The Skinny on CBD
Cannabidiol, abbreviated as CBD, has taken the beauty industry by storm. Many called 2018 the year of CBD, with the ingredient cropping up in products from mascara to face cream, but if you’ve been paying attention, you know it’s continued in 2019 and 2020.
So, what exactly is CBD?
CBD is a compound naturally found in the cannabis plant. The non-psychoactive cousin to THC, CBD doesn’t get you high, but still works on your body’s endocannabinoid system. This system is in charge of regulating a number of important things, like sleep patterns, appetite and even your general mood. Our bodies already produce cannabinoids in its regulation of emotion and sleep, but ingesting CBD can trigger the release of more.
In fact, when ingested, CBD works with the nervous system to intercept the transmission of pain signals in the body. It also influences the release of specific hormones and enzymes that can aid in digestive health and cognitive function.
CBD has been used for centuries to help soothe discomfort, relieve anxiety, boost mood, decrease nausea and quiet even the most persistent pain symptoms, even if our ancestral users didn’t quite know its chemical significance. We know it’s great in the body, but what about ON the body?
CBD In Skincare
CBD is useful in many forms and fits into any skin care regimen. It can be effective in its isolated form (ie. pure CBD), or as part of a full spectrum infusion.
What’s the Difference Between Isolate, Broad Spectrum, and Full Spectrum?
Nowadays, you can find CBD in just about any and all skin care products, from bath soaks to face creams to body butters. Naturally anti-inflammatory, CBD is a powerful complementary ingredient for topical uses, and is even being used for treating skin conditions like eczema and rosacea. As a consumer, you might see CBD products marketing benefits for aching joints, alleviating pain, or being anti-aging.
There’s one big problem: any cosmetic that marketing treatment for a skin condition isn’t a cosmetic, it’s a drug. If it’s a drug, the FDA regulates it, and there’s only one drug approved with CBD.
That said, those products may still show very real results and benefits when used. We suggest being mindful, however, of claims being made about CBD used in topical products. Don’t expect serious skin conditions to be resolved just with CBD, and always talk to your doctor/dermatologist about using CBD in your skincare routine.
What’s the Science for CBD Skincare?
Even if the FDA has been slow to approve CBD topical drugs, it doesn’t CBD doesn’t have science supporting it’s health benefits.
- A 2014 study conducted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information showed evidence that CBD helped regulated oil production in your sebaceous glands, thus effectively controlling potential breakouts and combating acne.
- A 2019 study conducted by the Department of General Surgery and Surgical Specialties at the University of Modena Medical School concluded that “topical treatment with CBD-enriched ointment significantly improved the skin” and improved scores on the PASI index score (the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index).
With CBD’s popularity continuing to rise, it’s likely we’ll see additional studies coming out showing the benefit of CBD for skin health. Whether it be for skin conditions, or just for the appearance, feel and radiance of skin, using CBD topically remains a great way to enjoy the benefit of this cannabinoid without ingesting anything.
The Brothers Recommends
CBD in skincare is useful, and adding it to you skincare routine is easy and doesn’t have to cost a lot. While some products overcharge significantly, look for pricing around $0.02-0.05/mg for CBD isolate (ie. THC-free CBD products). These can be for full size products too – not just 0.5oz or 1oz skin care items.
We’ve developed a series of skincare items, from body butters to bath soaks, each designed to help support health skin and improve skin’s appearance, radiance and youthfulness:
- Slumber CBD Bath Soak with Chamomile, made with 750MG CBD
- Renewing CBD Face Cream with Rosehip, made with 500MG CBD
- Earl Grey Energizing CBD Body Scrub, made with 1000MG CBD
- Green Tea CBD Body Butter, made with 500MG CBD
- Buzz Balm Under Eye & Lip Balm, made with 10-15MG per tube
That said, there are many fantastic CBD skincare producers, and we encourage exploring the marketplace to find the item that works best for you.
*The Apothecary LLC are not doctors and we do not provide medical advice. None of the information on this site, including information in any press release or blog post, constitutes legal or medical advice by us.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to the author’s employer, organization, committee or other group or individual.
Jesse Richardson is the co-founder of The Brothers Apothecary. He's an avid tea drinker and the primary creator behind The Brothers' products. An undergraduate of UCLA for Political Science, Jesse currently studies Medicinal Plants at Cornell University and The International School of Herbal Arts & Sciences.
