Hemp is as good for your skin as it is for the rest of you—making it a must-have beauty ingredient. 

“So many people want to try the newest trend,” says board-certified plastic surgeon Anthony Youn, MD, FACS. “CBD is currently it.”

While hemp and CBD may be getting tons of buzz, “cannabinoids have been used in skincare and wellness for hundreds of years,” points out CBD industry expert Shauna Blanch. “Hemp used to grow everywhere, and it was used for many different salves, oils and tinctures.”

CBD interacts with what’s called the endocannabinoid system, a network of receptors throughout the body that helps control everything from mood to appetite to the immune system. These receptors have been found in the skin as well.

“CBD works by communicating with our endocannabinoid system to create balance within the body, and topically it creates balance on the skin,” explains licensed esthetician Emily Davis.

Youn says that CBD offers antioxidant activity and adds, “There is also some early evidence that CBD can help reduce sebum, or oil, production.”

Hemp and CBD have been incorporated into a wide range of skincare products. Blanch notes that when you switch to CBD products, you’re getting beauty benefits without synthetic substances and harsh chemicals.

Incorporating CBD into a skincare routine can be as simple as adding a CBD daily serum and moisturizer, Blanch notes, or as extensive as incorporating it into every step of care—including cleanses, masks, treatment oils, serums, eye creams and sunscreens.

CBD is also available in the form of hemp cream; high-quality formulations include full-spectrum, ecologically grown hemp CBD plus cannabinoids, along with Aloe, Vitamin E and other skin nutrients. Such formulations can protect skin moisture and elasticity while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Already CBD massages and facial care are popular, and now CBD-infused waxing treatments and CBD spray tans are gaining interest, says Blanch. “Adding a CBD bath bomb or bath salt to a mani or pedi service is another way to up the ante and to evoke a more pleasurable experience during this beauty routine,” she adds.

Davis says she sees CBD becoming a big trend in nail spas. “Nail technicians are getting really excited about offering CBD manicures and pedicure to their clients because of the added relaxation for their clients,” she notes.