As the body’s largest organ, caring for our skin is an essential part of caring for ourselves. Our skin can be thought of as a window into our overall health and well-being, especially given how factors including diet, stress, and sleep hygiene are often reflected in our complexion. CBD is used by many to promote better sleep, reduce feelings of stress and anxiety and as a tool to improve general wellbeing... but what if it could do all that, and enhance your skincare routine? 

According to Dr. Sandy Skotnicki, renowned dermatologist and author of Beyond Soap, “cannabis can elevate a skincare routine. It’s known to be healing, rich in antioxidants, and can combat inflammation, dryness, and free radical damage.” Incorporating products containing cannabinoids into your skincare routine is a way to restore balance; helping to reduce things like redness, dryness, and irritation while improving things like hydration and elasticity. 

Inflammation is at the root of so many conditions that women face - skin-related and otherwise, so let’s first unpack what inflammation is, the effect it has on our bodies, and where cannabis and specifically CBD can potentially help. 

Despite how often we may hear the term inflammation being thrown-around, or our gargantuan efforts to incorporate copious amounts of turmeric into our diets, we often lack a solid understanding of how and why it occurs in our bodies.  

Unpacking inflammation 

Inflammation is both the body’s defense mechanism and healing system. It is a biological response produced by the immune system in response to injury. There are two types of inflammation: chronic and acute. Most people are familiar with acute inflammation - when you stub your toe, for instance, the swelling and redness that quickly develops in the surrounding area is a sign that your immune cells are gearing up to protect your body from further injury and beginning the healing process. Unlike acute inflammation, chronic inflammation is an enduring state of inflammation, where the body remains in a permanent state of fight, which eventually causes damage to healthy tissues and cells. Inflammation is at the root of a wide variety of health conditions that many women struggle with ranging from auto-immune diseases, brain fog, and chronic skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. 

Cannabis for your skin 

Now that we have a clearer understanding of how inflammation affects our bodies and our complexion, where does cannabis fit in? CBD and THC have both been shown to contribute to reducing inflammation in the body, which along with their antioxidant and antibacterial properties and the ability of cannabinoids to balance physiological processes, hold promise in soothing symptoms associated with a variety of skincare challenges including: 

• Eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis: CBD and THC have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties that may speed up the healing process and promote cell regeneration. Research remains ongoing, however, a study from 2019 emphasized that using topical CBD products may alleviate some of the symptoms associated with inflammatory skin conditions. 

• Acne: Acne is an inflammatory condition as well as the most common skin condition faced by humans. Researchers have found that the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD combined with its ability to stop excess oil buildup and soothe redness make it a promising ingredient for acne-prone skin. 

• Sensitive skin: The soothing effect of cannabinoids can help to reduce redness or irritation, and minimize any skin reactions by promoting balance. 

• Aging Skin: As a plant-derived ingredient, CBD naturally contains antioxidant properties that enable it to address free-radical damage and reduce wrinkles, dullness, and other signs of aging while improving skin tone. Cannabinoids can also improve hydration and elasticity, something we could all use for our complexion at any age!  

How to use it 

When considering how to include cannabis into your skincare, a topical product containing both CBD and THC is a great place to start. When applied topically, cannabinoids are absorbed into our skin and interact with the cannabinoid receptors located in the skin; they do not enter the bloodstream, which means that when using a topical product, you won’t get high.  

While it is always a good practice to consult the ingredient list for any product you use, this is especially important when it comes to products containing CBD to make sure you are getting the full benefits of the active compound. While hemp seed oil (sometimes listed as cannabis sativa oil) is a non-comedogenic, moisturizing oil it does not offer the same skin-enriching benefits as CBD, which should be listed on the ingredient list as CBD, phytocannabinoid, or cannabidiol. One study found that up to 60% of CBD products sold online were mislabeled, so always make sure you are purchasing from a reliable source you trust.  

Research into cannabis and skincare remain in the earlier stages, however, there are already a lot of reasons why you may want to start integrating the soothing, healing properties of the cannabis plant into your daily rituals, including your skincare regimen. Starting low and going slow when using any product containing cannabis is always the best approach, and as with all self-care practices, and especially when it comes to skincare, what matters most is finding the products and routine that works best for you! 

In wellness, 

Madge Love 

PS: Have any questions related to cannabis, skincare, or any of our products? Send us a note at hello@madgeandmercer.com