Why the cannabis craze is sweeping skincare

Leave your lava lamps in storage, people; CBD face products will not give you anxiety, hallucinations or the munchies. What they will take to new highs, however, is your skincare routine. We caught up with Katy Bacon, Murad’s Asia-Pacific Sales and Education Manager to get the lowdown on the leaves.
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When did marijuana go mainstream?
“The popularity of CBD has reached an all-time high and cannabis is rightly taking stage as one of nature’s most powerful ingredients. With demands from savvy consumers, skincare companies are looking to nature for ingredients to target individual’s lifestyle concerns. Taboo no more, ingredients like cannabis, CBD and hemp have found a foothold in mainstream beauty”, Katy explains.
What are the differences between cannabis, marijuana, hemp and CBD?
Need a little help differentiating between the categories? Katy’s here to help. “Cannabis, hemp Seed and CBD are the most buzzed about beauty ingredients and [yet] perhaps the most confusing of all,” she says. “To give you the 101: the cannabis sativa plant has two main species; hemp and marijuana. Marijuana contains high amounts of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which gives ‘weed’ its psychoactive effect,” she says. “[On the other hand], hemp is low in ‘THC’ and contains a much higher percentage of CBD. CBD (which stands for cannabidiol) is extracted from the stalks, stems, and flowers but not the seeds of the cannabis sativa plant.”
Is the whole thing just a fad?
Long story short: no.“It’s important to remember fad aside, CBD is clinically proven and has successfully been used for centuries both medically and holistically to provide everything from pain relief and anti-inflammation benefits through to treating skin conditions like dryness, sensitivity, eczema, psoriasis and rosacea. Oh, and it’s completely natural – no nasties here,” Katy confirms.
What will CBD do for my complexion?
“CBD is highly anti-inflammatory, one of its superpowers!” says Katy. “This powerful ingredient offers an effective calming and therapeutic benefit when topically applied to the skin (a real godsend if you suffer from inflammatory skin conditions such as acne, sensitivity, eczema, psoriasis and rosacea). It’s also rich in antioxidants which means it’s a great free-radical scavenger, which may help to counteract signs of skin ageing and can support a natural healing process.”
What’s hemp got to offer my skin?
“Hemp seed oil is high in essential fatty acids such as omegas 3, 6 and 9 – think of it as a superfood [for skin],'' she explains. “Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) play a key role in skin barrier and maintenance of healthy skin. They are critical for cell membrane integrity and act as precursors for vital bioactive substances such as ceramides. EFAs soothe and nourish, and restore skin softness and moisture, which helps [to] relieve dehydration and wrinkles.”
If I’m going try it, what am I looking for?
Some ingredients do their best work within certain formulas, so look for oil-based options for optimum results. “As cannabis/hemp seed are both rich in omegas, its best to find a lipid-based product such as a balm or oil, ideally applied as a treatment serum after cleansing and before you apply a moisturiser,” Katy says. And as for A.M. vs P.M. application, rules don’t apply. “Cannabis/hemp-based products are safe to use morning and night,” she confirms.
bh loves: Murad Revitalixir Recovery Serum ($140, murad.com.au), Andalou CannaCell® Happy Day Cream, Saint Jane Luxury Beauty Serum ($185, saintjanebeauty.com), The Cannabis Co. Hemp Seed Oil ($29.95, cannabiscompany.com.au), Ella Bache Botanical Skin Treatment Oil, The Body Shop Hemp Heavy-Duty Face Protector ($25, thebodyshop.com)
Main image credit: Getty Images
Have you tried any hemp, cannabis or CBD skincare? Did you see an improvement in your complexion?
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53 Member Comments
I haven't caught on just yet but I want to give it a go.
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I’m using the Andalou mask at the moment and I’m finding it great in brightening my complexion.
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I should try it!
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The Body Shoo were really one of the forerunners with using hemp in their products.
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Haven't tried this. Good to read about the skincare aspect.
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I want to try it, hopefully there's one at my local stores.
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I hope it is not just another bandwagon thing when some companies start using it then all the mainstream ones add a tiny bit and then claim they have it too. I have been using Andalous cannacell and it is lovely cream, but whether it has enough of what you need is another question.
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Really interesting and informative article. Thanks
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I have not tried anything with CBD in it but I once got a lip tar many years ago whose second main ingredient was hemp oil. It was a lovely lip product.
I was first scared that it was illegal and that I would fail a drug test if I used it, until I looked it up.
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Ohhhh I have some murad products I wonder if they have hemp in them?!!
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I'm not sure on the smell.
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Good read, will have to check out these products and read the reviews
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I will have to check out the brands and different products and perhaps give cannabis skincare a try.
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Very informative article. I haven't tried any products with this ingredient yet.
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Hemp has had a bad rap over the years (unfairly), good to see its reputation being rehabilitated.
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I really like the Ella Bache Botanical Skin Treatment Oil which I've been using for over a year now.
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hemp is everywhere now, even protein powder
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The Body Shop’s hemp hand cream has been around for eons and is brilliant for very dry hands, so the products that do it right (and don’t just chuck it in for fad value) should earn very loyal followers over time.
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Yes, they seem to have been one of the first, way before it became the bandwagon!
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Haven’t tried any products with theses ingredients.
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Not beauty related, but I think that medicinal CBD should be legalised in Australia. Yes, it should be very strictly monitored. I just think about the pain and suffering my mother in law and grandma went through (cancer). It was horrendous and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
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Agree Rose. A friend of mine going through breast cancer treatment many years ago (miss you Jen) had to risk being arrested just so she had something to quell the nausea. It was the only thing that stopped her vomiting, because the treatment had completely ruined her gag reflex. She tried everything legal, and decided if it was a choice between getting arrested and vomiting every time she ate, she’d risk being arrested—as did her partner.
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I really like Andalou's hemp seed oil - which is actually not all hemp oil as the name suggests. I otherwise consume pure 100% hemp seed oil tablets x2 per day and have experienced significant overall health benefits from it.
I wish we legally allowed CBD here in Australia like they do in the USA.
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hamp is now available in oil to cook with too
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