Cannabidiol

A rising star in the skincare world, cannabidiol (CBD) is a hemp-derived active ingredient from the class of cannabinoids. It has been widely researched and its benefits for the skin are numerous and varied, ranging from soothing and anti-inflammatory, to being able to reduce the appearance of chronic skin conditions, acne, and scars.

Before we dive into the ingredient itself, let us have a look at the legality of CBD and hemp products. Technical hemp is legal everywhere, grown mainly for fibers and hemp seed oil (read more about it here: Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil). This oil is rich in various fatty acids and contains little to no cannabinoids. Its use in cosmetics is therefore non-problematic and common.

The strains of hemp that do contain cannabinoids in their leaves and flowering tops are controlled with a strictness that varies from country to country. There is also a difference between the specific cannabinoids, the most famous of which are CBD and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive and is usually treated with more benevolence, especially in skincare products.

Nevertheless, we always recommend checking your local regulations before purchasing any CBD skincare product.

Now let's move onto the exciting stuff: the benefits of CBD in skincare. The most well-known effect of CBD is its ability to control inflammation, itching, and other harmful chronic processes in the skin.

It has an incredibly soothing effect on the skin. This has been proven both in test tubes and in people with chronic inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. By binding to cannabinoid receptors in the skin, CBD may even be able to reduce the pain brought on by these conditions, as well as help scars to heal correctly.

The other well-researched effect of CBD is its ability to balance sebaceous glands, a property that is especially beneficial for people with acne-prone skin. CBD achieves this through the normalization of lipid production and by preventing sebaceous glands from multiplying, thus regulating their numbers.

CBD may also be able to reduce the infection of the skin by Cutibacterium acnes. The anti-acne effect of CBD, however, has only been researched with test-tube experiments. We are yet to see a clinical study that can prove it.

Test-tube research shows that CBD is able to permeate into the deeper layers of the skin, especially when carefully formulated (e.g., with ethanol). This is why it is generally not recommended to use skincare products containing CBD during pregnancy or breastfeeding, because the ingredient may be absorbed into the bloodstream and transported to the baby or breastmilk.