CBD oil skincare: We put beauty’s new ‘it’ ingredient to the test
There’s an ongoing buzz (excuse the pun) around the therapeutic benefits of cannabis in the form of CBD oil, as more and more countries, including the UK, have legalised its use for medicinal purposes. The legal cannabis extract CBD has been flying off the health shelves, too, because research suggests it’s a superstar anti-inflammatory with calming abilities that can help treat pain, stress, anxiety, and insomnia.
And where wellness trends go, the beauty industry shortly follows, as cannabis-infused skincare is set to be one of the biggest skincare trends this year – it’s even available on the high street, as Holland and Barrett have just launched their very own CBD skincare range. It’s said to be both anti-ageing and have healing abilities for problematic skin. Does it work? Or are brands jumping on the CBD bandwagon? I decided to investigate CBD oil benefits for the skin…
Cannabidiol, more commonly known as CBD, is one of over 100 compounds found in cannabis plants. The reason it’s legal is that it doesn’t get you high, you need the compound THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) for that, and CBD is mainly found in the hemp plant which contains very little, if any THC. ‘Its most popular benefit is pain relief, as It’s thought CBD interacts with receptors in the brain and immune system to reduce inflammation,’ says Charlotte Ferguson, Disciple skincare founder. It’s so good at reducing inflammation, it was reported many A-listers were even using CBD oil on their feet at the Oscars to make their high heels bearable on the red carpet.
Its soothing capabilities could work wonders on anyone that suffers from skin inflammation, and that’s a lot of people, ‘as inflammation is at the core of many skin ailments, from eczema and psoriasis to acne and rosacea’, says Samir Juneja, from CBD of London.
It’s an exciting find for those with skin concerns, but CBD is also an antioxidant, and an antioxidant should be a stable in all our daily skincare routines – no matter what your skin type. They help combat the elements that are responsible for the visible signs of ageing. ‘CBD acts as a powerful anti-oxidant helping to protect skin from damage from the sun, smoke, environmental pollutants and free radicals,’ says Samir. Looks like you have competition vitamin C!
If you want to reap the CBD benefits, you have to read your skincare labels. CBD and hemp seed oil are being used interchangeably by popular beauty brands, and they are not the same thing. While hemp seed oil, also packaged as ‘cannabis sativa seed oil’ is a great moisturising ingredient for dry skin, as it’s full of fatty acids, it contains very little if any CBD.
To get an independent view, I asked dermatologist and acne guru, Dr Justine Kluk what she thought of the hype. ‘The effects of CBD on the skin sound very promising,’ she says. Yet, she believes it’s still too early to tell, as ‘the evidence base is still is still pretty limited at present’. So, in the name of beauty, I did my own research…
To put the ingredient to the test, I put my favourite products aside and replaced them with CBD oil versions for one week. To really put its anti-inflammatory properties to work, I did so the week before my period, when my skin always gets stressed out and I get hormonal break-outs around my chin area.
I have to admit I started the week a bit sceptical, mainly because I know it takes longer than a week to really see the effects of a new skincare routine, but I ended it very surprised. I didn’t break out, not even once, and I always do every month without fail. And that’s not all, my skin was feeling sensitive and looking red around my nose area (probably from over-indulging on the retinol) and this had calmed right down. I’m super impressed!
Whilst I won’t be sticking to the whole routine. I will be incorporating CBD into it. The eye serum below helps calm my puffy eyes that appear no matter how many hours sleep I get, so I won’t part with that. And I’ll be keeping the rest on stand-by for when my skin gets stressed-out, and my monthly visitor arrives. If it worked so well on my minor skin problems, I urge anyone with more problematic flare-ups to try it.
We earn a commission from products purchased through some links in this article.
Best Serum: MGC Derma CBD Stem Cells and Hyaluronic Serum, £80
CBD with hyaluronic acid is a winning combo, as this wins my favourite product I tested.
Best Budget Day Cream: Holland and Barrett CBD Day Cream, £14.99
Fresh, light and absorbs quickly. Everything a good day cream should be with added CBD.
Best Oil: Disciple Miracle Drops, from £22
A great option if you want to introduce CBD into your wellness routine too, as you can use them orally and drop it into your favourite skincare products.
Best Luxe Day Cream: CBD of London Collagen and Retinol Anti-Ageing Cream, £49
An anti-ageing powerhouse with retinol, retinol, vitamin C and CBD!
Best Eye Cream: MGC Derma CBD Anti Puffiness and Dark Circle Eye Cream, £70
Light and refreshing to use. I’ll be using it until it’s empty.
('You Might Also Like',)
