From cleansers to toners to serums, the skin care landscape has become more diverse and complex than ever before. As the search for new and natural ingredients expands, one ingredient has begun to find its way into skin care products: CBD. Unfortunately, misinformation and the general lack of research have resulted in plenty of skepticism from skin care enthusiasts. Read on to learn more about the most common CBD skin care myths.
Myth #1: CBD can’t be delivered via the skin.
While CBD is best known for being consumed through oral tinctures, edibles, and vape; a new form of application is starting to become more popular; topical applications through the layers of the skin. Which means you don’t have to ingest CBD in order to get it to work.
CBD acts on the body’s natural endocannabinoid receptors, most prominently CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors are more abundant in the brain, while CB2 receptors are more abundant outside of the nervous system, but both can be found throughout the body, including the surface of your skin.
Myth #2: CBD gets you high.
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the other prominent compound found in cannabis. It causes the characteristic high associated with using the plant. CBD, or cannabidiol, is non-psychoactive that may contribute to a variety of health benefits, including:
- Improving sleep
- Providing physical calm and relaxation
- Reducing stress
- Supporting a healthy mood
Current legislation from the 2018 Farm Bill states that CBD products are only legal with a THC content of 0.3 percent or lower. That’s not nearly enough to get you even remotely high.
Myth #3: It’s better to ingest CBD.
Taking CBD orally via edible, supplement, or vape allows it to enter your bloodstream quickly where it can travel through your body and activate receptors. By using CBD topically, the cannabinoid acts only on the area it’s been applied.
CBD can not penetrate deep enough into the skin to enter your bloodstream, but sometimes you need that effective localized relief if you have skin sensitivities or are suffering from painful skin conditions that leave the skin, dry, itchy, or irritated. Topical applications of CBD offer long-term relief for site pain.
Myth #4: CBD can’t help me with my specific skin issues.
While there’s still plenty of research required to get a full understanding of CBD’s scope of health benefits, most initial research suggests that it can help with a wide range of skin issues.
Inflammation
Inflammation is the root of nearly all skin issues, but CBD has thankfully been found to possess anti-inflammatory properties. The exact mechanisms require further study, but many experts theorize that CBD naturally elevates levels of a compound known as anandamide. Increasing this compound has been shown to help regulate inflammation, which may help to reduce red, irritated skin and otherwise help to calm sensitive skin.
Acne
Acne is caused by a variety of moving parts, including inflammation, clogged pores, overactive sebaceous glands, and acne-causing bacteria. Sebum is an oily, waxy substance that normally helps to protect the skin, but overproduction of sebum can result in clogged pores. CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties can help to soothe skin, and some evidence suggests that CBD can also help to regulate sebum production.
Signs of Aging
As you get older, your skin naturally loses some of its elasticity, resulting in lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging. CBD is known to have natural antioxidant properties. Antioxidants neutralize compounds known as free radicals, a product of the body’s natural oxidation reactions. An accumulation of free radicals can cause damage to cells and even DNA, which contributes to signs of aging along with a bevy of health issues. As an antioxidant, CBD can counteract free radical damage to reduce wrinkles, lines, and dull tone to keep your skin looking youthful.
Dry Skin
Full-spectrum hemp oil is also rich with natural fatty acids. The combination of fatty acids and antioxidants may help to nourish and hydrate dry skin and reduce redness, flaking and itching. CBD is good for all skin types thanks to its gentle, natural properties.
Joint Aches and Pains
CBD is most significantly used for its potential to reduce pain, and those potential effects extend to your skin. When applied to your skin, CBD binds to a series of receptors known as TRPV-1 receptors. Activating these receptors can help to regulate feelings of pain and heat, which can help to soothe aching joints. Activating TRPV-1 receptors may also help with feelings of itchiness, providing relief for itchy, irritated skin.
Myth #5: All CBD skin care products are created equal.
The fact is, CBD extracts are as variegated as any other botanical ingredient used in your average skin care product. Skin care is infused with CBD using either whole-plant; also known as full-spectrum CBD, or isolated CBD extract, known as CBD isolate.
Full-spectrum hemp oil is rich in CBD, and contains all of the beneficial phytonutrients, terpenes, and cannabinoids naturally found in the cannabis plant.
CBD isolate is pure CBD that is extracted from the cannabis plant and reduced to a powder form. Recent evidence suggests that CBD may be most effective in it’s whole, full-spectrum state, due to a phenomenon known as the entourage effect. The entourage effect describes the way that all the natural components of the cannabis plant work together synergistically to produce maximum benefit within the body. CBD skin care products also tend to contain a variety of other products designed to complement and enhance the effects of CBD.
Want to see what CBD can offer for your skin? Be sure to browse our topical selection and start the journey to healthy, glowing skin with the added benefit of CBD.
