Confused About CBD in Skincare? Here's Everything You Need to Know

It's dermatologist-approved.

CBD for Skin

Type of ingredient: Antioxidant.

Main benefits: Reduces inflammation, Regulates oil production, Neutralizes free radical damage.

Who should use it: It is recommended for those with inflamed, compromised skin as well as sensitive and dry skin types. It can also benefit those with aging skin.

How often can you use it: CBD skincare can be used daily.

Works well with: Actives that calm and nourish the skin barrier, such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and niacinamides.

Don't use with: Be cautious with CBD skincare. Since it is an unregulated industry, it is undetermined what actives it deactivates. It is not recommended to use CBD skin products that contain alcohol, as this might combat its beneficial effects and heighten inflammatory skin conditions.

What is CBD?

So, what exactly is CBD? Shamban explains that it is a naturally-occurring chemical compound found in cannabis plants marijuana and hemp. "It's one of the two primary active ingredients of cannabis, the other one being THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the active psychotropic," she says.

According to Lewis and Schroeder, (who fell in love with the ingredient during their previous jobs curating products for Goop), it’s “a potent antioxidant, highly anti-inflammatory, and has been shown in multiple studies to reduce lipid production from the sebaceous glands (overproduction of this sebum is possibly one component of what contributes to acne formation).”

How does CBD work? Engelman says CBD interacts with our cannabinoid receptors. "We have receptors in every layer of our skin which trigger to our body when there is pain, an itch, etc.," she explains. "Topical CBD is designed to help those with pruritic skin conditions like eczema or painful conditions like post- herpetic neuralgia when our body’s signals are going haywire. For example, it is not necessarily targeting eczema, but the hormones that are causing the eczema flare-up."

Typically, CBD oil is used in skincare products. You can find CBD serums, creams, masks, and body and face oils. That said, hemp seed oil—which has been a common ingredient in skincare products for a long time—is not the same thing as CBD. There’s nothing wrong with hemp seed oil, but it’s not an active ingredient, nor does it have any particularly notable anti-inflammatory benefits (though it can help with hydration and controlling oil production).

When buying a CBD skincare product, look for these words in the ingredients list, which indicate there’s actual CBD in the formula: CBD, hemp CBD, full- spectrum hemp extract, phytocannabinoid-rich hemp oil, and hemp extract oil.

Benefits of CBD for Skin

The level of benefits for CBD effects on some skin conditions is still up for debate and is a newer science being studied, according to Shamban, and more research is needed to see if CBD or the other agents found in the cannabis plant directly improve skin quality.

Side Effects of CBD

Engelman explains that more studies need to be done to verify the efficiency of CBD oil benefits for skin. That said, CBD has no known side effects.

How to Use It

How you use CBD skincare is all about the product you're using. "Most CBD products are serums or creams," says Engelman. "Use as you normally would, layering your skincare products from thinnest to thickest. Serums should be applied before creams." That said, you should never self-diagnose your skin conditions. "Always read packaging and ingredients and check with a board- certified dermatologist, primary care, or other medical practitioner before starting any new supplement or topical care," adds Shamban.

The Best Products With CBD

This CBD oil can be used on your skin and hair. It promises to help soothe and calm your scalp and skin, providing deep moisture and reducing the appearance of redness and irritation. It contains 100mg of CBD.

Palermino mentions supermodel facialist Ildi Pekar's CBD line as containing high amounts of CBD. This luxe face oil in particular contains 250mg of CBD oil, along with soothing aloe juice, brightening vitamin c, hyaluronic acid, and more.

Engelman is a fan of these bath salts from Lord Jones. "I love [them] because they combine magnesium and Himalayan salts, essential oils, arnica, and CBD, which will reduce inflammation, promote relaxation, and increase a sense of well-being."

Palermino also swears by this soothing sleeping mask from Kana. "Even though it's lower on the CBD dosing scale, it's one of the nicer lightweight sleeping masks I've tried," she says.

Lewis and Schroeder are also fans of Kana, citing this this all-purpose face oil (which contains 100mg of CBD) as a favorite. "It's formulated with a ton of other powerful botanicals that help to hydrate skin and manage redness," they explain. "It’s a great addition to both your morning and nighttime routine."

Let's not forget that the anti-inflammatory benefits of CBD can extend to your body, too: "This serum is formulated with an array of medicinal herbs and over 80 phytocannabinoids," Lewis and Shroeder say. "It does triple duty by soothing, relaxing and hydrating your skin and muscles. It's a must for anyone who’s had a long day and needs some relief."

Fans of Lord Jones' best-selling Body Lotion ($40) will want to try this oil alternative, which contains 100mg of CBD and comes in rollerball form for easy application (not to mention built-in massage abilities). Plus, the light, floral scent is incredibly soothing.

Saint Jane, the brainchild of a former Sephora exec, is a CBD skincare line that's not here to mess around. Its hero product, the Luxury Beauty Serum, contains a whopping 500mg of CBD, along with 18 other 100 percent natural skin- loving oils, from frankincense to sandalwood. Massage this in morning and night for a lit-from-within glow, even in the dead of winter. Trust us, your skin will thank you.

Read more on: skin