A hit of CBD can do a lot of good for your skin. When applied to facial skin, it’s been said to provide anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and even anti-bacterial effects. Those looking for a natural anti-aging or acne-preventing skincare routine could definitely benefits from the powerful makeup of CBD.
However, those are the benefits of CBD as a chemical compound only. As far as the formulation of CBD skincare products go, there are hardly even two products that are the same. Because of this, it’s important to do your research to know what it is you’re actually putting on your skin. To make it a little easier, we narrowed it down to two important questions to ask yourself before investing in a CBD product for your skin!
What carrier oil is used, if any?
In most skincare products, CBD extract is diluted in a carrier oil, which makes it safe to apply directly to the skin. Carrier oils can be any plant-based oil, like almond oil, olive oil and jojoba seed oil.
With that being said, some carrier oils are better for our skin than others, and some can be downright damaging, depending on your skin type. Many carrier oils are comedogenic, meaning they easily clog pores, so if acne is what you’re trying to solve with CBD, a formulation with coconut oil or flaxseed oil would totally defeat the purpose. Carrier oils great for all skin types include safflower oil, grapeseed oil and even argan oil. Pay attention to what carrier oil is used in the formulation to make sure it will jive with your specific skin type.
Is it full-spectrum, broad-spectrum or isolate?
Some CBD skincare products contain other cannabinoids besides just CBD. These products will either be labeled “full-spectrum,” meaning there is THC present, or “broad-spectrum,” meaning there are other cannabinoids present but no THC.
CBD isolate formulations are also available, meaning they are pure CBD and nothing else. CBD isolate is usually most highly recommended when it comes to facial skincare. This is because it tends to be a much lighter consistency, making it non-comedogenic and quick-absorbing.
Just like when starting any new skincare routine, it may take a little trial and error to determine the perfect CBD formulation or your skin. Ask yourself these two simple questions and you should be off to a great start!