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7 CBD Skin Care Brands That Actually Live Up to the Hype

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Cannabidiol (CBD) is everywhere these days: oils,  gummies,  capsules,  and just about any kind of skin care product you can imagine.

But what exactly is a cannabis compound doing in your cleanser, moisturizer, or bad water?  What’s the benefit for your skin? What makes it worth the premium price tag?

I wondered myself, so I took a deep dive into the world of CBD skin care. Here’s what I found behind the marketing claims, plus all the products I tried (and actually loved), so you can decide for yourself if the payoff is worth the hype.

CBD 101

For the uninitiated, CBD is one of more than 100 identified cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. Unlike its sister compound tetra hydro canna in oil(THC),  CBD doesn’t have psychoactive effects. In other words, there’s little chance that your CBD lotion will make you feel high.

Instead, the buzz around CBD is in its therapeutic benefits. While many of these are related to whole-body symptoms of pain, anxiety, or insomnia,  there are a few related to skin care as well.

What can CBD do for your skin?

According to Danielle Frey, owner and licensed aesthetician at Bloom skincare mendocino,  the two leading causes of skin aging and common skin issues like acne and hyperpigmentation are:

• Free radical damage Trusteto the epidermis
• inflammation caused by irregular functions in the endocannabinoid system 

“The endocannabinoid system is a complex matrix of cell receptors responsible for balancing many key function of the skinTrusted Sourc such as oil production, melanocyte production (also known as pigmentation), and much more,” says Frey.

She adds, “CBD is an incredibly effective ingredient in skin care due to it being a powerful antioxidant and providing anti-inflammatory benefits.”

While research into CBD is ongoing, what we do know so far seems to back this up. Here’s how the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits of CBD affect the body’s largest organ:

• Regulates oil production. The overproduction of sebum is thought to be a contributing factor of acne. According to a 2014 studyTrusted Source, CBD may have an anti-inflammatory effect on sebocytes, the skin cells that produce sebum.
• Helps reduce inflammation. As an anti-inflammatory, CBD may be able to help reduce swelling, pain, and redness from existing breakouts, or irritation from skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis 
• Hydrates dry skin. Research from 2009Trusted So suggests that CBD may be effective for dry, dehydrated skin.

While we’re still scratching the surface of CBD, “It really is incredibly fascinating and promising in terms of the many benefits phytocannabinoids provide for the skin,” says Frey. “I think we will only see more and more use of these type of phytocannabinoids in skin care and wellness formulations in the years to come.”