How I Discovered CBD Skincare with Lord Jones
I didn’t really know what to think of CBD. It’s not something I was ever interested in personally in the past, and the only time I heard someone close to me bring it up was my late MIL when she was looking into alternative methods of pain management. She was considering trying a topical CBD oil or an ointment, but whenever she talked about it, it was always with lots of giggles and hush-hush, like it was a forbidden topic or something. Michigan was the 10th state to legalize mj for medical and recreational use, but I still get the impression that it’s a don’t ask don’t tell topic here. Earlier this year I decided to finally give topical CBD products a try and now that I’ve been using some of them for several months I thought I’d share my thoughts.
1 // CBD WON’T MAKE YOU HIGH
Cannabidiol or CBD is the non-psychotropic component of the cannabis plant, while the term “CBD oil” implies a mix of pure CBD and a carrier oil, like hemp oil, sunflower, jojoba, etc… CBD oil won’t get you high because it doesn’t contain THC, the mind-altering component of the plant.
2 // CBD OIL AND HEMP SEED OIL ARE NOT THE SAME THING
I honestly thought that CBD oil and hemp seed oil are the same thing, but they’re not. While hemp seed oil is a great skin moisturizer, it only contains trace amounts of CBD [or none at all], while CBD oil is rich in cannabidiol, and that’s why it’s more expensive. Respectable brands like Lord Jones usually list exactly how much CBD is inside each of their products so you as a consumer can pick accordingly.
3 // CBD MAY HAVE SOOTHING PROPERTIES
The main benefit of topical CBD oil lies in its soothing properties, which potentially makes it a good choice for skin conditions like redness and blemishes, but more research is needed. Here are the studies I found that aim to discover if CBD has anti-inflammatory potential:
- Cannabidiol exerts sebostatic and antiinflammatory effects on human sebocytes.
- A therapeutic effect of CBD-enriched ointment in inflammatory skin diseases and cutaneous scars.
- Cannnabidiol is active against Gram-positive bacteria.
- Differential effectiveness of selected non-psychotropic phytocannabinoids on human sebocyte functions implicates their introduction in dry/seborrhoeic skin and acne treatment.
- Transdermal cannabidiol reduces inflammation and pain-related behaviors in a rat model of arthritis [note: this study was made on rats, not humans].
MY EXPERIENCE WITH CBD SKINCARE:
I started using CBD-infused skincare in early 2019, so it took me almost a year to round up my thoughts. First of all, despite being approached by dozens of CBD brands, I only accepted products from one – Lord Jones. CBD skincare products are still new, fairly pricey, and, quite frankly, unregulated, so trust plays a big role in choosing a company to buy from.
Lord Jones High CBD Formula Body Lotion
The first product I ever tried was Lord Jones High CBD Formula Body Lotion ($60). It comes in an airless pump bottle to protect the formula from the sun and air exposure, and it’s also more hygienic to use it that way. The lotion contains 100mg CBD per bottle or approximately 2mg CBD in each 1ml pump. I have been applying it directly to the affected areas, such as bruises and post-workout sore muscles. I also tried using it on blemishes on my face but that didn’t go so well. The formula contains Menthyl Ethylamido Oxalate, a derivative of mint oil meant to give the skin a cooling sensation, however, I felt more like a warming sensation to me instead. I think my face is just sensitive to this ingredient for some reason. I did find the lotion quite effective for localized pain on the rest of my body though. Massaging a small amount of lotion into the affected area considerably dulled the pain to the point where I didn’t even notice it anymore, and it seemed to help with the swelling too. High CBD Formula Body Lotion comes in two versions: original and unscented. I highly recommend the unscented one, because the original smells like skunk, unless you don’t mind that.
Lord Jones High CBD Formula Body Oil
The next product I added to my CBD lineup was Lord Jones High CBD Formula Body Oil ($65) that also contains 100mg CBD, just like the lotion. The oil comes in a heavy glass bottle with a roll-on applicator, which is nice if you’re a klutz like me and tend to make a mess while handling oils. I swear, whenever I use an oil serum or cuticle oil, I leave oily spots all over the place, LOL! My face tolerated this version a lot better, but because the blend is made with safflower, jojoba and avocado oils, it’s still better suited for someone with dry to normal skin type due to its high oleic content. I found this formula very soothing and it did seem to help with redness, but because it doesn’t absorb well I only use it at night.
Lord Jones High CBD Formula Chill Balm
Finally, the latest addition to my collection – Lord Jones High CBD Formula Chill Balm ($75), with 200mg CBD per jar. This solid balm introduces broad-spectrum CBD blended into extra virgin olive oil, jojoba oil, shea butter, and cruelty-free beeswax, and I actually love it in this form the most. Even though EVOO is a pretty heavy oil and is not recommended for acne-prone skin, my skin absolutely loves it. I use this balm as skincare on my face and neck in the morning. The idea was to potentially counteract the redness that sometimes follows after chemical treatments. I was also hoping that the thicker consistency would help keep my skin better moisturized during this cold season.
BOTTOM LINE:
Am I totally sold on the wellness and therapeutic benefits of CBD? Nope, and I feel like more research is needed before we have any definitive answers, although preliminary small scale tests look promising. After all, even if pain relief is just a result of the placebo effect, if it helps then there’s no harm in it, right? For what it’s worth, from observing my own skin I noticed that CBD works pretty well for mild skin irritations and redness. However, it’s still not as game-changing as Centella Asiatica has been for that purpose, but that’s just my experience. I’ve spoken to some people who swear by using CBD in topical formulations and claim that nothing works better for them, so the results are definitely YMMV. You’re better off just trying it for yourself than relying on online reviews, but make sure to buy from a retailer that allows easy returns.
I actually wouldn’t mind trying CBD internally so I will be looking into that and share my thoughts once I find the right products.
To sum it up, I don’t find CBD products to be miraculous and currently treat them just like any other antioxidant-rich skincare in my collection. Antioxidants are wonderful, but we don’t make as big of a deal out of Vitamins E, for example, right? I won’t deny that I enjoyed experimenting with Lord Jones products, though. I appreciate the cooling effect from the lotion, which helps soothe sore muscles [whether it’s the CBD allegedly doing the job or the menthol oxalate], the body oil comes in very convenient packaging making targeted application easy, and the balm has the loveliest texture that works really well for my skin.
You can buy Lord Jones products from the brand’s website and at Sephora.
What are your thoughts on the latest CBD trend? Have you tried CBD skincare or wellness products? Let me know in the comments!
