By Kayla Fioravanti, Co-Founder and Chief Formulator of Ology Essentials

Using natural skincare is like eating a nutrient-rich orange. Chemical skin care is like eating a piece of orange candy. Both can fill someone up, but only the natural orange will enrich, enhance, and nourish your body. 

Skin is the packaging that holds us together, keeps us warm, and acts as our first defensive warning system by constantly alerting the brain to varying conditions in our surroundings. As our environment changes, and as we change, so does our skin; it requires different care at various times in our lives.Whether you are aging with wrinkles or a teenager suffering from acne, nature has provided you with a remedy. 

But before we just hop on the natural bandwagon, make sure to do your research on ingredient decks. Many companies are branded in a manner that makes them look like an all-natural and organic brand, but in reality, these companies use known chemicals and synthetics that can be very harmful to your skin. You want to look for products that include natural ingredients that have specific uses. For example, products made with fragrance oils may have an appealing aroma, but they lack the powerful punch that essential oils can bring to the game.

In aromatherapy, molecules of essential oils applied to the skin pass through the skin’s epidermis and are carried away by the capillary blood circulating in the dermis. Essential oils applied to the skin can stimulate circulation of the surface skin cells and encourage cell regeneration and the formation of new skin cells.

As a CBD company that specializes in skin care and topicals, Ology Essentials believes that natural skincare made with a synergistic blend of essential oils, extracts, nutrient rich carrier oils, antioxidants and hemp CBD is the perfect combination to bring well-being to your skin. And we know you are probably wondering… why is hemp CBD useful in skincare?

But First...How does CBD work?

CBD oil works by interacting with a little known system called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is made up of millions of cannabinoid receptor sites. There are CB1 receptors and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors are mostly found in the brain, connective tissue, central nervous system, organs, gonads, and glands. The CB2 receptors are mostly found in the immune system, and can also be present in the liver, heart, kidneys, spleen, bones, blood vessels, lymph cells, reproductive organs and the endocrine glands.

The CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors in the body bind with the molecules of CBD and pro- duce positive biological responses, namely bringing about homeostasis (balance) in all the other body systems. 

Skin is the largest organ in the body, weighing in at about nine pounds. There are cannabinoid receptor sites located throughout the skin—from the tip of your head all the way down to the bottom of your feet. In fact, the skin contains countless cannabinoid receptors—even the sebaceous glands and hair follicles contain endocannabinoid receptors. Because cannabinoid receptors are located all throughout the skin, CBD has the capability of interacting with cannabinoid receptors to encourage not only homeostasis, but also healing. 

CBD & Skin Diseases 

A 2003 study showed that keratinocytes (epidermal cells that produce keratin, a key structural material making up the outer layer of skin and hair) are part of the endocannabinoid system. The study concluded “that human keratinocytes partake in the peripheral endocannabinoid system and that AEA can inhibit epidermal differentiation opens new perspectives in the understanding of skin development and in the treatment of human skin diseases where cell hyperproliferation takes place” (Maccarrone et al 2003). 

Another reason Hemp CBD is the next best thing in skincare and personal care products is that CBD binds to TRPV-1 receptors found in the skin, which are responsible for the sensations of heat, itch, and pain, making it an excellent ingredient for psoriasis, eczema, cystic acne, and more (Tamás Bíró et al 2009).

CBD & Anti-Aging

Hemp CBD is also a powerful antioxidant (A.J. Hampson et al). Antioxidants play an important role in protecting the skin from free radicals, such as UV rays, smoke, and environmental pollutants. In the anti-aging market, the value of hemp CBD as an antioxidant is exceptionally promising since fine lines and wrinkles are caused by free radicals, which accelerate the aging process and decrease skin elasticity. There is no question about Hemp CBD being a powerful antioxidant. In fact, the US government’s patent confirms cannabinoids as both a neuroprotectant and antioxidant. From the patent 1999/008769, “cannabinoids have been found to have antioxidant properties…makes cannabinoids useful in the treatment and prophylaxis of a wide variety of oxidation associated diseases…” An important definition to understand is prophylaxis, which means action taken to prevent disease. 

Dr. Jeanette Jacknin said at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), “There are two recent studies that show the importance of CB1 receptors [cannabinoid receptor] in the skin for healthy basal cell regeneration. Basal cells have to regenerate and grow. If they don’t, you look much older” (Whitney Akers 2018).

