CBD Benefits in Skincare

Written By: Emily Spring

You already know that CBD may abate nervousness, promote restful sleep, and soothe discomfort, but did you know that it could improve your skin health as well? Although more research is needed before anything can be claimed definitively, existing studies show CBD’s potential for banishing blemishes and calming skin.

CBD has many beneficial properties that may help improve your skin health. This guide takes a look at some of the reasons why you should consider adding CBD to your skincare routine.

How CBD Can Help Your Skin

First, let’s go over the basics of CBD: what it is, and what it does and doesn’t do. 

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the most well known active ingredients found in the cannabis plant. CBD is usually derived from hemp, although it can also be derived from marijuana plants. Although CBD comes from cannabis, it does not produce any psychoactive effects. Cannabinoid has been researched in-depth, and it is generally considered safe by the World Health Organization.

CBD products have been shown to provide benefits in terms of mood, bodily discomfort, and more. CBD has also been shown to help relieve common skin issues. Whether you suffer from dry skin and redness or are simply looking for more even, glow-y skin, products derived from the hemp plant might help you achieve your goals. A few of the reasons CBD is great for your skin include:

• Age-defying antioxidant properties
• Soothing properties
• Antibacterial properties
• Moisturizing and hydrating effects when added to products

Many skincare products include dozens of different ingredients to instill the same qualities that CBD has all on its own. Let’s take a closer look at the research on these properties.

CBD has Antioxidant Properties

CBD’s antioxidant properties are one of the biggest reasons that CBD should be an integral part of your skincare routine. While we’ve long recognized the importance of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables in our diets, recent volumes of research like Antioxidant Neutraceuticals suggest that there’s a good reason to use them in skin “cleansing, massaging, toning, and moisturizing,” too. Popular antioxidant additives to skin care include:

• Vitamin C
• Retinol (Vitamin A)
• Vitamin E
• Phytoextracts from botanicals (green tea, white tea)

These and other antioxidants are common in moisturizers, serums, and balms because they are thought to combat free radicals—unstable molecules produced from too much exposure to sun, smoke, and pollution.

When antioxidants are applied topically to the skin, they can help combat the unstable particles that are created when we expose our skin to harmful conditions. In doing so, they may diminish the effect those particles have on aging. Possible effects include:

• Preventing damage from the sun’s UV rays
• Reducing the appearance of fine lines
• Providing more youthful, healthy-looking skin

So far, researchers A. J. Hampson and others from the National Institute of Medicine have found that CBD’s natural antioxidant properties combat neurological damage in mice. While more research needs to be done on CBD and skincare, the plant’s potent antioxidants mean that it may help combat the damage from free radicals, too.

CBD has Therapeutic Properties

Another major benefit of CBD oil is its effect on exercise-induced inflammation. Many skincare issues are spawned from vigorous exercise, including:

• Blemishes
• Redness
• Unexplained bumps and rashes

Existing research shows how CBD helps to combat exercise-related inflammation. By acting on the cells that produce sebum, the oily substance that often clogs pores and leads to blemishes in the first place, CBD can help to avoid blemishes and promote an even skin tone.

CBD has Antibacterial Properties

Interestingly enough, CBD has also been found to have antibacterial properties as well. In particular, CBD was found to act on a class of bacteria called Gram-positive bacteria, which are often associated with blemishes. However, bacterial imbalance can be associated with a variety of skin issues, from blemishes to redness to blotchiness.

If you suffer from an uneven skin tone or unwanted clogged pores, CBD might be just what your skin needs.

How to Treat Your Skin with CBD Oil

As you now know, CBD has powerful antioxidants and therapeutic agents that can add a boost to your skincare routine.

You’ve likely already seen many products that include CBD as one of their primary ingredients. If you’re curious about whether a CBD skincare product could work for you, know that you can reap the healthy skin benefits from CBD in a few different ways:

• Consuming CBD oil orally
• Choosing a CBD serum
• Finding a CBD lotion 

If you choose to take CBD orally, make sure that you purchase high-quality oil from a reputable company. The amount of oil that you should take will depend on the potency of the oil and your personal preferences. Start out with the lowest dose and slowly increase the amount you take once you see how it affects you.

