I have no doubt you’ve either seen or heard about the trending theme in skincare lately…Cannabis and CBD.
I don’t know where you stand on the subject of smoking pot, and frankly, that’s the last discussion I would start here on my blog (that and politics ;)). But that is neither here nor there when it comes to discussing about LEGAL cannabis based beauty products found in the health and wellness category. Get ready for a simple science lesson…
This is because the ingredient CBD (which is short for Cannabidiol) is non-psychoactive and should NOT be confused with the ingredient THC also found in a cannabis plant, which is what actually gets you high. CBD does not get you high, stoned, whatever you want to call it.
So let’s clear another thing up …Cannabis, Hemp and Marijuana are NOT the same thing.
Cannabis is a FAMILY of plants with 2 main classifications , Indica and Sativa. Now while marijuana can be considered a member of either the Indica or Sativa families, hemp is a member of the Cannabis Sativa family. Legal talk : “As long as the plant (either cannabis or hemp) is grown with under 0.3 percent THC (the cannabinoid that gets you high) it is considered legal, so theoretically it doesn’t matter whether it is hemp or cannabis.”
I didn’t know any of this until a couple of days ago.
I’ve been doing a LOT of online research to figure all the ins and outs of this new wave ingredient. I’d hate to misspeak on this hot button topic that I know so little about. So all of the sources I found my info from will be listed at the bottom of this post, just in case you are interested.
All I really knew up until now about marijuana/cannabis were the basics : that it smells like a dead skunk, makes you giggle excessively, and gives you the munchies.
Now, moving on to why it seems to be a big deal in beauty lately…
SO Trendy : To say this ingredient is “trending,” in the beauty world, would be an understatement.
We are seeing it in hair products, eye serums, massage oils, soaps, lip balms, moisturizers, face + body lotions, even mascaras. It’s everywhere and is being labeled the new “avocado toast” of the health + wellness world! And since the beauty industry is very into “all natural” products these days, the cannabis naturally-derived alternative to more traditional formulas, seems to be a win win for everyone and hitting on all points.
What are the skincare benefits of cannabis : Since we are seeing these products pop up on Sephora and beauty blogs, it’s gotta have some crazy good benefits right??
It’s being said that incorporating cannabis into your skin routine through oils, lotions, and serums has really great anti-inflammatory, antibacterial properties, and is rich in Omega 3 + Omega 6 fatty acids. It has also been shown to soothe irritated skin, tone down redness, and in some cases help with acne. To take a quote from one of the Allure magazine features on this ingredient, NYC dermatologist Dendy Engelman said that, “Inflammation is the root of all evil, whether that’s acne or the signs of aging.” So the fact that cannabis is supposed to have wonderful anti-inflammatory properties means it could be a fixer for lots of skin issues like rosacea and eczema.
Will putting CBD + cannabis based products on your skin get you stoned? : No, a million times, no. Hemp oils and CBD’s are not the compounds that get people high, that is THC. I think the word cannabis in the CBD gets people all jumpy – it did me in the beginning before I did some reading and research.
I’ve used this First Aid Beauty Cannabis oil multiple times since receiving it and I feel no difference on the inside of my body or mind! I’m not seeing unicorns or hearing Bob Marley in the background once it’s rubbed into my skin 😉
What immediately sparked my interest in creating this post, was because I received this new skincare oil c/o First Aid Beauty, which is a highly reputable brand in the skincare industry. So if they were jumping on the cannabis bandwagon, then I was gonna go for the ride!
They sent me their Ultra Repair Cannabis + Oat Dry Oil in a PR package, and because I dig a good skin oil, I figured why not.
So how does this First Aid Beauty cannabis oil product stack up?
From the Sephora product description…
What it is: A soothing treatment oil infused with cannabis sativa seed oil from hemp and colloidal oatmeal to help de-stress, relieve, and nourish dry, reactive, and sensitive skin.
What skin type is it good for? Normal, Dry, and Combination
What skin concerns its good for? Dryness and Redness
Highlighted Ingredients:
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil (an oil derived from hemp that is rich in omegas and helps calm, soothe and relieve distressed skin), Colloidal Oatmeal (helps calm and soothe dry skin), and Arnica Montana Flower Extract (a natural extract thats supposed to help accelerate skin’s natural healing process)
This oil is labeled as fragrance free, but I believe it smells of very faint warm, medicinal-like peppermint. The faint smell is actually kinda nice IMO and soothing when breathed in. I don’t have a ton of issues with redness or acne, however y’all know I complain about my dry-as-the-Sahara desert skin ALL the time! So I am very pleased with how it feels on my skin after cleansing because it is soothing, releases the tight feeling and overall makes my skin feel dreamy. It has a tad greasy feeling in the beginning (duh, it’s an oil) but then sinks right in nicely and the greasy feel goes away. I’m a BIG fan of skin oils so this one will definitely get used up in no time.
Other great First Aid Beauty products you should check out is their Coconut Skin Smoothie Primer (which is an Allure Best of Beauty winner 2018!) and their Facial Radiance Pads which I have been using every single day after washing my face.
So I’m curious – what are your thoughts on the CBD + cannabis phenomenon? Have you incorporated it into your skincare routine yet?
(Sources and references for the info that I wasn’t clear on before I created this post found Here, here, here, and a great in depth one here.)
