CBD Cream & Skincare: What Cannabidiol Really Does

CBD in skin care has long ceased to be a niche topic. What cannabidiol actually does in cosmetics, which product – CBD cream, balm or serum – suits which area of the skin and what you should look out for when buying – summarised factually, with sources.

Note: Our products are cosmetics. We do not give medical recommendations and make no promises of healing. If you have a skin condition, your doctor or dermatologist is the right person to contact.

Why CBD is used in cosmetics at all

Cannabidiol is a fat-soluble plant molecule from the hemp plant. That is exactly what makes it interesting for cosmetics: it can be easily incorporated into oil and emulsion bases and remains stable there. The skin has its own endocannabinoid system – sebaceous glands, keratinocytes and nerve endings carry the corresponding receptors (Bíró et al., 2009). Research on this is ongoing; reliable claims about the effects of individual cosmetic products cannot be derived from it.

Two other points are of practical relevance for you: the formulation surrounding the CBD and the traceability of the raw material. A good CBD care product is first and foremost a good care product.

What research says about the skin

Among other things, sebaceous gland cells have been studied: in a Hungarian cell study, cannabidiol showed sebum-regulating and inflammation-modulating effects there (Oláh et al., 2014); a follow-up study describes something similar for other cannabinoids (Oláh et al., 2016). A small Italian observational study with an ointment containing CBD reported improved quality of life for the participants over three months, without irritation or allergic reactions (Palmieri et al., 2019). Further research is also being carried out into how CBD acts on UV-induced oxidative stress in skin cells (Gęgotek et al., 2021).

These are indications from basic research and small studies, not proof of effectiveness for cosmetics. How well an active ingredient gets into the skin at all also depends heavily on the carrier base (Casiraghi et al., 2020) – another reason to look at the formulation as a whole.

Which product for which area of the skin

Area	Suitable product	Why
Dry, irritated areas of skin	Therapeutic CBD Skin Balm	Rich balm base, can be used on specific spots
Uneven complexion, pores	Skin Perfection Azelaic Serum	Light serum with azelaic acid, morning or evening
Lips	Intensive Nourishing Lip Balm	Thin skin, high need for care, often forgotten
Scalp	CBD Revive Scalp Treatment	The scalp is skin too – care before washing
Cleansing	Revive Cleansing Shampoo	Mild cleansing with PHA instead of harsh surfactants
Your own formulations	CBD Crystals 99%	For anyone who wants to dose their care themselves

You will find all care products together in the Cosmetics category. The Hemptouch formulations come from a Slovenian family business with which we have been working for years.

A simple routine in four steps

1. Cleanse: gently, with lukewarm water, don’t scrub.
2. Treat: apply serum thinly to still slightly damp skin.
3. Nourish: balm or cream on top, a little more on dry areas.
4. Protect: in the morning, sun protection of at least SPF 30 as the last layer.

Lips and scalp are part of the routine too. Introduce new products one at a time and give your skin two to four weeks – if you change three things at once, you won’t know in the end what worked. And test on a small area of skin first.

Individual care with CBD crystals

CBD crystals are cannabidiol in pure form with over 99% purity. You can use them to enrich your favourite cream or a body oil yourself: the crystals are fat-soluble and dissolve at medium heat (around 70 °C) in a skin-friendly oil such as almond or jojoba oil. Start with a small amount and check whether the consistency remains stable.

From the inside and outside

Many of our customers combine external care with taking full spectrum products – such as our CBD oils or the water-soluble CBDeus range. This brings the plant’s entire cannabinoid and terpene profile into play – keyword: entourage effect.

What you should look out for when buying CBD cream

• Declared CBD content: in milligrams or per cent, not just “with hemp”.
• Read the INCI list: Cannabis sativa seed oil is hemp seed oil, Cannabidiol is CBD. Both are fine – but they are not the same thing.
• Certificate of analysis: a CoA from an independent laboratory states the CBD and THC content. More on this under Quality & analysis.
• Origin: we work with 100% Austrian hemp and produce in Vienna.
• Realistic language: cosmetics care. Anyone who promises healing is selling you something else.