The Benefits of Topical Application

Some of the most noticeable benefits may come from applying CBD directly to your skin. Then, the combined antioxidant, soothing, and antibacterial properties partner with its moisturizing effect. A 2009 study suggests that our skin is primed with receptors for CBD. When appropriately absorbed through these receptors, CBD can help to soothe dry skin as well as a variety of associated irritants. To apply CBD, you can:

• Use a skincare product that contains CBD
• Add CBD oil into your favorite skin care product

Adding your own oil to products that you already use diminishes the likelihood that you will suffer from any allergic reactions, and you don’t have to worry about tossing out a product that simply doesn’t work for you.      

However, if you’d prefer to use a specific product that already includes CBD, you have quite a few options. There are many products available to choose from, including moisturizers, repair creams, soaps, and more. Just as when selecting a CBD oil, make sure that the skincare item you choose is from a well-known company that used high-quality ingredients.   

Before you use the CBD skincare product, test a small amount on a (non-visible) patch of your skin to make sure that you do not develop a reaction. After you have determined that the cream or gel doesn’t irritate your skin, then you can begin using the product according to its specific instructions.

Are Hemp Seed Oil and CBD Oil the Same?

If you’re hoping to add CBD to your skincare routine, be aware that hemp seed oil is not the same as CBD oil and does not have the same effects. Like CBD, hemp seed oil is derived from hemp. However, it only contains trace amounts of cannabidiol. In contrast, CBD oil has a very high concentration of cannabidiol.

Hemp seed oil is still a great product for the health of your skin, but it’s important that you know the differences before you start applying it. Products that actually contain CBD must have “cannabidiol” listed on the ingredient label. If the product says something like “CBD-enriched hemp seed oil,” it may or may not contain the cannabidiol that you want.

Skin Conditions That CBD Can Help Address

Thanks to all of those beneficial properties that CBD possesses, incorporating cannabidiol into your skincare routine may give you the glowing, even complexion you’ve been hoping for. A few of the specific skin conditions that CBD has been shown to improve in studies include:

• Blemishes – Because of CBD’s therapeutic properties, many studies have found that it can be an effective treatment for blemishes. Blemishes can be caused by inflammation or by bacteria. In many cases, when you use a product like CBD on your skin, you can reduce the likelihood of breakouts.

• Redness, Bumps, and Irritation – If your skin ever becomes itchy, red, or inflamed, CBD might help. Because CBD has antimicrobial and anti-itch properties, it can reduce the appearance of minor skin irritations.

• Dryness and Dullness – CBD’s hydrating and antioxidant effects can help to effectively moisturize your skin. By working against the factors that cause aging and dullness in the first place, CBD-infused products may leave you with a brighter, more youthful complexion.

If you struggle with dull, blemish-prone, or sensitive skin and are still searching for a product that leaves you glowing, CBD may be the secret ingredient that’s been missing from your skincare routine. While more research must be completed before we know of all the effects of cannabidiol on common skin conditions, the early research we have has shown results.

High-Quality CBD for Optimum Skin Health

To get started with CBD, consider adding a little bit of CBD oil to your moisturizer or other favorite skin care product to see how it can improve the health of your skin. From there, explore Plant People’s topical product line, infused with high-quality CBD and a range of other nourishing botanicals.

Written by Emily Spring 

Emily Spring is the Director of Marketing at Plant People. A longtime proponent of balanced living, she has enjoyed over 8 years driving growth in the lifestyle, health and wellness sectors with deep experience in functional solutions for optimizing anyone's everyday life.

Reviewed by Gabe Kennedy

 Co-Founder of Plant People, Gabe Kennedy is an acclaimed chef and entrepreneur. Growing up in a house of healers and herbalists, he is passionate about the power of food as a tool for health, and actualized this passion and belief system into his company, Plant People. Named to Forbes 30 under 30 Gabe has shaped menus and cooked his way around the world with his mission to promote a more communal, green and healthy world.

 Gabe is a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America and Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. You can learn more about his work at his website.