UNDERSTANDING CBD SKINCARE BENEFITS
Projectcbd.org has great information about CBD infused skincare. We summarize some of this information here. It was only a few years ago that many cannabis-infused topicals and skincare products were mostly jars of greasy green glop. Often, they were handmade in someone’s kitchen and smelled suspiciously of bong water. This has all recently changed.
CBD has become one of the hottest products in the market since the passage of 2018 Farm Bill. This bill removed hemp from the Controlled Substances Act. In turn, this made it legal to grow, produce and market all parts and products of a cannabis sativa plant that contains less than 0.3% of Delta-9-THC. CBD infused skin products are on many retail shelves. Vogue, Vanity Fair, and Forbes sing their praises. Celebrity endorsements are also common. Gwyneth Paltrow and Martha Stewart are raving fans.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stalled in creating regulations and are still trying to figure out how to respond to CBD’s popularity. However, the FDA appears to be much less concerned about the safety of CBD topicals than CBD edibles and beverages. FDA policies for cosmetics and bath products is historically lax. Consequently, there is widespread exposure to cancer causing chemicals, hormone disrupters, and toxins that pose a serious threat to public health.
WHAT SCIENCE SAYS ABOUT CBD SKINCARE BENEFITS
Thus, it is vital to know what ingredients are listed on the label before you purchase CBD-infused facial creams or bath bombs. Do not make the mistake of assuming that because it contains CBD, it is high quality.
Marketing efforts tout CBD as a miracle for the skin. They claim CBD Skincare Benefits including healing properties ranging from pain relief to soothing irritation and curing acne. The most attractive promises about CBD pertain to anti-aging and making mature skin more beautiful. But is there actual evidence behind these claims? Can CBD really restore skin and make it healthier? Below is a summary of what science says about it.
SKIN, 22 POUNDS OF PROTECTION
Human skin is a protective barrier for the body that has many unique functions. It is the heaviest organ we have and makes up about one seventh of our total body weight. Astonishingly, it weighs 8 to 22 pounds on average and has a surface area of about 2 square yards.
Three layers make up the skin. The epidermis is the outermost, visible layer of the skin. It is a strong and flexible barrier that protects us from outside invaders. These range from irritants, to the sun, to attacking bacteria and viruses. The skin continually renews itself with cells known as keratinocytes. This renewal helps keep our skin healthy.
The dermis lies below the epidermisand houses a complex web of nerves and tiny blood vessels. Many of the body’s sensory cells reside here. For example, the skin contains cells that feel hot and cold, touch, vibration and, of course, pain. Also, the dermis is home to sweat glands, hair follicles and sebaceous (oil-producing) glands. The dermis makes collagen and elastin, which are of great import to people as they age. These are the natural compounds that keep the epidermal outer layer in place. Therefore, they are what gives our skin that young, tight, springy quality we all desire to keep as we age.
The hypodermis is the deepest layer of the skin. It is what attaches our skin to the rest of the body. This layer is composed primarily of fat, connective tissue and water. It helps to protect us from temperature changes and it cushions our bones and joints. The hypodermis also creates Vitamin D and other essential hormones.
ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM - THE SKIN'S REGULATOR
So how does CBD impact the skin? The endocannabinoid system (ECS) regulates the large variety of cells in all three layers of the skin. The ECS polices these cells as they work together in a complicated, unified, precisely balanced system. Many compounds that bind to our cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) make up the ECS. These receptors are present in all types of skin cells. Through these compounds and receptors, the ECS carries out a homeostatic process called cutaneous cannabinoid signaling. The goal of the ECS is homeostasis. Constant adjustment of biochemical and physiological pathways creates the balance of the healthy state of Homeostasis. The signaling mechanism of the ECS promotes healthy skin renewal and barrier function.
The ECS controls many biological functions, including cell death. This is the process that allows the body to eliminate aging and damaged cells. In turn, this enables new cells to replace them. Signaling of the ECS can slow unnaturally high skin cell turnover. Therefore, it may lower the likelihood of cancer and can soothe the skin’s sensory nerves. Thus, pain and inflammation are reduced.
The ECS also manages pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. These are the body’s proteins that are involved in immune activity. Also, the ECS helps maintain the actions of Treg cells. These are a kind of T cell that regulates immune response in our skin.
HOW THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM CONTROLS INFLAMMATION
Hungarian scientist Tamas Biro revealed how the ECS manages the production of sebum (natural oil in the skin). The ECS increases sebum to maintain skin’s waterproof barrier or decreases it, which can help reduce acne.
