What is CBD?
Cannabidiol, more commonly known as CBD, is one of the two, all natural compounds found in cannabis plants (marijuana/hemp); the other being tetrahydrocannabinol, more commonly known as THC. Unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive and therefore does not result in a ‘high’.
The relaxing of cannabis laws around the world has led to CBD to follow suit, with excitement around the health benefits being legitimised by new scientific studies claiming anxiety relief, anti seizure, pain relief and numerous neuroprotective benefits. The National Cancer Institute even mentions the ability of CBD to alleviate cancer symptoms and side effects.
What are the skincare benefits of CBD?
First things first:
CBD products are still very new and have yet to undergo extensive testing. The below benefits of using CBD skin care products is to be taken with a grain of salt. If you're looking for more immediate and definite results there are other active ingredients on the market that are more well researched.
Nonetheless let’s have a look into some of potential benefits that arise from one of the biggest trends in skincare at the moment;
CBD for treating Acne prone skin
It has become well known that Acne is a skin condition with a multitude of triggers, however scarring of the skin is more likely to arise from inflammatory lesion (i.e papules, pustules, nodules and cysts). CBD is praised for its anti-inflammatory properties, when applied to the skin it is capable of a visible reduction in breakouts.
A common trigger for acne is also the excess production of sebum (the waxy secretion that is responsible for keeping skin hydrated and protected). When there is too much sebum however, this can block the pores leading to the development of white heads, CBD is able to regulate and reduce the production of sebum and in turn treating the acne prone skin.
CBD for treating wrinkles and Anti-aging
Whilst too much sebum can block pores and lead to acne, the lack of sebum can result in the drying of the skin and in turn create wrinkles. As CBD aids with the regulation of sebum production this ensures to keep the skin hydrated resulting in the prevention of wrinkles and fine lines.
CBD also consists of antioxidant properties which reduces the free radicals (UV rays and pollution which cause extrinsic aging) that reduces the collagen within the elastic tissue of the skin.
CBD for Sensitive Skin
As aforementioned, CBD helps in regulating the production of sebum and in turn can be a good addition to your skincare routine if you suffer from sensitive skin. The soothing properties allows to minimise the redness and reactivity for individuals with sensitive skin.
The label trap: CBD vs hemp seed oil
Before you buy anything, learn this distinction, because the industry leans on the confusion. Cannabidiol (CBD) is the active compound with the anti-inflammatory properties described above. Hemp seed oil (often listed as cannabis sativa seed oil) is pressed from hemp seeds and contains essentially no CBD at all. It's a perfectly nice moisturising oil, but it's cheap, and plenty of "cannabis beauty" products use it plus a hemp leaf on the packaging to charge CBD prices.
When comparing products, look for:
- "Cannabidiol" on the ingredient list, not just hemp seed oil.
- A stated CBD amount in milligrams (products that won't say how much CBD they contain usually contain very little).
- Third-party lab certificates, which reputable CBD brands publish, confirming the CBD content and the absence of THC.
As with any new active, patch test first.
So, is CBD actually worth it?
Our honest verdict, several years into the trend: CBD is plausible but still unproven. The anti-inflammatory and sebum-regulating mechanisms are real in lab studies, but large, high-quality human trials remain scarce, and the effective topical dose still isn't established. Meanwhile the ingredients with mountains of evidence for the same concerns, like niacinamide for oil control and redness or salicylic acid for breakouts, cost less than most CBD products.
So: if you're curious and choosing between an ordinary moisturiser and a well-labelled CBD one at a similar price, there's little downside to trying it, especially for sensitive, redness-prone skin. But if you're treating a specific concern on a budget, spend on the proven actives first and treat CBD as the experiment, not the foundation. We'll happily update this verdict as the research matures.