This Cannabinoid-Rich Ingredient Could Be The Next Craze In Skin Care

Hemp oil (not to be confused with hemp seed oil) can be beneficial for things like stress and anxiousness, and though research is in initial phases, it's looking to be promising for skin health as well. Here's what we know so far about why hemp oil might deserve a spot in your beauty cabinet:

Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals and protect your health (and the health and elasticity of your skin1) in the long term. Cannabinoids in hemp oil like CBD have demonstrated strong antioxidant properties2, so it makes sense that they could help promote skin health and texture.*

In fact, though we still have a lot more to learn about the ECS, it seems to affect most of the body's processes in some way: "There is not a human experience the ECS does not affect," Jessica Knox, M.D., MPH, co-founder of the American Cannabinoid Clinics and a preventive medicine physician, tells mbg. "From fertility and conception to moderating pain, mood, mental health, learning, sleep, and appetite as we grow and mature, to modulating brain health as we age."

Many cannabinoid receptors—the areas that cannabinoids bind to in the body—are found on our immune cells4, which implies they may play a role in immune regulation5 and the inflammatory response (though more research still needs to be done before we know for sure). If this theory shakes out, the cannabinoids in hemp could help manage skin conditions that have inflammation at their core such as psoriasis and eczema.*

Early research shows that taking a hemp oil supplement could promote skin health, but you'll want to look for one that's full-spectrum so you get a mix of beneficial phytocannabinoids. Hemp oil is generally considered safe (although we do always recommend telling your doctor when you try a new supplement), so there's not a lot of downside to trying it out at a low dose to start and observing how your body and skin react to it.