The written instructions on product labels are fairly easy to understand, but that isn’t necessarily always going to be the best way to use them. Everyone from beauty gurus to consumers to skin care experts have different opinions on CBD topical usage, which include not just how you should use a product, but how often as well.
To make things a little simpler, we’ve taken the time to devise a helpful guide on CBD topical usage that you can use as your starting point, and experiment from there depending on what works best for you.
What Is Topical CBD?
CBD or cannabidiol harvested from hemp plants can be used in a multitude of ways. However, if you’re looking to increase the health of your skin, topical CBD is your best bet.
CBD topical usage comes in many different forms, including creams, lotions, balms, salves, gels, and anything else that you might apply to your skin. Once infused with CBD, topicals moisturize while delivering all of the best benefits of CBD to where you need them most, all from a single convenient package.
Depending on their active ingredients, most CBD topical usage will have a “warming” or “cooling” sensation, while the rest will feel no different from other topicals.
How Is CBD Absorbed Through the Skin?
Topical
CBD topical usage is all about using a CBD included liquid or balm to penetrate the uppermost layer of skin. The big benefit of this is that lotions and creams for CBD topical usage only affect the targeted area to which they are applied, and do not enter the bloodstream. This means that those wary of using a CBD product because of the impact it may have on mood can happily use topical products without concern.
Transdermal
Transdermal CBD products are unlike CBD topical usage products because they can sink past your uppermost layer of skin down to your bloodstream. Gels and skin patches are just two of the most popular transdermal products.
Although transdermal products can bypass several barriers in your system, including your digestive system, transdermal is still one of the least-used methods of using CBD, with oils and gummies being the most popular.
How Often Can You Use Topical CBD?
For CBD topical usage, the answer depends on which delivery method you choose. Different brands will have different recommendations and guidelines on how often their products should be used. To get you started, here’s a general guide to using the different forms of topical CBD and how often you should use them.
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CBD Cleanser (Daily)
No matter what your skincare routine looks like, you can’t skip using a cleanser. And if you have oily skin, you may benefit from a CBD cleaner twice a day (both in the morning and at night). This is because the CBD reduces inflammation and stops oil production in your cells, providing, as this study suggests, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits.
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CBD Moisturizer (Daily)
Hydration boosting and inflammation calming, no face care routine is complete without a daily moisturizer, and it can be especially beneficial, as this study suggests, for those with dry and sensitive skin. Although no matter whether you have dry, combination, or oily skin, all skin types need a moisturizer to help balance the hydration of your skin.
Oily or combination skin types may only need to moisturize once a day, either in the morning or evening. Meanwhile, dry skin types might benefit from using a CBD moisturizer both in the morning and at night.
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SPF with CBD (Daily)
All good skincare regimens include sunscreen. After cleansing and moisturizing your skin, it’s important to add a layer of protection. And depending on the strength of your sunscreen, you might need to reapply every few hours.
A CBD SPF can be a good idea because CBD contains lots of antioxidants, which, as this study suggests, fight free radicals, reducing sun-caused mitochondrial damage to DNA.
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CBD Mask (Weekly)
Using a CBD face mask once a week is reminiscent of a spa experience. Not only is it relaxing, but the CBD infused into the mask can also offer targeted benefits, including, as this 2019 study suggests, improved skin homeostasis and cell turnover.
For the best results, focus on choosing a CBD mask based on which skin-correcting properties you need most, such as a sulfur acne mask to dry out pimples or a lavender-scented mask to help you fall asleep at night.
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CBD Exfoliator (Weekly)
It might be tempting to scrub your face every day to see that glow you love, but that’s not a great idea for your skin. CBD exfoliators are only meant to be used at most once or twice a week.
Over-exfoliating can actually damage your skin, creating small tears, exposing your pores to bacteria, and leaving your skin more irritated than it started.
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CBD Spot Treatments (Only as needed)
Some skin care products, like CBD spot treatments, are designed to only be used on an as-needed basis. Unless you’re currently suffering from an acne breakout, it’s not recommended that you use something like a spot treatment regularly.
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Minor Pain Relieving CBD Creams (Only as needed)
Most pain-relieving CBD creams include additional active ingredients to help relieve minor aches and discomforts. Although this 2020 study found that CBD topical usage can reduce inflammation and pain signalling.
Pain relief CBD creams may have different directions as to their use and how many times a day you should apply them, so be sure to read them carefully. However, a general rule of thumb for CBD creams is that you only apply them for a maximum of five times per day for a week.
Unlike prescription medication, non-prescription supplements like topical CBD don’t have strict serving sizes and rules for their frequency of use. How often you apply CBD topicals depends on their strength, purpose, and your specific needs. Although the recommended serving size listed on the package should be taken into consideration as well.
CBD topical usage can work well with your body’s natural system, but even so, reactions to specific compounds and cannabinoids may vary. Once you know how your body reacts and responds to CBD, you can either increase or decrease how much CBD you use until you find your perfect regimen.