Finding the Best CBD Skin Care in Today’s Marketplace 

By Linda Johansen-James and Maxine Fensom

CBD Skin Care Shopping Tips

How do you know what to choose in a CBD skin care product? There are so many out there that we thought we would give you the ABC’s or should we say CBD’s of choosing the right products for you.

1. Make sure the ingredient list states “cannabidiol” on the packaging.
2. Many brands selling CBD skin products list the total cannabidiol content in milligrams, and sometimes it is further broken down per use. This is a good indicator that the CBD product is legitimate, although there’s currently no consensus on how much CBD your skin needs per application, we just know that the skin has receptor sites for this ingredient that when connected can interrupt signals that cause the skin to act up. 
3. There should be a third-party certification on the purity and stated amount of CBD to be sure you are getting what the label claims. 
4. Look for CBD skin care in stable packaging-no jars or clear bottle or any component that exposes this delicate plant to a lot of light or air, which can cause it to be less effective. 

Some brand also advertise their CBD as being “isolate”, full spectrum” or “broad spectrum”. None of these terms are regulated, but they can be extremely helpful when choosing a product.   See explanations below:

1. CBD Isolate mean pure CBD, no other cannabinoids or other naturally occurring substances like flavonoids or terpenes. 
2. Full Spectrum CBD mean everything that occurs in the hemp plant alongside the CBD, including trace amounts of THC and other cannabinoids such as CBG, CBN and antioxidant compounds. Trace amounts of THC can be detected in full spectrum but must fall below 0.3% in order to not be considered active. 
3. Broad Spectrum CBD mean no THC is detectable.  

Oral CBD and topical CBD products like skincare oils, body balms, bath bombs and face masks are also increasing in popularity.  “CBD extracts can be absorbed through the epidermis layers of the skin to interact with cannabinoid receptors located on skin surface cells. With the skin being the largest organ of the human body, what we put on our skin doesn’t only affect the skin, but it can have long-lasting effects on our health and general wellbeing.”

The global CBD skincare market size is expected to reach $1.7 billion by 2025, according to a recent report by Grand View Research, Inc, expanding at a growth rate of 32.9 percent over the forecast period. The perceived wellness properties of CBD ingredients are expected to encourage manufacturers to develop products infused with these ingredients.   

So, what is the bottom line?  CBD oil does have multiple benefits for the skin.  We are excited to see how the research behind CBD oil’s topical benefits continue to grow, an we certainly anticipate it becoming a mainstay in everyone’s skin care routines.