CBD & Acne

The potential for acne products using hemp CBD is huge. Not only because it is a highly effective anti-inflammatory, but also because it is highly effective at reducing the amount of sebum, or skin oils, produced by the body (Nóra Dobrosi et al 2008). This is incredibly promising for the production of natural acne products, rather than those which use the common and harsh chemical agents such as benzoyl peroxide or a retinoid. 

The three major causes of acne are sebum overproduction, overactive sebocytes (cells of the sebaceous glands), and inflammation. A 2014 study concluded that CBD plays a key role in the regulation of sebum production and reduces the proliferation of sebocytes (Attila Oláh et al 2014). We’ve already established that hemp CBD reduces inflammation, which rounds out hemp CBD as a powerful ingredient in the anti-acne market. Since stress and hormone changes play such an important role in acne, the internal use of hemp CBD oil to help the endocannabinoid system can address acne from a variety of body systems. 

With over 21 years in the natural cosmetics industry, you would think I had seen every natural remedy under the sun. I thought this was the case until I was introduced to CBD. It is such a joy to be able to combine my passion and knowledge for natural cosmetics with the new research on CBD to bring to life products that have the capability to change lives. 

At Ology Essentials, we take a research driven approach to formulating all of our products. The best of herbal medicine, aromatherapy, homeopathic medicine, mushroom medicine, and the science of formulating are used to design our products. Ology Essentials offers skincare products for all lifestyles; face and body lotions, gels, serums, bath bombs and bath soaks, ointments, deodorants and a full facial care line formulated for all skin types - even sensitive skin! 

References

Ständer S; Schmelz M; Metze D; Luger T; Rukwied R. Distribution of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and 2 (CB2) on sensory nerve fibers and adnexal structures in human skin. U.S. National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health. 2005. WEB. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15927811

Mauro Maccarrone; Marianna Di Rienzo; Natalia Battista; Valeria Gasperi; Pietro Guerrieri; Antonello Rossi; and Alessandro Finazzi-Agrò. The Endocannabinoid System in Human Keratinocytes. Evidence That Anandamide Inhibits Epidermal Differentiation Through CB1 Receptor-Dependent Inhibition Of Protein Kinase C, Activating Protein-1, And Transglutaminase. U.S. National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health. 2003. WEB. http://www.jbc.org/content/278/36/33896.full

Tamás Bíró; Balázs I. Tóth; György Haskó; Ralf Paus; and Pál Pacher. The endocannabinoid system of the skin in health and disease: novel perspectives and therapeutic opportunities. U.S. National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health. 2009. WEB. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2757311/

1998. J. Hampson; M. Grimaldi; J. Axelrod; and D. Wink. Cannabidiol and (−)Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol are neuroprotective antioxidants. U.S. National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health. 1998. WEB. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC20965/

Patent US6630507B1 US Grant, US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Google Patent. Cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants. 1998. WEB. https://patents.google.com/patent/US6630507B1/en

Akers, Whitney. Cannabis Could Be the New Super Ingredient in Skin Care. The potential for topical CBD treatments doesn’t end with acne. They may also help people with psoriasis get relief with minimal side effects. Healthline. 2018. WEB. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/cannabis-the-new-super-ingredient-in-skin-care#1

Nóra Dobrosi; Balázs I. Tóth; Georgina Nagy; Anikó Dózsa; Tamás Géczy; László Nagy; Christos C. Zouboulis; Ralf Paus; László Kovács; and Tamás Bíró. Endocannabinoids enhance lipid synthesis and apoptosis of human sebocytes via cannabinoid receptor-2-mediated signaling. The FASEB Journal. 2008. WEB. https://www.fasebj.org/doi/abs/10.1096/fj.07-104877?sid=708a0456-85c6-48b8-b0b6-5e0ecdf64528

Attila Oláh; Balázs I. Tóth; István Borbíró; Koji Sugawara; Attila G. Szöllõsi; Gabriella Czifra; Balázs Pál; Lídia Ambru; Jennifer Kloepper; Emanuela Camera; Matteo Ludovici; Mauro Picardo; Thomas Voets; Christos C. Zouboulis; Ralf Paus; and Tamás Bíró. Cannabidiol exerts sebostatic and anti-inflammatory effects on human sebocytes. U.S. National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health. 2014. WEB. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4151231/

Galve-Roperh; Chiurchiù V’; Díaz-Alonso J; Bari M; Guzmán M; and Maccarrone M. Cannabinoid receptor signaling in progenitor/stem cell proliferation and differentiation. U.S. National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health. 2013. WEB. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24076098