Are you going to sell CBD cosmetics? We explain the requirements for the manufacture, import and legal sale of CBD cosmetics.
Cannabis-based cosmetics are the latest thing in the industry. Countless moisturisers, serums, body lotions, lip balms and hair masks, among others, are sold in Spain with cannabis as their miracle ingredient. The powerful moisturising and soothing effects of these ointments based on hemp or CBD are promoted with great fanfare. Why has cannabis burst so strongly into the cosmetics industry? Are these marijuana cosmetics legal? Which parts of the plant do these creams use? Is there any chance of getting high from these new beauty products? We answer.
What do the formulas of cannabis cosmetics contain?
Cannabis cosmetics contain CBD or hemp oil in their formulas. These ingredients are the reason for all the fuss, and they have nothing to do with the high or psychoactivity of marijuana, which is produced by THC, a component of the plant not found in these creams.
CBD cosmetic products
CBD is an active ingredient of the Cannabis sativa plant, also known as cannabidiol. It is a cannabinoid extracted from the flowering parts of the hemp plant , without psychotropic effects and with many health benefits. It is a substance with great soothing, anti-inflammatory and moisturising properties. Although hemp belongs to the same family as marijuana, Cannabis sativa, it is not the same plant.
Hemp oil cosmetics
Creams that use hemp oil usually obtain it by pressing the seeds. Hemp seeds are one of the plant products with the highest concentration of fatty acids. These seeds have high levels of omega 3, omega 6 and omega 9, hence their enormous moisturising properties.
The best CBD cosmetics, a cannabis derivative that does not get you high but soothes the skin
There is a wide range of CBD cosmetics, and of brands that produce or sell them. There are hundreds of products, and which is best will depend on each user. Among the major brands with strong CBD cosmetics ranges are The Body Shop, Sephora, Quinque, NYX Cosmetics and even Babaria. For products aimed at soothing the skin, the French brand Ho Karan, which specialises in producing CBD cosmetics and has its own hemp crops, offers essential oils, soaps and even deodorants produced entirely organically, with CBD formulas designed to care for its customers’ skin.
So is the use of CBD in cosmetics legal?
The use of CBD in cosmetics is legal as long as the CBD has been produced and extracted in countries where it is legal to do so. In Spain, for example, growing plants to obtain flowers or extract cannabinoids from them is not allowed unless it is for research purposes authorised by the AEMPS. That does not prevent CBD cosmetics produced in other countries whose laws allow these products, such as Italy or the Czech Republic, from being sold or distributed in Spain.
Cannabidiol or CBD in natural cosmetics
Cannabidiol or CBD is a cannabinoid of the Cannabis sativa plant that can also be found in the hemp plant. This active ingredient interacts with the human body through the endocannabinoid system and has many properties. It is widely used in natural cosmetics because of the sustainability of growing hemp plants, and because this cannabinoid is 100% natural. When we use this cannabinoid topically , as in cosmetics, we can benefit from an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and oil-regulating effect.
Why have cosmetics brands turned to cannabis?
The main reasons so many brands have chosen to include CBD in their cream formulas are, on the one hand, the great therapeutic potential of this cannabinoid for topical use; on the other, the sustainability of growing hemp, the plant from which it is obtained; and finally, the growing progress of legalisation in so many countries, which are gradually incorporating cannabis, or some of its active ingredients, into traditional products, imitating above all the boom in cannabis products in the United States. Of course, the anti-inflammatory and moisturising properties of CBD have surely been a decisive reason for creating balms that can offer real moisturising solutions to consumers.
The moisturising and soothing properties of hemp extract win over a market looking for natural products
The benefits of hemp extract for the skin, whether CBD or oil from its seeds, are many, given the therapeutic properties of cannabidiol. Here is a list of the properties of hemp for topical use:
- Immune system modulator: through the endocannabinoid system, CBD activates the body’s immune response to skin problems such as itching, skin inflammation or acne.
- Antioxidant: it keeps the skin elastic.
- Moisturising: its richness in amino acids provides greater natural hydration than other natural plant ingredients.
- Soothing: it reduces skin irritation caused by skin diseases such as psoriasis.
- Muscle relaxant: its relaxing properties help to heal and prevent muscle inflammation and contractures, so CBD oil or creams are effective in relaxing massages.
- Oil production regulator: it helps reduce excessive oil production, which is very useful for acne.
Massage creams, face masks, perfumes and even mascaras
CBD and hemp extracts have not found barriers in any cosmetic product. Its plant origin has catapulted it into a wide range of cosmetics as a natural ingredient. Not only have creams included it for its moisturising and soothing properties, but cannabidiol has spread across the whole spectrum of cosmetics.
Serums, boosters, colognes, eye creams, hand creams, shampoos, face creams, hair masks, lip balms, etc. The list of CBD products is long, as is the list of brands that sell them. Here is an article with a good summary of them all.
Benefits of hemp oil for your skin and acne
Acne is a skin disorder that usually appears during adolescence. It shows mainly on the face, although it can also appear on the chest, back and arms. The symptoms are the spread of blackheads and whiteheads in the affected areas. It is linked to very high oil production, which makes the skin excessively shiny. Why is hemp oil effective in treating this skin condition? Because hemp oil regulates oil production. When our body produces too much oil in the skin, hemp cosmetics can help reduce that sebum.
Where can you buy marijuana essential oil?
There is a wide range of marijuana essential oils, mostly CBD oils. More and more herbalists offer cannabidiol extracts and oils. In physical shops they can also be found in grow shops, the shops that sell cannabis growing supplies. But one of the biggest shop windows is, without a doubt, the internet. Hundreds of online shops, not necessarily specialising in cosmetics, health or cannabis products, deliver marijuana essential oils to your door. Just type marijuana oil into any search engine to find a wide range.
Are you going to manufacture or sell CBD cosmetics?
At S&F Abogados we help you comply with cosmetics regulations and sell your products with legal certainty. Find out about our CBD business service, send us an online enquiry or call us on +34 919 532 802.