A recent report in Experimental Dermatology found that the “disruption of the delicate balance in cannabinoid signaling might facilitate the development of multiple pathological conditions and diseases of the skin such as atopic dermatitis, irritative allergic contact dermatitis, acne, seborrhea, psoriasis, itch, pain, hair growth disorders, systemic sclerosis, and cancer.”
The report also explains how skin barrier disruption can hinder wound healing. The study determined that “depletion of CB1 or CB2 receptors resulted in enhanced contact allergic inflammation, while cannabinoid receptor activation resulted in a reduction of inflammation.”
The study was preclinical, but had impactful findings. The report proposes that medical intervention to slow the breakdown (and thereby prolong the action) of our body’s cannabinoid compounds could be a worthwhile approach to treating diseases of the skin.
CANNABIS MAY OFFER HELP FOR AGING SKIN
Years of amassed harm to dermal cells cause most of the appearance concerns of aging skin. For example, lines and poor texture can result from factors in our environment as well as lifestyle choices. Excessive sun exposure, drinking alcohol, smoking tobacco, and unhealthy diet all contribute to decline of skin health. In addition, the dryness common in a mature woman’s skin is related to the drop in hormone production after menopause.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stalled in creating regulations and are still trying to figure out how to respond to CBD’s popularity. However, the FDA appears to be much less concerned about the safety of CBD topicals than CBD edibles and beverages. FDA policies for cosmetics and bath products is historically lax. Consequently, there is widespread exposure to cancer causing chemicals, hormone disrupters, and toxins that pose a serious threat to public health.
CBD SKINCARE BENEFITS BY TYPE OF CBD
Cannabis-based skincare has a long and varied history. According to Dr. Eduardo Muñoz, professor of immunology at the University of Cordoba in Spain, topical preparations of cannabis were used to treat various skin disorders in ancient China, Egypt, and the Arab world. Remember that some U.S. and British women in our history tried to make their skin more beautiful by ingesting arsenic tablets, or applying lead-based face paint. Unlike these dangerous attempts at retaining a youthful appearance – there are no known side effects from using topical cannabis.
Pure CBD (CBD Isolate) demonstrated these important anti-inflammatory actions in preclinical versions of skin inflammation. Single-molecule CBD in a topical can be compared to full spectrum CBD-rich oil. The latter contains the CBD along with hundreds of other cannabis compounds.
A 2019 laboratory study in Phytotherapy Research showed that the anti-inflammatory effects of a full spectrum CBD oil were better than those of pure CBD. This indicates that plant compounds in addition to CBD add to the the anti-inflammatory benefits to the skin. The Italian team discovered that the cannabis oil acts on genes involved in wound healing and skin inflammation. In contrast, CBD isolate did not involve the same molecular mechanisms.
Since CBD calms inflammation, it is apparent that it could be a helpful ingredient in topical skincare products. But does CBD permeate deeply enough into our skin to make a difference? The University of Kentucky conducted a A recent in vivo study that indicates it can.
CBD AND SKIN PENETRATION
This study appeared in the European Journal of Pain. Significantly, this report showed that a gel containing CBD notably reduced pain and inflammation in a rodent version of arthritis. Furthermore, CBD is much more able to permeate through skin than THC. A 2004 article in the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology stated that the ability of cannabidiol to penetrate the skin is 10 times higher than delta-8 THC. Note that the permeability of delta-9 THC is very similar to that of delta-8 THC.
WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU BUY CBD SKINCARE
So, should you invest in a CBD skincare product? Well, in our experience, many can be quite effective. However, just because a product contains CBD, that doesn’t guarantee it will deliver what it claims. Because CBD products are still unregulated by the FDA, many of them contain less CBD than labeled.
It also depends on what other ingredients are in a CBD-infused topical. Understand that studies on how CBD and other cannabis compounds affect the skin are primarily pre-clinical. Full, randomized clinical trials have yet to verify claims (and marketing hype) of CBD’s effectiveness for skin conditions. It is difficult to know exactly how much CBD per milliliter is optimal for a skincare product.
So, do your own research and look at the other ingredients in your CBD skincare first. Buy products from reputable sources. Ideally, one with a history of making CBD infused products from organic and properly sourced ingredients. Also, verify CBD content through third-party lab-tests for potency and purity. Alternatively, you could consider making your own CBD skincare. We often make CBD facial oils in our Aromatherapy bar with wonderful carriers and quality CBD.
