The new it ingredient in the beauty world? It’s a cannabis derivative called CBD. It’s true and I promise you I didn’t smoke it!
Admit that you didn’t expect this trend! And yet, in the United States, it’s already almost everywhere and I wouldn’t be surprised if this trend spreads around the world quite quickly.
So, I’m going to make things clear right now, I’m not talking here about illegal cannabis, which you can (or can’t depending on where you live lol) smoke, and which contains a psychotropic substance called THC (in France, beyond 0.2 %, its use is totally forbidden).
To explain the difference, I’m talking here about Cannabis Sativa (or Hemp), which contains less than 0.2% of THC (and therefore has no psychoactive effect). This variety of Cannabis is authorized and cultivated in France for example, but it remains very controlled by the French authorities. In comparison, Cannabis Indica contains between 15 and 20% of THC. This is the one which is used for smoking and is banned in most countries.
Cannabis Sativa/Hemp is known and has been used for a long time especially for its oil extracted from its seeds, the hemp oil. This one can be found in the famous hemp body products range from The Body Shop for example.
But Cannabis Sativa contains another ingredient, called CBD (Cannabidiol). The CBD oil is obtained by extracting Cannabis Sativa’s flowers. It has many relaxing virtues, it’s used in particular to reduce pain, anxiety, and insomnia (in this case, it has to be swallowed). And on the skin, for a topical use, it’s also particularly interesting because many studies have been conducted in the United States and have proven that CBD oil is much richer than other oils like avocado, coconut, and argan regarding their concentration in omega 3 and 6, but also vitamins (A, B1, B3, B4, B6 and E) and carotene.
The benefits of CBD hemp oil on the skin are indeed multiple: it’s anti-aging, antioxidant, regenerating and firming. It has also soothing and great anti-inflammatory properties, ideal for the sensitive or irritated skin. It’s also emollient, it softens the skin and prevents dehydration and dry patches. And since its nature is very similar to sebum, it’s very quickly absorbed and assimilated by the skin and doesn’t clog the pores.
Hemp oil extracted from Cannabis Sativa seeds is legal and has been used for years in France for example. But the new ingredient here is CBD hemp oil, extracted from the flowers of the plant. At the moment, there are a lot of discussions about it because, in the United States, it became legal very recently in several states and the FDA (the authority that regulating drugs in the United States) also authorized the CBD oil for cosmetic use in these states and apparently, it’s about to be legal soon all over the country.
As a result, obviously, CBD products are flouring in the US, much focused on its effects on health (thanks to its soothing effects on pain, anxiety, and insomnia) but also many cosmetic products, using it as their star ingredient. And to avoid being associated with a too sulfurous or too “hippie” image, the packaging of these CBD beauty products are usually very chic (and the prices are quite chic too for certain brands!).
There are already cosmetic products based on CBD available in stores that deliver internationally (like Cult Beauty for example). And in the US, they literally put CBD everywhere, even in mascaras (like Milk Makeup, with their new Kush mascara, which I really want to try!).
Regarding its distribution in a more massive way, European legislation is quite vague on the subject, especially about its use as a drug (or as a food supplement). The effects of CBD on the body are still being studied and explored, as it remains a relatively new ingredient.
But with the current boom of this ingredient in the US, I wouldn’t be surprised to see CBD cosmetics flourish all over the world very soon!
In my photo, I’m a little off topic, but these are two products I’m currently using that contain hemp oil (without CBD):
: ultra nourishing, I used it for years on my hands before going to sleep for a great repairing effect,
: a super gentle face cleanser (with its acidic pH), it cleans perfectly the skin without drying it out and you really don’t need a lot, so it lasts forever. I love it!
And you, would you be willing to try products with cannabis derivatives or are you stone(d) cold against it? (sorry, I had to do it!)
