By now, you've probably heard of CBD. Depending on who you ask, the wonder ingredient, which is a chemical found in marijuana, can solve everything from anxiety to chronic pain to sleep disorders. The jury is still out on many of CBD's claims, but scientists know one thing: it can't get you high. CBD doesn't contain tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC, the psychoactive ingredient in weed. They also know it can benefit your beauty regimen. Here, dermatologists tell us the key ways to incorporate CBD into your routine for glowing skin and hair over age 50. It's high time you give it a try.
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1 | CBD is a multi-faceted moisturizer.
Drazen_ / iStockAccording to Ben Johnson, MD, founder and formulator of Osmosis Beauty, one of the best ways to use CBD in your beauty routine after 50 is with a body lotion.
"I prefer CBD to be delivered through a larger area of the skin so that both the skin and the other organs benefit," he explains. Beyond soothing your skin, the absorption of a CBD body lotion could ease muscle and joint aches and pains.
It also provides added benefits to regular body lotions. "We are still learning the exact mechanisms of action for CBD; however, it definitely reduces inflammation, reducing the burden on aging skin, and allowing for better maintenance of collagen and elastin," says Johnson. "The reduction of inflammation will also increase the skin’s ability to redirect its attention to maintaining a healthy barrier and thus improving moisture content in the skin."
2 | It can ease eye bags.
Shutterstock/goodluzAnother way you can use the anti-inflammatory benefits of CBD to your advantage is with an eye cream. "When applied to the area beneath your eyes, it calms the skin, which aids in tightening the puffiness," says Anna Chacon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Miami, Florida. "Simply dab a tiny quantity beneath your eyes; always do a patch test first." It's like a revitalizing cup of coffee for your eyes.
Don't try to DIY your own CBD eye cream—instead, buy one of the dozens of highly reviewed options available at your favorite beauty stores.
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3 | CBD can nourish hair.
Mr.Cheangchai Noojuntuk / ShutterstockCBD isn't only for your skin. "Omega fatty acids, which lock in moisture and nourish the cuticles of the hair, are abundant in CBD oil," says Chacon. That makes it a noteworthy ingredient for boosting shine and hydration. It can also nourish and moisturize the scalp if you massage it into your hair.
4 | It can also boost hair growth.
Ground Picture / ShutterstockThere's some evidence that CBD could even aid in hair growth, as Chacon notes that it's high in vitamins and promotes hair development via the key fatty acids omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9.
In addition, Chacon says that CBD has been shown in studies to boost cerebral blood flow. "By enhancing blood circulation, CBD oil can also help hair grow; your hair grows and becomes stronger when there is better blood flow in the region around the hair follicles."
Add it to your haircare routine with a shampoo or hair oil formulation to see for yourself. You can also apply CBD to lashes and brows.
