CBD oil is all the rage for everything from pain relief to anxiety. Now it’s time to discover the topical benefits of this wonder oil, including its skin-nourishing powers.

CBD oil from hemp seeds is being infused into everything these days—from facemasks to hair conditioners. Not since kale has there been such a buzz about the health and beauty benefits of a leafy green. And loosening cannabis laws and emerging science have legitimized many of CBD’s wellness claims.

Topical CBD’s most enticing attributes are its anti-inflammatory and analgesic (painkilling) properties. Because of its power to calm pain and reduce swelling, CBD first popped up in rubs and balms for overused muscles and achy joints. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg for topical CBD uses. 

CBD is a rich source of fatty acids and other nutrients that benefit your skin. It’s got anti-inflammation properties, plus skin-saving vitamins A, D, and E, and essential fatty acids. Part of what makes CBD oil so beneficial to the skin is its rich omega-6 and omega-3 content. These healthy fats encourage skin growth and new cell generation, and help calm inflammation and irritation. Since it won’t clog your pores, CBD can even help to hydrate and balance oily skin, which is why it is being studied as a treatment for acne.

In addition to moisturizing and soothing the skin, CBD oil has anti-aging properties. It can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles as well as help prevent them. The linoleic acid and oleic acids found in CBD oil can’t be produced by the body, but can play a crucial role in skin health and anti-aging. More research on CBD oil and its benefits is needed, but its ability to regulate cell growth, reduce inflammation, and stimulate important fats in the skin could help treatments for other skin issues, including psoriasis and eczema.

If you’re looking for something to address dryness, CBD can be found in a variety of lotions and face and body oils. You can also find it in shampoo and conditioners. Hemp seeds are rich in omega fatty acids, making it an ideal conditioning ingredient for dry hair.

Due to almost a century of misinformation about the notorious cannabis plant, the distinction between cannabis and its two primary species — hemp and marijuana — has been blurred. While they’re both members of the same plant family, chemically, they are completely different.

Cannabis contains an array of healthy plant compounds called cannabinoids. These are to the cannabis plant what antioxidant flavonoids are to fruits and vegetables—powerful compounds with healing properties. While more than 80 active compounds can be extracted from Cannabis sativa, the two best known are CBD, which does not get you high, and THC, which does.

CBD is found in both hemp and marijuana, but THC is found in marijuana (trace amounts of THC can be found in CBD). Hemp is richer in beneficial CBD than marijuana. Legally, THC can’t be found in products labeled “hemp.” In U.S. law, the difference between marijuana and hemp is very clear and has everything to do with THC content. If the plant has less than 0.3% THC, it’s considered hemp. 

Written by Sherrie Strausfogel for Better Nutrition and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.