not have to worry about finding unwanted substance in your blood through a drug test or getting any systemic effects from such products.
CBD Tinctures
Tinctures are the most popular form of CBD use. Many people like tinctures, since it is much easier to titrate the doses. You can decide whether to use one drop or two drops and then increase your dose as you prefer.
CBD Creams
There are many forms of CBD creams and hemp oil creams in the market. There are creams made with CBD coconut oil, which are gaining popularity. Coconut oil is a very good medium to mix CBD with since it has a lot of saturated fatty acids compared to other oils. Being a fat-soluble substance, CBD blends well with the coconut oil, which is then made to creams, and also taken orally as supplements and by adding to food.
CBD Essential Oils
You can use hemp oil in combination with essential oils. CBD oil concentrate can be mixed with several essential oils like cinnamon, lemon, and peppermint. However, keep in mind that some of the essential oils are only used topically and should never be ingested as they can be toxic to the human body.
How to Apply CBD Oil for Skin
- Before you apply any CBD oil for skin, make sure it is dry and clean. Applying on dirty skin will expose you to unwanted chemicals, and you will find it hard to judge which chemical is responsible for the side effects.
- When you are first starting, always start with a small dose. Apply it over a part of your body that is easily visible and does not get wet and dirty all the time. Good places are either on your upper arm or your forearm.
- After applying it, cover it with a clean bandage so that the oil is not accidentally washed off or gets contaminated. When you apply the bandage, make sure it does not get wet with the oil.
- Keep this for 24 hours and then remove the bandage to see whether there is any redness or itching.
- After testing it, and after making sure you do not have any side effects with CBD, you can safely continue its use. Otherwise, you need to stop the use and get a medical opinion on further management.
Are There Risks or Side Effects?
- The side effects profile of CBD is quite mild, and not many people get any of it either. Common skin-related side effects are dry skin, redness, and burning sensation. If you develop any of these, better to discontinue the use.
- When you apply CBD oil on your skin, it usually acts on the skin and does not enter the bloodstream. So you do not have to worry about systemic side effects.
- You can also use CBD oil in an oral form. There are capsules, tinctures, and also oils which can be added to your foods and drinks. Some people also use CBD oil for cooking. Common side effects of oral CBD use is nausea, diarrhea, and irritability.
Summary
CBD and hemp oil are both making new waves in the beauty products industry. The changes in laws supported by the mounting evidence are allowing it to capture the US market, which had already distanced itself from harmful petroleum-based products and had shown interest in going natural and eco-friendly.
CBD and hemp oil is making hemp-based soaps, creams, lotions and traditional tinctures and edibles which comes with a set of potential health benefits. It has shown promise in reducing excess oil production and acne, soothing sensitive skin, helping with inflammatory skin conditions like eczema, and being a good anti-aging and anti-oxidant product.
CBD and hemp oil is easy to use and has little or no side effects on most people. It can be used on oily, dry and sensitive skin types and even apply on the skin of your young children without any problems. All these are making more and more people using hemp-based beauty products, and the growing numbers only endorse a delighted customer base.