People are Putting CBD Oil on EVERYTHING ... An Expert Explains Why You Should Too

From on your eyelashes to in your bath, the marijuana-derived ingredient is a budding star on the beauty scene.

By Jessie Sardina May 2, 2018, 7:54 AM ET

I was three mimosas deep into a serious brunch-and-gab sesh with a girlfriend when I first heard about CBD. “You should seriously try it,” she urged after listening to me go on about the slew of expensive chemically creams that had done nothing to deflate the tax-season induced bags under my eyes. “It basically cures everything,” she said after recounting the wonders it worked on her anxiety.

I was skeptical. A few drops of some weed-related substance was supposed to ease me of my deep-seeded stresses and depuff my eyes? Her advice seemed a little too woo woo for my taste until the following week, when my colleague — a highly functioning, incredibly successful #bosslady — unabashedly told me about her blissful CBD-aided weekend. If she — a woman with many degrees and a corner office and children — was doing CBD to chill out on the weekend, then why couldn’t I use it for my undereye circles?

According to naturopathic doctor Gabrielle Francis of The Herban Alchemist, there’s no reason why I should be afraid to add a little bit of CBD — or, as scientists put it, cannabidiol — into my skincare routine. Contrary to popular assumptions, CBD (which is very different from THC) does not have any psychoactive effects and is totally legal in all 50 states. “Decades of research indicate that cannabinoids like CBD interact with the body’s Endocannabinoid System, a complex system that contributes to a variety of biological processes like inflammation responses, relaxation, sleeping, and appetite,” says Dr. Francis, who uses CBD to treat everything from insomnia to backaches.

But how can CBD help one look like they didn't just stress binge an entire season of Vanderpump Rules? According to Dr. Francis, “CBD’s beauty benefits are related to its effect on the endocannaboid system which is a communication highway between the nervous system and the hormonal and endocrine system.” Translation: CBD oil goes to work on your skin by nourishing that system to prevent aging, balance hormones and calm inflammatory conditions like acne, rosacea, eczema and psoriasis. Or, in my case, deflate puffy sleep-deprived eyes.

Interested in adding some CBD to your makeup bag? Check out the below hemp-oil infused beauty products that are totally worth buzzing about. And if you're in the market for pure CBD oil, Dr. Francis has curated a selection of her faves here.