Since the explosion of the cannabis market, the question of can you trust CBD skin care comes up often. A couple of years ago I wrote a post called Using CBD in Skin Care, which describes CBD, how it’s extracted, and what it does for your skin. As a result of that article, I gained hands-on experience by using CBD in two of my skin care serum products. Since the original post I introduced an anti-aging serum named “Hi” and “Bye” which is oil-reducing. I’ll explain the benefits of this special ingredient, the optimal dose (milligrams), and how you can trust CBD skin care claims.
What Are the Benefits of CBD
First things first, let’s talk about the benefits of CBD as the evidence supporting it has been growing steadily. We can now say with confidence that topical CBD can be beneficial for nearly all skin types. CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties are particularly helpful in treating skin conditions, such as eczema. In one study, participants who used a CBD-infused balm twice daily for 3-months had noticeably improved skin based on both clinical assessments and photographic data. The study subjects also showed improvements in scar appearance as well.
Acne is the most common skin condition out there. Luckily, CBD attacks acne in 3 ways: excess sebum production, bacterial growth, and scar formation. It can protect the skin against all three of these problems. First, CBD keeps sebocytes (sebum producing cells) in check by keeping them from producing too much oil. This pro-therapeutic effect normalizes sebum production, effectively protecting against acne. Secondly, CBD’s antibacterial properties help to reduce the growth of inflammatory bacteria. Finally, the anti-scar effect can reduce the appearance of existing blemishes and prevent new ones from forming.
Whether it’s from the sun or environmental pollutants, your skin is constantly being exposed to high levels of oxidative stress which cause your skin to age more quickly. A 2017 review documents the vast antioxidant properties of CBD. Guarding against oxidative stress can help to prevent signs of premature aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles. This is where the Shelley Skin Care Hi serum comes into play. Not only does it contain CBD it also has a blend of Matrixyl 3000, peptides, and antioxidants which firms the skin and softens wrinkles.
Can You Trust CBD Skin Care
The best way to find out if you can trust CBD skin care is to see if the company has a Certificate of Analysis (COA). This means that the brand sent in samples of their products to a 3rd party testing facility. The COA tests how many milligrams of CBD are in each sample along with pages of pertinent data. Every state that offers this type of testing has different requirements. Florida has the most stringent guidelines, so I chose a lab there to submit the Hi serum. You can see the COA here.
Another way to evaluate a potential CBD brand is to see if they use locally-sourced hemp instead of purchasing it internationally. Small, local CBD farms help to stimulate local economies.
What’s the Best CBD Dosage
When formulating the Shelley Skin Care Hi and Bye serums we decided to go for the gusto. Go big or go home, right? So, there are 500 mg of full spectrum CBD (<0.03% THC) in every bottle–which is a lot! Think about if you were taking CBD orally, the dosage would be determined by your body weight. However, when using CBD topically in skin care the dosage is measured differently.
To calculate a good amount, we first had to consider how much product would typically be used at one time. A 1 oz or 30 mL bottle can deliver about 25 applications of 1.2 mL each. On average, this will deliver 20 mg of CBD into your skin. 20 mg per application was chosen because the typical person would benefit from a dose between 15 mg and 20 mg.
Why CBD is So Expensive
I have been curious as to why CBD is so expensive since it’s just an oil extracted from a plant. However, now that I’ve been working with it over the last two years, I figured it out! Since hemp is relatively unregulated and controversial, there are many businesses, such as insurance companies, website hosts and financial institutions that aren’t ready to take the plunge into cannabis. The cost of insurance coverage for cannabis is at an all-time-high since they plan for the worst case when doing projections. It’s more of a guilty-until-proven-innocent scenario. All of these barriers drive up the cost of the final product….but your skin will think it’s worth it!
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Photos by Elsa Olofsson & Crystalweed on Unsplash