HIGH QUALTIY CLEAN CBD SKINCARE
According to recent research, the average woman puts over 500 synthetic chemicals on her body every day without knowing it. The fact is, the European Union has banned over 1,300 chemicals found in Cosmetics, while the FDA has banned only 8 in the United States.
FIRST - NO PARABENS
Parabens are preservatives, which are often used in beauty products. It was first introduced in the 1950s. They are used to prolong shelf life in many health and beauty products. They do this by stopping the growth of mold and bacteria within the products. This actually sounds like good news. However, parabens have been found to disrupt hormone function by acting like oestrogen. In turn, too much oestrogen may trigger increases in breast cell division and cause the growth of tumors. This cause-and-effect process is why paraben has been linked to breast cancer and reproductive issues.
Butylparaben, methylparaben, Isobutylparaben and propylparaben are the most common parabens. Therefore, look out for these in the list of ingredients in your skincare products.
SECOND - NO SULFATES
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS and SLES) are often found in liquid soaps, shampoos, body washes, bubble baths, and similar products. Some sulfates have been linked to genetic cell mutations in the eyes. Also, they have been found to weaken the immune system and even irritate the skin.
THIRD - NO ARTIFICIAL FRAGRANCES
Fragrance oils are manmade alternatives to essential oils and plant extracts. Many products contain fragrance oils – even those labeled “natural” may contain them. Often, a truly natural product label will say that it contains essential oils instead of “fragrance.”
Any combination of over 3,000 chemicals may be in fragrance oils. Including some that may disturb the endocrine system and alter hormone levels. In addition, they can trigger allergic reactions and irritate skin, cause migraine headaches, and even affect the normal activity of the brain.
The exact chemicals in fragrances can often be unclear. The definition of “trade secrets” may be used to justify the lack of disclosure. If the ingredients includes the word “fragrance,” “perfume,” or “parfum,” then it’s synthetic and not natural, even though its packaging may say it is.
FOURTH – NO HEAVY METALS
Lead, arsenic, mercury, aluminum, zinc, chromium and iron are all heavy metals, which can be found in a wide variety of personal care products.
If you wish to avoid them, look for the following on your labels: Lead acetate, chromium, thimerosal, hydrogenated cotton seed oil, sodium hexametaphosphate.
FIFTH - NO FORMALDEHYDE
Preservatives in cosmetics and skincare may be substances that release formaldehyde (yes, really). Importantly, this chemical poses a risk of ALS or other nervous system consequences. It is also a respiratory irritant, can cause cancer, and can harm to your immune system. Additionally, it can lead to migraines, allergies, asthma and is toxic to brain tissue – YUK!
Product Labels containing Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives and chemicals will list quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3 diol (Bronopol).
WHAT ENHANCES CBD SKINCARE BENEFITS
NATURAL, QUALITY ESSENTIAL OILS
High quality essential oils are many of the key ingredients in CBD skincare products. Plants grown without pesticides by experienced farmers are the source of these oils. The best farms understand seed and soil quality and clean distillation and storage.
Extraction of the oils is a lengthy steam distillation process. This results in the most therapeutic benefits in each oil. Lavender, wild orange, rosemary, peppermint, myrrh, sandalwood, black spruce, grapefruit, chamomile and lemongrass are all present in their products.
NATURAL PRESERVATIVES
Natural preservatives only work properly when used correctly and in proper dilution. These include Essential Oils, Natural Tocopherol (Vitamin E), and Rosemary.
DESIGNED FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
Recent studies indicate that 70% of people believe they have sensitive skin. About 50% of these people have bothersome symptoms from sensitive skin. Synthetic fragrances, parfum, and any petroleum-based ingredients can produce these negative effects. Mass produced skincare products often contain these types of chemicals.
COMPREHENSIVE TESTING
Gas Chromatography (GS) and Mass Spectrometry (MS) systems are the best method for quality testing products. Importantly, testing at Tribeauty includes challenge testing. This type of test shows how products withstand microbial attack, which is inevitable during consumer use. They also use freeze / thaw tests and microbiology tests to ensure their quality.
SUMMARY
Skincare and Beauty products can impact our health and well-being just like eating food. The best food and skincare products are natural and plant-based. They contain nutrients and phytochemicals that nourish the body and protect our immune systems. Beauty and skincare products infused with CBD can help you look amazing and feel your best while enhancing your overall health.