In the last couple of years, CBD has really taken off in the personal care, medical, and food industries. The picture of the marijuana leaf is finally being accepted in our social standards, and not as much censored as it used to be. Claims that CBD can be good for everything from cure cancer-related issues, to anti-aging promises and therapeutic treatments have literally stormed the internet. But what is CBD, what makes it so great? Can it do what marketers say it can?
Let's start with the definition of CBD, what is CBD actually?
CBD stands for Cannabidiol and it is naturally occurring plant compound derived from the cannabis plant. CBD is a plant chemical derived from hemp plants. There are actually over a hundred plant chemicals in a hemp plant, THC is one of them. Even though CBD is naturally found in marijuana, it is non-psychoactive and legal to buy in isolated forms.
The Types of CBD
There are a few options for CBD, Full Spectrum, Broad Spectrum, and Isolate. Full Spectrum CBD is made with an extract that contains nearly or all of the compounds naturally present in the cannabis plant. Full Spectrum does contain THC, which is not legal in all 50 states. Using Full-Spectrum in your formula may limit you from selling your products in certain areas of the country. Full Spectrum is generally more potent and more likely to garner results than Isolate. Full Spectrum is going to be a more powerful efficient form of CBD. Because it has undergone less processing than CBD Isolates, it is closer to the original plant and the most authentically natural.
CBD Isolate, on the other hand, only contains CBD and is considered the most basic form of CBD. This can be created by isolating CBD from cannabis extract or it can be made artificially in a laboratory. A good specimen will contain 90% cannabidiol. The Isolate is tasteless and odorless so it is really great to use in cosmetics especially ones that are unscented. The only drawback of Isolate is that it is not going to yield the effects as strongly as Full Spectrum.
Broad Spectrum CBD refers to a CBD product that contains a range of other cannabinoids but no THC. Broad Spectrum provides all of the benefits of Full Spectrum.
The Benefits
CBD has been studied for its many proposed benefits for both ingestible use and topical use. We have heard claims of CBD benefiting people suffering from major disorders and diseases. CBD has been reported to have calming and therapeutic benefits when applied to the skin. These benefits include helping to reduce pain and inflammation caused by inflammatory conditions, and may help counteract headaches. CBD has been claimed to help with anti-aging because of the high levels of anti-oxidants that it contains. CBD does moisturize the skin, which directly helps with the aging process.
The Claims & Regulations
Because the CBD industry is still fairly young, it’s important to source ingredients that are truly pure and effective. It is also equally important to pay attention to manufacturer’s claims. Watch out for companies making outlandish claims such as using phrases “cures, treats, prevents”. This type of language is highly suggestive, and most of the time overexaggerates the benefits. While CBD might provide the suggested benefits, we just don’t have enough data to make certain claims.
If you are creating a CBD product, you will want to be careful with how you word your claims and marketing statements and be sure that the claims you are making are allowed. When making a claim, the FDA automatically treats that product as a drug. That product will no longer be considered a cosmetic and will be subject to more of the scrutiny of FDA regulations. Though cosmetics aren’t regulated as tightly as other products, the FDA still has regulatory authority over them and their ingredients.
Choosing Quality CBD for Your Products
Price is often a telltale of purity as it is with most things. Look for raw materials that clearly claim CBD purity above 90%. Raw materials suppliers or CBD suppliers should provide certificates of analysis and safety data sheets. This information will document any safety hazards and how the CBD was produced/processed. CBD Isolate has been refined multiple times to remove the other cannabinoids present in the hemp plant, which do not have the same therapeutic benefits as CBD. The purer the CBD, the more effective it will be for the skin.
CBD is definitely a popular and revolutionary ingredient and has many benefits as we are currently finding out through studies. More conclusive studies are in process, but it will take time to record lasting benefits. For now, it is important to pay attention to the FDA’s requirements, the legality of CBD products in certain areas, and purity. You can obtain more information on CBD by going to the FDA’s website and consulting with your cosmetic chemist.
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