6 Ways CBD Can Boost Your Skincare Routine

The beauty of CBD isn’t only skin deep. But that doesn’t mean the beauty of CBD isn’t ALSO skin deep. Let’s be honest, we all want clear and luminous skin that radiates so bright that people who pass us on the street mistake us for Manny MUA or Jaclyn Hill (yes men, you should want great skin too). Sometimes achieving that perfect skin is easier said than done, especially for those with conditions that can inflame or irritate the skin.

Luckily, CBD can be an excellent addition to your skincare routine and its anti-inflammatory and healing properties can have a powerful impact on skin irritation, inflammation, dry skin, and fine lines. So, let’s dive in and find out if CBD is the secret ingredient your skincare routine has been missing.

What is CBD?

While you’ve likely heard of CBD in the past years, you may still be a little in the dark about what exactly it is, what it does, and how it does it. CBD is a cannabinoid, which are chemical compounds that occur naturally in a variety of plants as well as within your own body. 

While there are hundreds of cannabinoids found in nature, CBD is one of the two primary cannabinoids found in hemp and cannabis plants along with THC. THC is the psychoactive compound that you might associate with getting high, but CBD is not psychoactive, does not get you high, and instead interacts with the body to the result of a variety of therapeutic effects. CBD is also perfectly legal under federal regulations, thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill.

The Green Dragon has a wealth of information on CBD, how it works, and its many therapeutic benefits. Check out our CBD Education page or the many topics and categories available in our blog if you want to learn more. To better understand how CBD imparts all this benefit to your body, as well as more specifically to your skin, it’s helpful to take a quick look at the body’s endocannabinoid system, or ECS.

How Does CBD Interact With the Skin?

Within your body, you have what is known as the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The three main parts of this system are the naturally occurring chemical compounds known as endocannabinoids, the receptors that react to them, and the enzymes that help the body process and remove them once they’ve done their job. While you can read all about the many functions of the ECS here, for the purposes of this discussion we’re going to focus on how CBD can help the ECS to give you clearer, healthier skin. 

When a system in your body is not functioning properly it is the ECS’s responsibility to get everything back in balance. In terms of your skin, this could mean inflammation of the skin, too much natural oil production, acne, or other skin ailments. Balance is restored by sending endocannabinoids to the receptors in your skin. Once they bind to these receptors, they can either activate or deactivate a given process to help your skin get back to its healthiest state. 

Unfortunately, it is possible that due to stress, hormones, or environmental factors that either your ECS cannot produce enough endocannabinoids to restore balance or that the endocannabinoids it does produce may have a difficult time binding to

CBD can supplement the naturally occurring cannabinoids that your body creates to give your ECS a boost in restoring a healthy balance to your skin. It is possible to supplement your ECS both by oral consumption and through topical applications. 

Six Major Benefits of CBD for your skink

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CBD’s versatility in helping the ECS maintain balance throughout the body means that there are a variety of problems and conditions that CBD can help provide relief for. Let’s take a closer look at some the most prominent ways CBD can help you in your skincare routine.

Skin Inflammation

If you suffer from itchiness, redness, pain, or swelling of the skin due to inflammation, CBD can help. CBD has long been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties that can help to provide relief to inflamed skin.

Regulate Oil Production

Your skin has sebaceous glands that produce an oil known as sebum. When they become overactive, they can produce too much of this oil that can clog pores, cause unwanted shininess, and distress the skin. A 2018 study has shown that CBD can help to reduce lipogenesis (oil production) in these glands, helping you maintain clearer, healthier skin.

Reduce Acne Breakouts

Both the anti-inflammatory and oil regulating effects CBD help to reduce acne breakouts. To read a more in depth article on how CBD can help with acne click here.

Prevent Damage From Free Radicals

Oxidation is one of the ways our cells are stressed by the environment, and it is caused by what are known as free radicals. This is one of the primary causes of aging in the skin. Free radicals are neutralized by antioxidants, preventing them from causing damage. A 2019 study has shown that CBD operates as an antioxidant when applied to the skin. You can learn about how CBD can be helpful slowing the effects of aging here.

Soothe Chronic Skin Conditions

Antioxidants and anti-inflammatories are helpful in soothing the symptoms of chronic skin conditions like rosacea, eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis. Because CBD has both qualities, it can help with the painful and embarrassing symptoms of these conditions.

Hydration

Another study conducted in 2019 has shown that CBD has moisturizing properties. CBD can help the skin be more receptive to moisture, allowing hydration to permeate the skin more easily, as well moisture retention, helping the skin to maintain that moisture.

Types of CBD Products for Skincare

There is a wealth of CBD products out there, both as a general supplement and specifically for skincare. Let’s take a look at some of the options available to you.

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Extracts

Extracts are the distilled cannabinoids from the hemp plant. This can be a pure CBD extract, or a broad-spectrum extract which contains most of the cannabinoids found in hemp. An extract can be taken orally or applied topically, but if it is being used topically it should be applied to a carrier oil like coconut, jojoba, or almond oil. 

Serums

Serums are a mixture of CBD extracts, carrier oils, and other therapeutic elements like vitamins, minerals, and other plant extracts like aloe or lavender.

Creams

Creams are like serums in that they are a mixture of CBD extracts and other ingredients, they’re just cream based rather than oil. When applying multiple products to your skin it is recommended that you start with the thinnest product and work up to the thickest.

Face Masks

If you have any experience in the skincare game, you’ve likely tried a facial mask (or sheet mask). If not, you’re in for a treat. It’s a flexible sheet of fabric, cellulose, or paper that has been soaked in a liquid serum that is applied to the face for a designated period. While the mask sits on your face, the CBD and other therapeutic ingredients are able to soak into your pours and be absorbed by your cells where they continue to work even after the mask is removed.

It’s important to understand that when selecting a CBD product, the most important variable is choosing one that comes from a reputable source that uses high quality ingredients and extraction techniques. The Green Dragon CBD only sells from reputable producers of CBD products, and you can find laboratory tests for everything we sell on the product pages.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re new to skincare or an ablution veteran, there’s benefits that CBD can provide to your routine. If you’re ready to give it a shot, you’re in the right place for a variety to top tier products. Tell us about how it goes in the comments below. If you still have questions feel free to contact our representatives to help you make your decision any easier.

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