Cannabis And Beauty: The Hidden Connection
Originally published Nationally in the January 2022 issue of Leaf Magazine.
When it comes to the hippest beauty trends, Cannabis is an essential ingredient.
When it comes to the hippest beauty trends, Cannabis is an essential ingredient. Face serums, eye creams and lubricants of all kinds are changing what we think we know about beauty. This new wave of plant-forward products has brought with it insightful revelations, where beauty, self-care and Mother Nature are all intertwined.
Beauty Defined
We spoke with industry leaders to understand what makes us feel beautiful, and how Cannabis is connected to that narrative. While these founders’ products vary, their experiences tell a similar story: Beauty is a feeling rather than an outward expression, which is the opposite of what most have been conditioned to believe.
“Healthy is beautiful,” shared Kim Howard, COO of Green Bee Botanicals. “Freckles are beautiful. Skin as dark as night is beautiful. A crooked nose is beautiful. Kindness and generosity are beautiful. Running a marathon at 346 pounds is beautiful.”
Liquid Flower, a woman/veteran-owned California legacy brand, shared with us even more wise words on the topic, from their founder Claire Steele. “Beauty is multifaceted, but overall, a balance between body, mind and soul,” she said. ”When you’re achieving this balance, it allows you to see beauty all around.”
Known for their herb-infused bath salts, Founder and CEO of Om Edibles Maya Elisabeth, shared yet another take. “Beauty is feeling amazing in your skin, accepting all parts of ourselves, having beautiful thoughts and using beautiful words.”
High Standards
A quick search for Cannabis beauty products reveals a near-endless list of products with little data confirming their claims. What we do know is this: Regulated Cannabis products are subject to rigorous testing, meaning the product is safer than the random brand purchased online.
Green Bee, best known for their serums and eye cream, is passionate about maintaining quality ingredients in their hemp and Cannabis lines. “We learned information that shocked us about mainstream cosmetics and how often they’re contaminated with lead, arsenic, harmful pesticides, etc.,” said Founder and CEO, former analytical chemist and lifelong botanist Bridget May. “Sometimes they don’t even contain CBD. Find a brand that shares COAs proving both potency and purity, and preferably find brands using whole plant extracts, not isolate.”
Here we find health standards within the Cannabis community continuing to have broad implications for the beauty industry as a whole. “Cannabis is bringing wellness to the beauty industry,” said Gretchen Miller of Humboldt-based Kiskanu. “I believe the standards applied to clean Cannabis will roll over to the beauty industry.”
Cannabis For Skin Ailments
Industry experts have seen staggering success using Cannabis and hemp compounds to heal dermatological ailments like psoriasis, eczema, acne, aging and more.
Known for their face and intimacy oils, Kiskanu is intentional about what goes into their products. “The skin is the largest organ of the human body,” Miller shared. “Full of receptors ready to receive and absorb cannabinoids.”
Quim’s Cyo Nordstrom added, “Studies suggest cannabinoids are good at fighting inflammation. This is good news in skin care, because inflammation is behind common skin complaints that manifest as itchy, flaking skin.”
“The use of topical anti-inflammatory ingredients can help with acne, psoriasis, eczema and premature aging of the skin caused by environmental pollution and the sun,” said May from Green Bee. “It all goes back to the endocannabinoid system. Scientific papers show that cannabinoids, including THC, CBD, CBG and others, are being used to treat a variety of skin conditions.”
One important fact to mention: Applying THC to the skin will not have a psychoactive effect. While some products are intended to be transdermal, most topicals will not absorb into the bloodstream – a great option for those averse to other forms of Cannabis consumption.
Cannabis And Anti-Aging
According to the experts, Cannabis supports aging from all directions.
“Antioxidants cancel free radicals which cause illness and wrinkles,” said Elisabeth of OM. “They literally heal telomeres as they begin to oxidize, which translates to supple, firm skin.”
“CBD and other cannabinoids have been shown to improve circulation,” Miller of Kiskanu told Leaf. “Cannabis soothes the nervous system. Many people experience pain relief and can thus sleep better, allowing the body to rest and repair.”
“The direct anti-aging benefits that Cannabis-infused products have on skin include inflammation/fine line reduction, evening of skin tone and help with irritations,” said Steele of Liquid Flower. “Consuming Cannabis connects me to my body. As a result, I am more aware of areas where I can improve my health and wellbeing, such as exercising, hydrating, stretching, eating well and sticking to a self-care routine.”
Skincare is just a drop in the bucket of benefits that Cannabis has on beauty, self-love and overall wellness. Whether it be aging or internal beauty struggles, the sky is truly the limit.
Elisabeth from Om believes you don’t need to be sick or injured to enjoy self-love. “Being a human calls for radical self-care that we must take on ourselves. I find answers in medicinal plants and herbs. A healthy mind equals a healthy body, which always translates to beauty, vibes and energy.”
“I’ve seen firsthand the results Cannabis products can have compared to traditional products, it’s nothing short of magic,” Steele of Liquid Flower said. “Cannabis beauty is here, it has a ways to go since most people aren’t headed to dispensaries for beauty, but one day they will and it’s going to be great.”
As Published in Leaf Magazines.
