Is Adding CBD to Your Skin Care Routine Good for Your Skin?

with Barbie Sommars & Maria Calabrese

On this episode of Maria's Kitchen, Green Bee Life founder Maria Calabrese is joined by cannabis educator and consumer, Barbie Sommars to discuss whether adding CBD to your skin care regimen is good for your skin. With the enormous array of skin care products available, it is difficult to know which ones to use or even know how to use them. Adding CBD, the trending, new hot ingredient in skin care products, makes choosing what's best even more complicated. Learn what CBD is, how it works, whether it is good for your skin and what to look for when considering new products containing CBD to add to your skin care protocols. Barbie shares her thoughts and impressions about cbdMD Botanicals after having tried their creamy cleanser, moisture toner, daily moisturizer and eye brightening cream.

Meet Our Featured Guests

Barbie Sommars

Spurred by a personal need to find natural alternative pain management solutions, Barbie discovered cannabis. Cannabis was so transformational for Barbie that it changed the direction of her life — she’d found her calling! Barbie is now an award-winning cannabis activist, educator, entrepreneur, and empowerer. Leveraging her corporate background, she established several cannabis-related endeavors, including Faerie Jane, Mary Jane University, and High Dining. When Barbie talks cannabis, people listen — she knows her stuff!

Maria Calabrese

GBL Founder, Maria Calabrese, thrives off giving a voice to the cannabis industry's most innovative brands and community, while helping them get the exposure they deserve to unleash the full potential of cannabis as a wellness solution. Her education and experience include marketing, law, cross-cultural communications, TV/film management and production, branding, advocacy and mentorship. During this massive shift from traditional television to new media, her focus has remained on the empowerment of the cannabis consumer, educators and brands across all mediums. She believes content should say something meaningful, not just make noise to compete for eyeballs.

Botanicals are powerful plant extracts and oils derived from flowers, herbs, nuts, seeds, roots, and berries. When harnessed in the right way, they can do wonders for your skin. That's why you see botanical ingredients in many personal care or cosmetic products.

Botanical extracts have been known to even skin tone and provide anti-aging properties by inhibiting tyrosinase enzyme and melatonin production (responsible for darkening skin). Additionally, botanicals and can protect cells from harmful UV radiation, act as an antioxidant, and improve hydration.

What is CBD?

CBD stands for cannabidiol. It’s one of over 140 organic compounds, called cannabinoids, found in cannabis plants. To learn more, check out our What is CBD? blog post.

What are botanical ingredients?

A botanical ingredient is one that’s derived from plants and used as an additive in a product. Botanical ingredients are common in self-care and food/beverage products.

Botanicals are added to products to introduce supplementary attributes that are intended to provide additional benefits. For example, botanicals might make your skincare products more effective at improving the look and feel of aging skin or protecting your skin from UV damage.

What is the difference between hemp seed oil and CBD oil?

Both hemp seed oil and CBD oil are made from cannabis sativa L. However, hemp seed oil is made from — you guessed it! — the seeds of the hemp plant. Conversely, CBD oil is derived from other parts of the cannabis plant (marijuana or hemp varieties), usually the flowers, leaves, and stems.

CBD oil can be a potent ally in overall well-being thanks to the hundreds of health-inducing substances (cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, etc.) it contains, but it has little nutritional value. Hempseed oil, on the other hand, is a nutritional powerhouse but has no cannabinoids. Both oils are skin-loving.

It’s important to understand the difference so that you don’t get tricked by slick or unscrupulous marketers. However, it’s not uncommon for CBD products to have both CBD oil and hemp seed oil because hemp seed oil is nourishing and a super carrier oil.

Is CBD good for wrinkles?

The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of CBD can help minimize the appearance of wrinkles. Tangentially, CBD can support other aspects of overall health — like lowering stress and facilitating better sleep — which can also fight those fine lines and combat those crow’s feet.

Is hemp oil anti-aging?

Yes! It moisturizes and nourishes your skin. In addition to soothing your skin and promoting skin health, hempseed oil could help alleviate and prevent signs of aging skin.

How do you choose a CBD skin care product?

Choosing a lineup of quality CBD products may take some time, patience, and trial and error. You can up your odds of honing in on your best bets by honestly assessing your needs and preferences before shopping around.

You should get clear on what skin concerns you’re trying to target. This will steer you in the direction of a subset of products — e.g., specific formulations like topical oils (spot treatment) instead of softgels (systemic wellness support). It’ll inform which added ingredients to seek out or avoid.

The next thing you’ll want to decide upon is whether or not you want a product that has THC in it (and what amount). This can make a difference in product accessibility, legality, and possibly how it makes you feel. THC probably won’t help or hinder any skincare benefits you get from other ingredients.

Some other things to consider when picking CBD skincare products:

Opt for products that use organic American hemp-derived CBD to skirt issues with harmful toxins like pesticides and heavy metals.
• When possible, pick products with natural or organic ingredients.
• Buy from trusted brands and retailers who are knowledgeable about the products.
• Do research (due diligence) on products/sellers before you buy anything.
• Always consult the product packaging for ingredients and usage instructions.
• Always verify the levels of CBD, THC, and other compound on the product’s certificate of analysis prior to making a purchase.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for samples (The worst a shop can say is, “No.”) and patch test products you haven’t used before.