Thanks to the non-intoxicating properties of Cannabidiol, the health and beauty industry has really embraced the CBD craze. Now more than ever, people have taken to social media and are posting their before and after photos of how hemp-derived CBD creams, lotions, and other CBD beauty products that have improved their skin.
And why not? After all, CBD is most famously known for its anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, multiple studies even show that along with anti-inflammatory properties, CBD is also a pretty powerful antioxidant. Nevertheless, as we age, so does our skin. So what’s the solution? How do you prevent, or even slow down, your skin from aging?
How to slow down the skin aging process
Getting old is inevitable, and there’s no shame in having wrinkles. While a few fine lines from smiling are actually charming, there’s no harm in wanting to delay the aging process. Now, if you’re someone who absolutely hates wrinkles and fine lines, you may have heard that the best ways to reverse this process are surgical procedures, botox, face lifts, and even microdermabrasion. But these procedures can be pretty invasive and expensive, not to mention painful.
But what if we told you that you actually have some control over how well and how fast (or slow) your skin ages? Well, you do.
One of the main reasons our skin develops wrinkles and fine lines is because of a lack of collagen. This is caused from everyday skin exposures like:
- Too much sunshine
- Air pollution
- Poor diet
- Unmanageable Stress
- Lack of sleep
- Genetics
- Cigarette smoke
- Toxins
- High levels of blood sugar
- And bad lifestyle habits
The way you maintain youthful and healthy looking skin is by actively taking care of it. And there's no better way than by applying these 8 simple lifestyle changes.
5 steps you can prevent premature wrinkles
1. Protect your skin from the sun
As you may have guessed, the first on our list is to protect your skin from sun damage. There’s nothing better than being out in the sunshine. Who doesn’t love the warm rays of the sun beating down on them as they relax on a sandy beach? After all, we all need more vitamin D to improve normal bone formation and our overall health. And sunshine makes us feel good. But too much sunshine can actually damage the skin.
The rays from the sun contain UV rays that actually penetrate our skin's outer layer, which kills our skin cells. Sunscreen or sunblock helps to prevent some damage, but it doesn’t prevent it entirely. If you happen to have lighter skin, excessive sun exposure could really damage skin cells, causing more than just sun spots and freckles. It could possibly cause skin cancer. Now, we’re not saying to avoid the sun completely. But limiting how much sun you get throughout the day and using high quality sunscreen lotion can really help protect your skin, thus preventing premature wrinkles and fine lines.
2. Maintain a healthy diet
For years, dermatologists ignored the fact that diet and skincare were interlinked together. However, new research shows that diet does in fact play a huge role in the health and the appearance of our skin. So there is truth behind the phrase, “food is medicine.”
What we eat can actually contribute to acne, inflammation, skin cancer, and lack of collagen. A poor diet can even speed up the aging process of our skin. Yikes! But don’t worry, you can change all of that by incorporating healthier foods like, fruits, veggies, herbs and spices. So, who says you can’t have pasta? Instead of eating regular wheat pasta, try zucchini pasta as a less-processed alternative once in a while. You can even spice it up with some oregano, garlic and cloves, all of which prevent premature aging and increase circulation in the skin.
3. Keep your body hydrated
60% of the human body is made up of water. But throughout the day we lose that water through sweat, urine, feces, etc. We need water for our body to function properly. According to research, “A healthy person needs 30 to 50 ounces of fluid per day.” That’s a lot of water. Now imagine how much a person needs if they aren’t healthy.
When we keep our bodies hydrated, we promote healthy looking skin. In fact, a study showed that when the body has higher levels of water, it adequately keeps the skin hydrated and could “positively affect skin physiology”. From this study alone, it’s clear that one of the best ways we can prevent premature aging is by maintaining hydration.
4. Get more sleep
Ok, this is a tough one. Who has time to sleep 8-9 hours a night when the kids are running around, the house needs to be cleaned, bills need to be paid, and you still haven’t finished that project for your boss? We know, life is busy and you’ll sleep when you're dead, right? The thing is, lack of sleep can actually make you look unhealthier and older. In fact, one study showed that lack of sleep can even make you look less attractive. Another study found that poor sleep increased signs of aging, “diminished skin barrier function”, and again, lowered overall physical appearance.
We know life is busy, but there are measures you can take to improve your sleep:
- Stay away from caffeine late in the afternoon
- Go to bed at the same time every night, and wake up at the same time every morning
- Exercise regularly
- Avoid your exposure to bluelight (cell phone, ipad, and TV) before you go to sleep
- Try CBD oil
This leads us to our last step…
5. Apply CBD on your skin
The CBD sold in stores like Whole Foods and Walgreens is all derived from hemp. And if you know anything about hemp oil, it’s relatively ideal for almost all skin types. It not only unclogs pores, but it’s a great moisturiser as well. Not to mention it’s been known to balance and regulate your skin’s oil production. This is because hemp is packed with omega fatty acids, amino acids, and other powerful nutrients that promote healthy skin.
