Can CBD be Absorbed Through Your Skin?

The skin is the largest organ of the body, and keeping it healthy is a crucial part of your overall well being. As the number of potential uses for CBD continues to increase, more people are beginning to wonder: Can CBD be absorbed through your skin? There are many CBD skin care products out there, but are any of them effective? 

Let’s take a look at what we know about using CBD topically.

What is the function of skin?

The skin is a permeable membrane composed of three parts, each with its own distinct function:

• The epidermis is the top layer of skin. It is the waterproof outer layer that acts as our first line of defense. When performing optimally, it protects the body from UV radiation, chemical irritants, viruses, bacteria, and fungi. 
• The dermis lies below the epidermis and is composed of connective tissue, nerve endings, hair follicles, and sweat glands. Its function is to connect and support the epidermis and the subcutaneous layers below. The dermis also assists in body temperature regulation and sensation.
• Beneath the dermis is the hypodermis, a subcutaneous layer composed of fat, connective tissues, blood, and immune cells. Its primary function is fat storage, but it also contributes to thermoregulation and hormone production.

With its many important functions, it’s important to focus on maintaining balanced skin as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Does Skin Absorb CBD?

CBD skin care can easily be found on drugstore shelves and online, but how do these products work? Can you absorb CBD through the skin? 

According to an article published in the ACS Chemical Neuroscience Journal:

“The skin possesses a robust capacity to synthesize and respond to cannabinoids...In the skin, cannabinoid lipids, whether of endogenous or exogenous origin, are capable of regulating numerous sensory, homeostatic, and inflammatory events.”

In other words, the skin has the ability to absorb and respond to cannabinoids that have been applied topically. 

CBD and other cannabinoids interact with the human body via the endocannabinoid system, or ECS. This system is believed to be responsible for helping to regulate numerous functions of the body to promote a healthy state of balance known as homeostasis. 

The ECS is composed of naturally-occurring cannabinoids which act as chemical messengers, and receptors which receive these signals throughout the body. Cannabinoid receptors known as CB1 and CB2 can be found in both the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. According to the ACS report, both CB1 and CB2 receptors can be found in the skin: 

“CB1 is expressed in keratinocytes within the more differentiated epidermal layers, hair follicle cells, sebaceous glands, sensory neurons, and immune cells. CB2 is expressed in keratinocytes, sebaceous glands, sensory neurons, and immune cells.”

The presence of these receptors suggest that applying a high-quality, full-spectrum CBD product to the skin could bring about beneficial effects.

Do CBD Skin Care Products Work?

It’s important to note that cheap, low-quality products with little to no real CBD may not have any positive effects at all. However, many users have reported positive effects when using high-quality topical CBD products. Remember, the endocannabinoid system is all about restoring and maintaining balance, and early research suggests that applying a full spectrum of cannabinoids to the skin may have a homeostatic effect. 

Benefits of CBD Skin Care

Skin imbalances can manifest in many ways. An overly dry or overly oily complexion is one common example of unbalanced skin. More severe skin concerns can include chronic itchy rashes due to eczema or psoriasis and severe acne. CBD skin care is still a new practice, but users are already noting the balancing effects of using CBD in their beauty and wellness routines. 

Topical CBD is a lipid that is typically infused with a carrier oil like coconut or olive oil. In our case, Luce Farm Wellness Full Spectrum Hemp Extract is infused with organic MCT oil. This hydrating combination can help skin feel more moisturized and smooth. Early research suggests that the cannabinoids found in full spectrum CBD have the potential to provide a number of additional wellness-promoting effects on the skin. 

We invite you to check out the following studies pointing to the many possible ways CBD can impact skin health.

• TRP Channel Cannabinoid Receptors in Skin Sensation, Homeostasis, and Inflammation
• Cannabidiol exerts sebostatic and antiinflammatory effects on human sebocytes
• Efficacy and tolerance of the cream containing structured physiological lipids with endocannabinoids in the treatment of uremic pruritus: a preliminary study

How to Use Topical CBD

Now that we know more about how CBD skin care works and some of the possible benefits,  you may be wondering how to use it in your everyday life. Those who use CBD to benefit their skin tend to experience more consistent results when applying regularly. CBD can also be used occasionally to target problem areas of the skin.

You’ll want to apply your CBD product to clean skin and allow it some time to absorb completely. One of the best times to apply CBD is after a bath or a shower like you would with your other serums and lotions. Whether applying to the face or body, gently massage a healthy amount into the skin. Allow several minutes for your skin to fully absorb your topical CBD product before covering with clothing or doing strenuous activity. Re-apply daily or as needed after swimming, sweating, or bathing. 

Types of CBD Products for Skin

The best way to use topical CBD will depend on the product and your intended purpose. CBD can be massaged or rubbed in to target specific areas, applied to the face as a serum, or used for all-over skin hydration. The following are a few of the available CBD skin care products:

CBD Rubs: After a workout or a long day on your feet, it can be tremendously soothing to take a little time for yourself. CBD rubs are the perfect way to unwind and work CBD deep into the skin at the same time. Luce Farm Wellness offers two types: a hemp-infused warming rub with arnica, lemon and ginger botanicals, and a hemp-infused cooling rub with peppermint and calendula.

CBD Lotions, Moisturizers, and Balms: Many people use lotion or moisturizer after a bath or shower or throughout the day to keep their skin hydrated and to avoid dry, itchy, or flaky skin. Adding a full spectrum hemp extract to your after-shower lotion or using Luce Farm’s Hemp-Infused Body Balm is an easy way to integrate CBD into your routine.

CBD Oils: If you’re looking for products that can be used for more than just skin, you can’t go wrong with CBD oils. Not only can they be applied directly to the skin or mixed in with any of your existing serum and creams, they can also be consumed alone, in warm or cold beverages, or mixed with food. Our Hemp-Infused CBD Coconut Oil and MCT oil tinctures offer the effectiveness and versatility of several products in one.

How to Shop for Topical CBD Products

Using CBD for skin can be a healthy addition to any wellness routine. It’s crucial, however, to ensure that the products you’re using are the best possible quality in order to achieve the best possible results. No matter what form your topical CBD takes, the following are a few qualities to look for when shopping for topical CBD: 

Know the concentration: There’s no hard and fast rule for the degree of concentration, but it helps to consider how many uses per container and divide the number of milligrams of CBD by the estimated number of uses. 

Let’s say you’re considering the Luce Farm Warming Rub, which contains 250mg CBD plus a full spectrum of cannabinoids in a 2-ounce container. If you estimate 30 uses per container, that’s roughly 8.33 milligrams of CBD per use. Similar products may contain the same number of milligrams in a container twice as large, meaning each use will be half as potent. Paying attention to the concentration of a product is a great way to determine whether it is worth the cost.

Full spectrum: Many CBD skincare products contain CBD isolate, which is the 99% pure form of CBD. CBD isolate is commonly used because it is odorless and has a very uniform consistency. Emerging research has shown, however, that CBD products are more effective when they contain the entire range of cannabinoids present in the hemp plant.

Organic ingredients: Every ingredient you use on your skin has the potential to impact it, either positively or negatively. Organic ingredients are those produced without pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, or other harmful additives that could irritate the skin. For best results, check the ingredients label and look for the certified organic seal on your CBD product.

We hope that you’ll consider using CBD to benefit your skin’s wellness. If you’re looking for the best possible topical CBD, you’ve come to the right place. Luce Farm Wellness is proud to stand behind our highly concentrated, lab-tested, full spectrum organic CBD products.