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CBD and Retinol: The Anti-Aging Secret?

Serina Bernardo May 2, 2022

Who doesn’t want to look younger than they really are? To those who have been successful in achieving this feat, either genetics or retinol may have something to do with it. Skincare enthusiasts already know that there is a great deal of research about retinol and its ability to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, as well as benefits like brightening and smoothing skin texture, but if retinol has one flaw, it’s definitely the ingredient’s high risk of causing irritation.

The most infamous side effect of retinol is dry, peeling skin. Nicknamed “the retinol uglies” by many skincare enthusiasts, this irritation can deter people from using retinol despite its many benefits.

So, is there any way around this? Lucky us, we are not the only ones asking this question – skincare experts and enthusiasts are already on it and it may explain why we are seeing CBD+retinol pop up in the news. Here’s some quick know-how.

Retinol + CBD = The New Skincare Powerhouse?

What’s the science behind this proposed ingredient combination? Well, the logic is that CBD can reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, which could potentially alleviate the infamous retinol irritation. While combining anti-inflammatory ingredients with retinol is not a new thing, the combination of retinol with CBD certainly plays well on the hemp trend!

In a recent study published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, water-soluble CBD and retinol were combined and tested clinically for 6 weeks. The ten study participants had skin conditions such as visible pores, dehydration, wrinkles, and fine facial lines.

Results

Participants assigned to the CBD and retinol combination had the most significant improvement in visible pores, dehydration, and surface roughness. Improvements in static wrinkles (wrinkles that remain on the face even when facial muscles are relaxed) and dynamic wrinkles (wrinkles that appear when you move your face, like smile lines) were also shown.

In addition, the patients who said they had severely dehydrated skin at baseline said that they no longer had dehydrated skin at the end of the 6 weeks. Overall, 100% of the participants said that the CBD-retinol combination made them feel more confident in their facial appearance, along with 90% of them saying that they would recommend the combination to their friends and family. Most of the participants had an excellent tolerability to the topicals with minimal irritation.

Images of the Participants’ Skin

Few et. al, 2022 – The top row of images were taken at baseline before 6 weeks of applying the CBD-retinol combination. This participant reported active acne blemishes, scarring, and hyperpigmentation. As seen in the bottom row, after applying CBD and retinol, the participant had improvements in acne, hyperpigmentation, and overall skin evenness. The skin was also more hydrated and there was less inflammation.

Few et. al, 2022 – The participant’s before pictures are shown at the top. The participant presented with vertical fine lines on the cheek and crows feet area, which appear more shallow after 6 weeks of treatment. There was also an improvement in facial hyperpigmentation along the cheeks.

Few et. al, 2022 – Here are close-ups of the participants. Compared to the before images on the left, hyperpigmentation was significantly lessened in the after images on the right. Overall, their skin complexion looks brighter and more even.

Final Thoughts

Using retinol can be intimidating knowing that dry, peeling skin may result. However, the combination of CBD and retinol looks promising to lessen skin irritation. Of course, more robust research is needed with larger sample sizes and a greater variety of participants with different skin tones.

Retinol continues to be praised as one of the best skincare ingredients for acne and anti-aging, and perhaps CBD can take it to newer heights! We will definitely keep an eye out for more emerging research on CBD+retinol skincare.

References:

Few et. al (2022). A Single-Center Study Evaluating the Effects of a Novel Retinol and Cannabidiol Combination Topical on Facial Skin, Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum, Volume 4, 2022, [Link]
Scianna, T. (2022, March 31). CBD & Retinol’s powerful combination potential. Cosmetics & Toiletries. [Link]

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