When it comes to skin care products, we’ve all gone out and made impulse purchases from time to time. It’s natural and normal, but it isn’t always the best strategy. Sometimes, it’s best to take your time to think about what exactly you’re looking for and what you can do to increase your chances of finding it. This is especially true when the products are new and/or heavily hyped — and right now, there’s nothing newer or more heavily hyped than CBD.
If you’ve paid any attention to the beauty world in the last year or so, you’ll know that a CBD revolution is afoot. There are now a staggering number of new infused products on the market, and more are coming every day. This gives you a lot of choice or too much choice, depending on your point of view.
Separating the hits from the duds can be a challenge, but it’s not impossible. Whether you’re looking for a CBD anti-aging facial oil or a CBD eye serum for sensitive skin, this guide will help you to ask the right questions before you part with your hard earned dollars and increase your chances of finding the CBD face cream of your dreams.
What Should Be in Your CBD Face Cream
There are some things that should be non-negotiable when it comes to skin care. Before buying, make sure that the product your considering contains all of the below.
Organic Full Spectrum CBD Oil
Not all CBD skin care products contain the same kinds of CBD oils. Yes, that’s correct — there are different kinds of CBD oils. Without getting too deep into the science behind them, the best CBD oil to use in your skin care is a full spectrum one. These oils don’t just contain CBD, but also the other 100+ cannabinoids, terpenes, fatty acids, and other substances found in cannabis plants. These substances work better when they’re used together (it’s called the entourage effect), so a full spectrum product will be more effective than a CBD isolate product.
No matter which kind of CBD oil is in your face cream, ideally you’d like to make sure that the cannabis plants it came from were organically grown. Non-organic natural ingredients can be packed with harmful chemicals, pesticides, and carcinogens which aren’t good for your skin.
Extra Ingredients
Even though CBD may be the active ingredient in your face cream, it’s important to understand what other ingredients are used. The kind of ingredients you’ll want in your cream will depend on your skin type and the results you’re looking for.
For example, you might be looking for a face cream that’s targeted at acne prone skin and clears up breakouts. In this case, a CBD infused product that contains salicylic acid or glycolic acid will work well for you. On the other hand, if you have very dry skin caused by eczema, you might simply be seeking a softer complexion. In this case a product that contains humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid could help, as these ingredients draw moisture from the air and pull it into your skin.
A little bit of research — and introspection — can go a long way when it comes to figuring out what ingredients will benefit you the most, so spending some time to consider the options is a great investment in your skin.
SPF
No matter where you live, what time of year it is, what your climate is like, or what kind of skin you have, you need to be wearing an SPF on your face everyday. UV rays aren’t just present on bright sunny days. Scientists say that up to 80 percent of UVs can penetrate through cloud cover and cause damage to your skin when you’re least expecting it. But SPF doesn’t just protect against UVs.
Recent research has shown that the blue light emitted from phone, tablet, laptop, and other device screens can be just as harmful to the skin. Not only does it cause fine lines and wrinkles, but it’s also one of the biggest contributors to skin cancers. Considering how much of our time we’re spending staring at screens these days (and the damage that’s doing to our skin), choosing a CBD face cream with an SPF of at least 15 is a no-brainer.
What Shouldn’t Be in Your CBD Face Cream
Just as you need to know what’s good for your skin, you also need to know what to avoid. Here are a few things to watch out for.
Hemp Seed Oil
Lot’s of brands are marketing products made of hemp seed extract as CBD products, but don’t be fooled. Scientists haven’t been able to locate any CBD in hemp seeds whatsoever, so these products won’t be able to deliver on their promises. Hemp seed oil does have other benefits, but it won’t give you the anti-anxiety effects that have made CBD products so popular.
Pesticides
Examining a wide range of skin care products and the ingredients they contain, researchers discovered that many contained high levels of chemicals such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane which are commonly used as pesticides. These chemicals are toxic to humans and some have been linked to cancer. You definitely don’t want these in your face cream.
Fragrances
We all love a luxurious face cream that smells as good as it feels on the skin, but fragranced products can be bad for the skin. Fragrance-causing chemicals tend to be harsh and cause irritation to varying degrees, depending on your skin type. Opt for natural ingredients like shea butter instead, as these will have subtle yet pleasant earthy tones while being gentle on your skin.