These days CBD is all the buzz as a wellness product. In countries where it is legal, it may seem like it went from being nowhere to being everywhere. There are CBD lattes on the menu in coffee shops and CBD oil on the shelves at grocery stores.
Australia hasn’t quite made this leap yet, but there is a lot of buzz around CBD regardless.
In the United States, there is an ongoing CBD rush nationwide that began with federal legalisation of hemp. They’re putting CBD in everything they can think of! One of the latest trends in the CBD industry is the addition of it in skincare products.
So what are the benefits of working CBD into your skincare routine? We’ll start from the top.
What is CBD?
CBD is short for cannabidiol and is a major chemical within the Cannabis plant. It is naturally occurring and used in making oils and edibles to impart a feeling of relaxation and calm into the user. A related chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the most abundant active compound in cannabis but unlike CBD, it is psychoactive.
People might believe that the benefits of cannabidiol are newly discovered but that is far from the truth. The first documented use of medicine derived from cannabis was in 2737 BC by the Chinese Emperor Sheng Nung. He used cannabis-infused tea in the treatment of different illnesses such as malaria and gout.
Queen Victoria is supposed to have employed CBD in ameliorating menstrual cramps. For a good part of recorded history, Cannabis had been used as a therapeutic substance but due to lack of scientific proof, most in modern medicine did not recognize its potential.
By 1839, an Irish physician and medical researcher, William B. O’Shaughnessy published a study of the plant’s therapeutic effects. This paper caused researchers to get interested in the possibility of medical applications.
One early study of CBD in the 1980s revealed that CBD could be used in the treatment of epilepsy. This breakthrough, however, was not publicized due to the stigma surrounding the plant.
More recently, CBD is currently being used as an ingredient in many skincare products, particularly in the United States.
Why is CBD so good for skin
One of the main reasons people are using CBD oil is for skincare. CBD has anti-inflammatory properties that enable it to tackle several skin conditions. It has graduated from an obscured, stigmatized ingredient to being prominent in products for acne, eczema and psoriasis.
CBD oil is a potent antioxidant and can hasten healing time of skin. The antioxidant function is also useful in slowing down the wear and tear of time on our skin. With CBD oils, the skin undergoes less wrinkling and experiences less dullness.
CBD oil also contains Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids. These are essential fats required from diet for our bodies to remain healthy. They stimulate the production of collagen. Collagen is a fibre made of protein that is present all over the body and accounts for the structural integrity of tissues.
Being organic and mild, CBD oil is very gentle and leads to fewer side effects, unlike the harsh chemicals that can be found in most skincare products. It does not even limit itself to your skin but promotes your overall health.
Dry skin is not an easy thing to manage no matter what the root cause is. Living with dry skin means finding the right moisturizer is extra difficult and there is the temptation to overdo it. Using too much moisturizer will prevent the skin from producing its own and can lead to rebound dryness and itching.
CBD oil has a constitution of nutrients that works pleasantly with the skin. The substances it contains help to not only moisturize, but nourish the skin. This soothing ingredient puts a halt on peeling and scaling skin. This is because it does not affect the functioning of sebaceous glands negatively but helps increase oil production by dry skin.
Another big skin problem and probably the most complained about is acne. Acne occurs when dirt, dead skin cells or excess oil accumulates within the hair follicle and its associated sweat glands. Because of this occlusion, the bacteria responsible for acne thrive, resulting in inflammation.
To prevent acne, the skin has to be kept clean. It is also really important to use oils that do not clog up pores. CBD oil has been found to have properties that reduce acne triggers. CBD targets the cells that activate acne and allows you to heal without irritation that could follow the use of acne medication which might be quite harsh.
Isn’t it interesting that CBD is so incredibly useful whether you’re looking for a health supplement, medicine, or even skincare addition? We believe that the CBD industry is only just getting warmed up, as Australia is yet to join the party. Hopefully, the efforts of activists in Australia are about to bring these times of such harsh restriction to an end.