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How Does Anti-Aging CBD Facial Cream Work?

Aging is a natural process. With the passage of time, the human body undergoes irreversible changes that we have come to accept. Very few among us retain our youthful look into our 50s and 60s.

Genes and lifestyle play a huge factor in preventing an increase in the rate of aging. While genetic causes are beyond our control, we can make lifestyle changes to age well. From the context of skincare, aging well means diminishing the observable signs of skin aging by avoiding factors that accelerate skin aging and investing in a diet, lifestyle and skincare regimen that protects cells against damage.

Intrinsic vs extrinsic aging

Inevitable and irreversible, intrinsic aging is characterized by the slowing down of cell division, a decrease in the number of cells, diminishing capacity to repair cellular DNA, oxidative stress and gene mutation. As you may already be aware, oxidative stress is the imbalance of free radicals that cause damage to cells and that antioxidants help safeguard cells from damage caused by free radicals.

Extrinsic aging occurs from environmental factors, mainly exposure to UV radiation and cigarette smoking. Avoiding the sun and giving up smoking can keep our skin from aging prematurely.

How does skin damage occur?

The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin visible to the eye whose role is to protect the body against external agents. It does not contain any blood vessels and depends on the underlying layer of living tissue under it known as the dermis for nutrients and disposal of waste matter. The dermis is our ‘true skin’, containing blood capillaries, hair follicles, sweat glands and other structures.

The dermis contains proteins, collagen and elastin responsible for the firmness and elasticity of skin. As we age, the protein networks lose their integrity, which affects the shape and function of skin cells. It causes skin to sag or droop where it used to be firm. When UV light falls on the skin, the epidermis releases chemicals that enter the dermis and produce enzymes known for destroying protein structures.

Visible signs of aging

• Facial movement lines get etched into our face, around the mouth and on the upper cheeks and temples
• Wrinkles
• Loose skin
• Droopy eyelids and eyebrows
• Jowls and double chin

The skin on our body becomes rough, slack and transparent with age. Blood vessels become thinner, making the skin more vulnerable to bruises.

Can cannabidiol slow skin aging?

To understand if cannabidiol has anti-aging effects, we must look at its constituents.

Antioxidants

CBD is a rich source of antioxidants. In fact, both CBD and THC are powerful antioxidants, may be even more potent than vitamin C and E, two antioxidants that come from outside the body, and among many others found in plant- and animal-based foods, including Vitamin E, manganese, beta-carotene, selenium, lutein and lycopene.

The U.S. Government patent 1999/008769 describes the antioxidant properties of CBD, which tells us that governing powers are interested in exploring the medicinal benefits of this cannabis component.

The body produces some antioxidants. It also produces free radicals that damage parts of the cell, such as proteins, DNA and cell membranes. We get most of our antioxidants from food. Our skin also benefits from antioxidants, and a convenient mode of receiving them is via face creams, lotions, gels and serums.

CBD supports the skin’s antioxidant system by interfering with free radical reactions and converting them into less reactive forms. CBD also lowers oxidative conditions in cells, preventing what are known as reactive oxygen species (ROS), chemical species that damage cell DNA or RNA. Many skin disorders can be traced to oxidative stress occurring in skin cells.

Reactive oxygen species are a natural by-product of aerobic metabolism, but environmental stressors can trigger an excessive production of ROS, causing progressive oxidative damage and culminating in cell death.

We cannot escape our environment, but we can take actions that decrease ROS production and prevent conditions for progressive oxidative damage. Dermatologists are of the opinion that skincare products containing antioxidants can help maintain healthy and youthful-looking skin. Popular antioxidants in skin care solutions include Vitamins A, C and E, resveratrol, polyphenols, niacinamide and flavonoids.

Cannabidiol is a relatively new entrant in the skincare segment. The global CBD skincare market is expected to post a healthy CAGR of nearly 33% between 2019 and 2026. Major beauty and personal care brands have also shown interest in developing CBD-integrated skincare product ranges.

Anti-inflammatories

Inflammation is a necessary process to protect the body against bacterial and viral infections. However, the immune system may trigger an inflammatory response even when the body isn’t under invasion. It leads to autoimmune diseases that cause damage to tissues mistaking normal tissues as being infected or abnormal. Persistent internal inflammation has implications for skin health and aging.

Cannabidiols are potent anti-inflammatory agents, and can play an important role in skin antiaging and health. You may be aware that topical treatments such as corticosteroids act on the immune system to lower skin inflammation. There is some research to show that CBD-cream treatment regulates immune tolerance by increasing the production of anti-inflammatory proteins known as cytokines. Cytokines help regulate the body’s inflammation, immunity and white blood cell production.

CBD skin creams may help control inflammaging, which describes aging caused by chronic, underlying inflammation that wreaks havoc on the skin’s defense system. Inflammaging weakens the skin structure, breaking down collagen and elastin. A loss of collagen and elastin affects skin elasticity, reducing epidermal thickness, and increasing sagging and wrinkles.

Inflammaging also saps the skin of water. The skin contains hyaluronic acid, a substance that can hold 1000x its weight in moisture to keep tissues nicely lubricated. Aging causes hyaluronic acid reserves to deplete; persistent inflammation from environmental stressors hastens this process, leaving skin dehydrated, dry and inflexible, in addition to affecting skin tone and texture, and exaggerating the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Inflammation can also cause acne breakouts and rosacea.