As we mentioned earlier in this article, CBD contains pretty powerful anti-inflammatory properties. According to research, the anti-inflammatory properties found in CBD actually prevent sebaceous glands from over-producing oil. This is promising news for those who struggle with acne.
Other studies show that CBD can even diminish the scars from acne, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis. If you are one who struggles with scars, CBD could be an effective therapeutic agent.
But what makes hemp-derived CBD so appealing in the skincare industry is the fact that it’s a potent antioxidant.
What are antioxidants?
We’re glad you asked…
Antioxidants are little molecules that prevent free radical damage in your body. Now you might be wondering, what the heck are free radicals? Well, free radicals are “molecular species” that attack other larger, but more complex, molecules –– think proteins, DNA, and polysaccharides (glucose).
When free radicals overwhelm the body, they cause oxidative stress. When oxidative stress sets in for a long period of time, it can damage DNA and other cells that help promote healthy looking skin. Scientists think that damaged DNA causes the skin to age prematurely (wrinkles, creases, fine lines, and less elasticity).
Additionally, free radicals have been linked to multiple health problems such as:
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Inflammatory joint disease
- Degenerative eye disease
- Senile dementia
- Atherosclerosis
Bottom line, free radicals are bad news for the human body, including the skin.
Thankfully, the human body is equipped to naturally ward off these free radicals by harnessing the power of antioxidants. You might be surprised to learn that antioxidants are produced within the body. However, with the amount of environmental issues we face on a daily basis, we need a little more help in providing our body with antioxidants (this is where fruits and veggies come into play). But even with foods high in antioxidants, an extra boost is sometimes needed.
Enter CBD oil.
According to research, CBD oil is a stronger antioxidant than vitamin C and E. So when CBD oil beauty products are applied to the skin, they enter into the pores and begin fighting inflammation and free radicals almost immediately. The reason for this is that each human has an Endocannabinoid System (ECS).
The Endocannabinoid system and your skin
As you may already know, the skin is the largest organ of the body. It is made up of multiple cells and layers. Within the last decade, research has shown that “components of the ECS have also been discovered in the skin”. So what’s so important about the ECS?
The ECS is responsible for regulating how our bodies function, and this includes maintaining normal function within our skin. What’s more, the ECS actually helps produce cannabis-like chemicals called endocannabinoids. These endogenous cannabinoids help maintain homeostasis. But when our bodies don't produce enough endocannabinoids, unwanted issues can arise like pain, inflammation, depression, and so on. The way we help our ECS maintain healthy skin is by providing it with phytocannabinoids like CBD. And as we mentioned earlier, CBD can even help with skin conditions like:
- Acne
- Eczema
- Psoriasis
- Arthritis
- And itchy skin
So where can you find these age-defying CBD beauty products?
CBD hemp oil for the skin
We realize that with so many CBD creams, lotions, face balms, and other topicals on the market today, it can be absolutely daunting for someone who’s looking for high quality CBD oil products. If you are a seasoned CBD user, and you have CBD oil on hand, most oils can be added to beauty products. Some CBD oils can even be applied directly to the skin. But if you’d rather leave the mixing of CBD oil and high quality beauty products to the professionals, we understand. That’s why we recommend only purchasing from reputable companies that focus on the quality and the safety of their hemp-derived CBD products.
While hemp-derived CBD is packed with health promoting benefits, it’s not always formulated correctly in products by some CBD companies. Some companies tend to cut corners, and the end result could be a product which contains virtually no CBD at all. The key is to look for companies that focus on transparency and quality.
If you’re interested in finding the best CBD beauty products, here are some shopping tips you can use:
- Make sure the CBD company thoroughly tests their products for safety and potency before they hit the market. You need to know how much CBD is in any given product, and that can only be truly seen through third party test results.
- Make sure the CBD creams and lotions contain high quality ingredients. If you see a huge list of chemicals you can’t pronounce along with CBD, it’s best not to purchase. Just because it contains CBD doesn’t mean it's a high quality product. Those other ingredients may cause adverse effects and irritate the skin.
- Make sure the CBD skin care products are packaged and sealed well to maintain their effectiveness.
- Make sure there are dosing instructions visible on the product labels.
Where to buy the best CBD beauty products
If you want the best CBD skin care products, you can try googling “the best CBD creams near me” to see if any CBD dispensaries are worth visiting. Just be sure to apply the tips above when purchasing CBD oil products from a CBD shop.
If you’re like the rest of us and would rather relax at home and wait for your awesome CBD products to come to your front door, then purchasing high quality CBD beauty products online is your best option. The good thing about shopping for CBD online is that you get to learn more about the company you’re purchasing from. Not to mention you can easily multi-task by researching the CBD company online and talking to their customer service over the phone or live chat, all while you remain in your PJs.
Final thoughts
Hemp-derived CBD beauty products are great for the skin and they offer a slew of therapeutic properties. Whether you have the smooth skin of a baby's bottom or you're already seeing smile lines, it’s never too late to try CBD creams and lotions. Just be sure to purchase your CBD oil products from reputable companies that focus on the quality of their products rather than just turning a profit.
