Cosmetics & Skin Care with CBD – Do They Really Work for Better Skin?

You’ve heard of cosmetics with ingredients like CoQ10, essential oils, and even oatmeal. But have you heard of cosmetics containing CBD?

With the increasing number of studies showing CBD’s role in alleviating a number of medical ailments and improving overall health and wellness, it’s not surprising that CBD would start to be incorporated into cosmetics and skin care products. This is true given the link between CBD and improved skin health¹.

CBD has already been incorporated in products such as facial cleansers, creams, and even mascaras.

But is this just a fad? Are cosmetics companies just taking advantage of the buzz that CBD has been generating lately to boost sales? Or is there actually some merit to CBD as an active compound to improve the look and feel of skin?

Do CBD Cosmetics and Skin Care Products Actually Work?

While the cosmetics industry might have financial agendas behind incorporating CBD into their products, that might only be a part of the equation. The science backs up the notion that CBD infused into cosmetics can and does have benefits for the user.

For starters, CBD oil has been proven to combat inflammation effectively. According to research, CBD can influence the receptors of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which plays a role in reducing inflammation in tissues².

Studies also suggest that the local endocannabinoid system (ECS) controls the majority of skin functions. Based on what we already know about how CBD can reduce inflammation, it makes sense that it would also be able to control inflammation in the skin. Since inflammation is a big part of acne breakouts, it stands to reason that CBD would also be effective when used in skin care products.

Combatting acne. We’ve already discussed how inflammation plays a role in acne. But other factors also come into play in those pesky breakouts, including the overproduction of oils in the pores of the skin and the build-up of bacteria. When a lot of oil builds up in the pores, the risk of infection increases.

Studies suggest that CBD is able to combat the build-up of oil in the pores and target cell proliferation, which can have acne-reducing effects on the skin. Although these findings are in their very early stages, they still suggest that CBD can have some pretty amazing results in treating acne.

Skin care products that are rich in CBD seem to have positive effects on reducing skin irritation, itchiness, and redness. Studies support this notion, with research pointing to CBD’s impact on alleviating skin issues such as eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis³.

When there is an imbalance in the endocannabinoid system, any number of things can happen in the body, including skin irritation. Since CBD is able to influence the ECS, therefore restoring its balance, it makes sense that CBD would have an impact on treating skin issues and improving the overall health of the skin.

Certainly, CBD does show promise in improving skin health, and many cosmetic companies are capitalizing on this fact. At the same time, consumers using these products may be able to improve the look and health of their skin.

What is the Final Word on CBD-Infused Cosmetics?

Preliminary data is promising and powerful, suggesting that CBD oil in cosmetic products may be highly effective. That said, further solidification of CBD’s role in skin-care still needs to be looked at with continued research.

1. Oláh, Attilia, et al, “Cannabidiol exerts sebostatic and antiinflammatory effects on human sebocytes“, Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2014, Volume 124(9), pp. 3713–3724.
2. Nagarkatti, Prakash, et al, “Cannabinoids as novel anti-inflammatory drugs“, Future Medicinal Chemistry, 2009, Volume 1.
3. Derakhshan N, et al, “Cannabis for Refractory Psoriasis-High Hopes for a Novel Treatment and a Literature Review“, Current Clinical Pharmacology, 2016, Volume 11.