Amino acids

Hemp plants contain all 20 amino acids, and most of the amino acids you get through your food are present in CBD. Amino acids, besides having anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, also serve as nutrition for cells, helping produce collagen and elastin.

Amino acids are a key component of the skin’s natural moisturizing factor (NMF), a group of humectants – substances that reduce moisture loss. It is why they are a common ingredient in facial creams, moisturizers, toners and serums, helping maintain the skin’s ideal hydration levels.

Besides helping keep skin moisturized, amino acids also enhance skin brightness. A study of the effects of amino acid intake on the skin state of young adult women found an improvement in skin texture after continuous intake of amino acid supplement.

All 20 amino acids are helpful in maintaining younger-looking skin. Arginine helps repair skin damage, lysine assists in keeping the skin’s surface firm, histidine soothes skin, methionine counteracts harmful substances before they can damage the skin, and glycine, leucine and proline lighten the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

B-Complex vitamins

A number of studies have indicated the benefits of B-complex vitamins for skin health. One found that vitamin B could aid the body in producing healthy new skin cells. Another investigating the effects of vitamins E, B-3 and B-5 in skin creams found that the vitamins improved skin texture and tone in just six weeks, while also reducing hyperpigmentation and age spots. Vitamin B-5 may reduce and skin inflammation, helping the skin look better and younger. Vitamin B9/Folic acid can improve signs of skin aging. A study found that creams containing folic acid and creatine supported collagen gene expression for younger-looking and younger-behaving skin.

Vitamin B7/Biotin fights inflammation, rashes and acne. B6 plays a role in sleep and mood regulation, helping avoid inflammatory reactions and skin dehydration.

Slower healing processes are linked to old age, among other factors. Studies have indicated that the topical application of B-Complex vitamins and Vitamin C can support wound healing through fibroblast migration. Fibroblasts are cells that synthesize collagen and elastin, and play a critical role in wound healing.

Not just Vitamin B-complex supplements, but CBD facial creams too may improve skin health and prevent the skin from aging quickly.

Innocan’s anti-aging facial cream

Our skincare range offers CBD-integrated solutions formulated to retain the youthful vigor of your skin.

Anti-aging CBD + face cream contains 300mg of CBD, bakuchiol, inca inchi oil, Matrixyl®, hyaluronic acid, allantoin and Vitamin E. Matrixyl®, an anti-aging peptide comprising two proteins that work to diminish the appearance of saggy skin and wrinkles, and improve the elasticity of skin. Bakuchiol is anti-inflammatory and antioxidant that comes from bakuchiol seeds. The extremely potent seeds are incorporated in the Indian medicine system known as Ayurveda for the treatment of vitiligo. Bakuchiol has been hailed as an effective and milder alternative to retinol, and is used in improving skin pigmentation, firmness and hydration.

Inca inchi oil is a botanical extract derived from a seed of the same name, consumed as a nut and native to tropical South America and cultivated commercially in South East Asia. It has been seen to soothe inflammation, regulate oil production, and make the skin more soft and supple.

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that combats the effects of free radicals on the skin, and may play a role in reducing UV damage to the skin. Supplementation with Vitamin E has been seen to lessen photodamage, improve the appearance of wrinkles and enhance skin texture.

Innocan’s CBD antiaging eye serum treats the skin around your eyes. The tissue below our eyes has very little soft tissues like muscle or fat, making it likely for the skin to cave in. The skin around the eyes is thin, breaking down easily and susceptible to fine lines; it can get looser and even thinner with age.

While a moisturizer can hydrate the areas around your eyes, it cannot lighten signs of aging. You need a product formulated to stimulate collagen and deliver what the sensitive skin around the eyes need to retain firm texture.

Our CBD-infused anti-aging eye serum provides your skin support and helps maintain skin density. It contains the same ingredients as our anti-aging face cream, and like all eye serums – is lightweight, comprising tiny molecules that diffuse active ingredients deep into your skin.

For added hydration and nourishment, consider our CBD sleeping mask. Formulated with ingredients that promise anti-inflammatory, antioxidant effects, it softens the look of fine lines and helps firm skin around your eyes and on your face.

Summing up

• A natural way to reduce/soothe inflammation
• Counteract the effects of free radical damage
• Hydrate the skin and improve skin barrier
• Slow down collagen breakdown to keep skin soft and supple
• Regulate oil production to prevent dryness
• Lighten the appearance of wrinkles, crow’s feet, age spots and fine lines
• Mitigate skin hyperpigmentation from UV and light-induced oxidative stress

A note on safety

CBD-integrated anti-aging facial creams are safe and not associated with severe side effects. Topical application of CBD oil is safe for use in children. A review of CBD skincare products also should include an assessment of other ingredients. Scientifically tested products evaluate interaction between botanical extracts and synthetic additions, if any, in determining safety.

CBD is generally well-tolerated. However, we encourage you to learn about potential side-effects and their implications based on your medical history and present health status.

Here’s to aging gracefully and happily

An awareness around the common social and psychological changes occurring with age is important to successful aging. We don’t have control over our biological functions, but we’re masters of our mind. A positive reframing of the gradual changes in bodily systems, including effects on our skin, can help us focus our attention on the positives of aging, such as a greater participation in our family life, positions of responsibility and mentorship opportunities at work, and other socially valuable benefits that accrue as the years roll by.

A lifestyle that doesn’t stress our mind or neglect our body can reflect in the way we look and behave. Anti-aging solutions such CBD facial creams, when incorporated into our skincare and overall well-being regimen, can revitalize us and make us look and feel younger than our chronological age.