The beauty industry’s obsession with CBD is not showing any signs of slowing down. CBD has been hailed as a “miracle cure” in skin and body treatments. Over the past few years CBD health and beauty products have become a staple on the cosmetics scene. However, this is not a new phenomenon. Hemp oil (not to be confused with CBD) has been used in beauty products for years. The Body Shop launched its hugely popular hemp collection in the Nineties. Hemp is another cannabis derivative made from pressed hemp seeds.
Firstly, what is CBD oil?
CBD derives from the Sativa Cannabis plant, of which the stalks, flowers, leaves and seeds of the plant are all used. The Sativa plant is made up of more than 120 different cannabinoids (that we know of), one of these cannabinoids being CBD.
CBD should not be confused with THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive ingredient in the plant).
How can CBD benefit our skin?
In the health and beauty industry, more and more companies are now incorporating CBD into their products. This is due to the belief that CBD reduces inflammation and increases hydration, along with treating a wide range of skin conditions. The hydrating qualities that CBD possesses help treat skin related conditions such as dryness, eczema, and psoriasis and anti-aging.
The great thing about CBD skincare products is that they come numerous forms. CBD creams, moisturisers, serums, cleansers, sunscreens, and oils have been distinctly formulated for different applications.
Reduces Signs of Aging Skin
As you get older, your skin starts to show signs of ageing. These signs can include; skin dullness, reddish tones and wrinkles. In order to combat these signs, we need to look after our skin and ensure it receives as much help as possible in order to combat these signs.
CBD oil plays a vital role in keeping your skin hydrated and healthy. CBD has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which helps reduce the signs of ageing.
The fatty acids Omega 3 and Omega 6 are found in CBD. These fatty acids stimulate the production of collagen, preventing excessive water loss. This water loss helps in keeping the skin hydrated, plumped and looking healthy.
Furthermore, CBD oil is gentle to use with few side effects, unlike most medications and prescriptions. CBD oil’s properties make it stand out from the antioxidants with similar claims. CBD doesn’t just make your skin look better; CBD works to maintain your body’s overall health.
CBD Can Help Alleviates Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an autoimmune illness that attacks healthy skin cells. The condition expedites the usual lifespan of skin cells, causing cells to multiple on the surface of one’s skin. The ailment causes patches of abnormal skin due to the extra skin cells forming layers. Psoriasis normally appears on knees, elbows and scalps but it can affect any part of the body. According to the NHS 2% of people in the UK suffer from Psoriasis.
Although Psoriasis is not infectious and can not spread through body contact, the skin can be hard to handle. The symptoms can cause a lot of pain to the sufferer. There are quite a few methods of dealing with the condition, but most of them are not very effective. In order to relive a victim’s pain, inflammation need to be reduced. CBD’s healing qualities can help relieve inflammation and as a result aid in reducing the symptoms of Psoriasis.
CBD oil is gaining traction because of how it works with the body to ease the pain from Psoriasis. It affects the endocannabinoid system that is responsible for regulating messages relayed by the body, such as the immune system, pain, and mood. CBD also has the potential to decrease rapid skin cell multiplication. CBD oil also contains an anti-inflammatory feature, which is crucial in soothing Psoriasis.
Aides Acne
Acne is a skin condition that occurs when dirt, dead skin cells, or excess oil accumulate upon our skin and clogs the pores. Whilst acne is commonly associated as an issue we experience in our teenage years, the condition affects all ages.
When the pores become blocked, bacteria that live in hair follicles multiples. This leads to inflammation called acne. The build-up of bacteria causes the red blemishes on your skin.
It’s essentially to keep skin clean and not let bacteria build, this could lead to acne. It is also important to use skin oil that will not clog the skin. CBD oil is believed to inhibit oil production along with having anti-inflammatory properties. CBD targets the cells that activate acne, thus reducing its effects on acne-prone skin. It allows your skin to heal without you experiencing symptoms such as dryness that may irritate the skin further.
Helps with Dry Skin
Regardless of the root cause, managing dry skin is not easy. When you have dry skin, even maintaining the moisture using products such a serums masks and moisturising creams can be really tricky.
There can be a temptation to over-moisturise, however, this can be counterproductive as it prevents the skin from producing natural occurring oils.
CBD oil has the perfect balance of nutrients that will nourish and moisturize your skin. Cannabinoid products have anti-inflammatory and moisturizing healing benefits. These anti-inflammatory properties aid in helping to stop the peeling of skin, rough patches, cuts, and cracks. The anti-inflammatory properties of CBD oil also stimulate healing in the damaged areas caused by dry skin.
The advantage of using CBD oil is that it interacts with your skin glands regulating the production of oil. As a result, it doesn’t just help your skin to prevent the overproduction of oil; it also helps dry skin to increase oil production.
Managing Eczema
Suffering from eczema can be incredibly stressful. This skin condition often makes the recipient’s life uncomfortable and challenging due to the intense itchiness. You may even find yourself avoiding certain hobbies or physical activities, forcing you to make significant lifestyle changes. This could include spending time in water or general outside activities, thus unfairly affecting the quality of your life.
According to Bupa. Eczema affects one in 10 adults in the UK. The condition causes patches of the skin to turn red, crack, turn itchy, and inflame. Despite Eczema being somewhat common, there is unfortunately no permanent cure for this skin condition yet.
However, CBD oil is a popular choice by sufferers of Eczema in helping to treat their skin condition because it can relieve skin dryness and reduce inflammation. CBD oil is one of the few natural and effective options available for handling eczema since it contains anti-inflammatory properties with few reporting side effects.
CBD oil works in close partnership with the body’s endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system directly regulates allergic inflammations believed to be the leading cause of eczema. This allows CBD to distinctively treat the symptoms of the condition and prevent new ones.
What is the size of the market in the UK?
The healing properties of CBD ingredients are expected to encourage manufacturers to develop products infused with these ingredients, thereby driving the market upwards in the coming years.
The CBD market in the UK is currently worth approximately 300 million pounds. However, this figure is expected to triple in the next five years. Between 2017 and 2018 alone the number of CBD users doubled from 125,000 to 250,000. By 2025, the UK CBD market is expected to reach 1 billion pounds.
The global CBD skin care market is expected to grow to 1.3 billion pounds by 2025. With projections like this, there must be something that is working and that consumers are loving.
Where can you buy CBD skin and beauty products in the UK?
High street chains such as Holland & Barrett, Boots, Lloyds Pharmacy and Planet Organic are all stocking CBD skin and beauty products. Even the more traditional powerhouse department stores Selfridges and John Lewis have responded to demand and have a range from oils to skin care now available to purchase both in store and online. This move, especially from the more established and conventional brands to promote CBD, shows a real turning point in the way CBD is viewed by the public. The stigma and perception that CBD just ‘gets you high’ is fading due to education and the genuine benefits that it offers to consumers.
The range of CBD products available is greatest online. However, it is important to stress that you should only buy from reputable sources. Big online health and beauty players such as Space NK ,Cult Beauty and Look Fantastic can be trusted to do their homework and only list safe and certified products. Although that is not to say that you cannot buy top quality products from the smaller providers.
Disclaimer:
CBD is sold as a food supplement, and as a result, It’s illegal to claim it treats, prevents, or helps cure an illness or disease. No health claims have been made in this article.