Benefits with CBD oil is being marketed in skin care products for everything from acne to wrinkles. But is any benefit possible, or is it just marketing hype? These are the CBD facts you need to know.

What Is CBD Oil?

CBD (also known as cannabidiol) is the non-intoxicating component of marijuana or hemp plants. It can be extracted as a powder, and is typically mixed with an oil like olive, hemp, or coconut. All of which enhance application and effectiveness, hence the name “CBD oil”.

CBD oil in skin care won’t get you high because it doesn’t have the mind-altering properties of marijuana’s tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content. It’s extracted from the flowers and leaves of the hemp plant.  THC content is exceptionally low (often so low it cannot be detected by testing equipment).

It is also important to know that CBD oil is not the same thing as hemp seed oil, which is another great ingredient for skin. The two are often marketed interchangeably, but CBD oil is richly concentrated in cannabidiol. Whereas hemp seed oil only contains trace amounts of cannabidiol, if any.

CBD benefits for Acne-Prone Skin

Research has firmly established that acne is an inflammatory condition. Although multiple factors trigger acne. We know that anything you apply to skin that can reduce inflammation and help soothe skin (that’s where CBD comes in). Is likely to visibly reduce breakouts, especially acne-related redness.

Numerous studies have shown that CBD oil has anti-inflammatory benefits when applied to skin. This makes CBD a suitable ingredient for acne-prone skin, while its calming benefits help reactive skin look and feel better.

Research also shows that CBD has the potential to decrease excess sebum (oil) production, possibly due to its balancing effect on the flow of skin’s oil.

Despite such encouraging news, most scientists studying CBD agree that more conclusive, scientific studies are needed to confirm these initial results.

CBD Oil benefits for Wrinkles and Anti-Aging skin

Because it comes from a plant, it’s not surprising that CBD oil also has antioxidant properties. The antioxidants in CBD are one way topical use helps lessen the visible signs of aging. By counteracting free-radical damage and reducing the look of inflammation, CBD anti-aging creams visibly diminish issues like wrinkles, skin dullness, and ruddy skin tone.

Of course, there are plenty of other antioxidants out there that can make the same claims so CBD isn’t the only or “best” antioxidant to seek out; rather, it’s just one of many to consider, and the more of these ingredients you give to skin, the better.

CBD Oil for Sensitive Skin

Another benefit of CBD oil is that it has been found to have significant soothing properties. Its substantial skin-calming and skin-normalizing effects can help minimize issues related to skin sensitivity, including redness and reactivity. Since all skin types are affected daily by environmental stressors, CBD’s soothing mechanism can help keep everyone’s skin in check.

How to Find the Best CBD Skin Care

With so many CBD skin care products available. You need to know what to look for so you can be sure you’re finding the best CBD oil (or other types of CBD skin care). Here are some CBD shopping tips:

1. 1. Make sure the ingredient list states “cannabidiol”. As mentioned above, other terms aren’t INCI-compliant, nor is hemp seed oil or extract the same as CBD oil.
   2. Many brands selling CBD skin products list the total cannabidiol content in milligrams, sometimes further broken down per use. This is a good indicator the CBD product is legitimate, although there’s currently no consensus on how much CBD skin needs per application. We just know skin has receptor sites for this ingredient that when connected can interrupt signals that cause skin to act up.
   3. Look for CBD skin care in stable packaging–no jars, clear bottles or any component that exposes this delicate plant ingredient to a lot of light or air, which cause it to become less effective.
   4. Some brands advertise their CBD as being “isolate”, “full spectrum”, or “broad spectrum”. None of these terms are regulated, but they can be helpful differentiators:

• CBD isolate means pure CBD, no other cannabinoids or other naturally occurring substances like flavonoids or terpenes.
• Full spectrum CBD means everything that occurs in the hemp plant alongside the CBD, including trace amounts of THC and other cannabinoids such as CBG (cannabigerol) and antioxidant compounds.
• Broad spectrum CBD means no THC is detectable. Trace amounts of THC can be detected in full spectrum CBD. But must fall below 0.3% in order to not be considered active.

The bottom line: As long as it’s extracted within the proper parameters, CBD oil does have benefits for skin. We’re excited to see how the research behind CBD oil’s topical benefits continues to grow. While anticipate it becoming a mainstay of many people’s skin care routines.