CBD is a potential beauty powerhouse.
Is there anything CBD can’t do?
Besides showing promise for easing aches and pains or inflammation when ingested or topically applied, the non-euphoric cannabinoid also holds promise for serious beauty benefits, from smoother skin to reduced wrinkles and redness.
“Inflammation is what’s at the heart of most skincare concerns, from rosacea to acne to wrinkles,” says Dorian Morris, founder Undefined Beauty, which makes eco-friendly, CBD-infused skincare. “It’s a great partner in crime for graceful aging.”
[SEE ALSO: 5 ways real Eaze customers use cannabis for pain]
Just as the body has an endocannabinoid system that regulates a host of processes, the skin has its own receptors that interact with cannabis compounds, which can then play a role in nearly every skin function, says Dr. Tamas Biro, director of immunology at University of Debrecen, Hungary, and adviser to a cannabis biotech research company.
Click the image below to shop Glow Elixir CBD beauty oil from Undefined.
The science of skincare.
While cannabinoids absorbed into the skin don’t necessarily enter the bloodstream, there are enough receptors in the skin layer itself that CBD is believed to influence myriad dermal functions.
“The skin barrier is very important for moisture retention, sebum production and sweat-gland function, as well as skin-centric sensory functions such as pain and itch,” Biro told Elle magazine. “But perhaps most important, it appears that the endocannabinoid system controls skin inflammation — so if an inflammatory or irritation challenge assaults the skin, the endocannabinoid system fights against it.”
That influence on inflammation, along with cannabis’ role in the regulation of sebum (the body’s natural moisturizer) makes it a winning cosmetic ingredient. Early research shows topical CBD can prevent the inflammation and oil overproduction associated with breakouts.
Click the image below to shop Indigo Rose Glow Elixir from Undefined.
Clean beauty for everyone.
Morris, a beauty-industry veteran who spent her career developing and leading prestige brands in Sephora, created Undefined Beauty to democratize clean, high-quality skincare, and destigmatize cannabis in the process.
“My goal was to rethink the traditional beauty paradigm, break rules and create something that is both elevated, effective yet affordable,” Morris says. “Undefined is also extremely purpose-driven … giving people access to high-quality, CBD-infused skincare that doesn’t cost your first-born child.”
CBD is rich with antioxidant power, she says. Antioxidants are essential for skincare because they prevent the free-radical damage that causes wrinkles and uneven skin tone.
Because the endocannabinoid system helps regulate homeostasis, it’s believed that CBD can diminish sebum production in oily skin, or turn on oil production for dry skin, Morris says. And because the skin is replete with endocannabinoid receptors, products containing CBD allow for greater bioavailability and penetration.
“If you had identical formulas, one with CBD and one without, the one with CBD is going to show better performance, and therefore more bang for your buck,” she says.
Click the image below to shop Glow Gelee CBD Firming Serum from Undefined.
More than beauty.
Undefined’s Indigo Rose collection includes Glow Elixir, a multitasking, CBD-infused oil that hydrates, balances and brightens; and Glow Gelee, a CBD-infused, collagen-based jelly serum that tones, tightens, and blurs pores.
Beyond making clean skincare affordable, Undefined Beauty has social justice aims built into its DNA. Besides working with female- and minority-owned businesses for manufacturing, distribution and design, Morris is active in raising awareness and ending incarceration for women jailed for cannabis crimes.
“Undefined, in a nutshell,” she says, “is clean beauty meets CBD meets social impact.”
- Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article by Eaze, Eaze partners, and Eaze customers are published for educational and informational purposes only, and are not intended to serve as or substitute for a diagnosis, treatment or medical advice. Please consult a local physician or other health care professional for your specific health care and/or medical needs or concerns.