The Beauty Benefits of Marijuana

Can marijuana make you “more beautiful?”  Is there even such a thing as “the beauty benefits of marijuana?”

It’s a strange idea, especially if you buy into the stereotype of your average pot smoker.  Grungy, dreadlocked hippie-stoners with bad skin, greasy hair and smelly pits.

(By the way, no offense if you’re in that camp.  We all gotta do our thing and be ourselves, so more power to you and your pits!)

But for those of you who don’t fall into that camp, you may feel like you’re between a rock and a hard place.

You know that marijuana is medicine.  You know it can help you manage your pain, but you also want to smell good, look good and feel good.  So what do you do?

Well, you don’t need to do anything.

Except change the way you think about marijuana.

And that means, yes, focusing on the beauty benefits of marijuana.

In fact, the beauty and personal care industry have already taken notice of marijuana’s beautifying properties.  Cannabis-based beauty products are now available to consumers in marijuana-legal states.

We don’t know about you, but we feel it’s time to ditch our old attitudes about marijuana and personal beauty. It’s time to take a fresh, clean look at “The Bud and the Beautiful.”

(Yeah…we’ve been waiting to use that one for a while.)

Instead of Smoking Marijuana, Use Topicals Instead

“Smoking is Bad, Mm-kay?”

First, let’s address a commonly held belief: smoking marijuana is bad for your skin.

Unfortunately, this is more than just a belief.  It’s true, but it doesn’t apply specifically to smoking marijuana.  Smoking anything is bad for your skin.

Marijuana smoke has many of the same carcinogens in it as cigarette smoke.  When carcinogens come into contact with your skin cells, they can prevent those cells from creating collagen.  As a result, your skin ages more rapidly  If you have a skin condition such eczema, psoriasis or rosacea, smoking can make that condition even worse.

If you insist on smoking, you can reduce your exposure to carcinogens by using a bong or a vaporizer.  And of course, there are edibles, which are totally smoke-free.

But we want to show you an even better way to show your skin some love…

Why Topicals are Great For Your Skin

The reason marijuana works is because of chemical compounds called cannabinoids (say that three times fast)!

The marijuana plant contains almost a hundred different types of cannabinoids, but the two most well-known ones are THC and CBD.  THC is responsible for marijuana’s psychoactive effects; CBD is non-psychoactive and helps people with anxiety, nausea, inflammation, and pain.

Your skin contains cannabinoid receptors, and these receptors are part of your body’s endocannabinoid system.  Your body produces its own natural cannabinoids, and one of the things they’re responsible for is protecting your skin from wind and sun damage.

When you apply marijuana-infused topicals to your skin, your skin’s cannabinoid receptors soak up all those cannabinoids, and you benefit from it!

How exactly?

Marijuana’s Beauty Superpowers

1). Antioxidants

“Antioxidants” has been a health buzzword for quite a while.  There’s good reason for this, though.  Antioxidants can help stop free radicals from damaging your skin.

UV rays, smoke and environmental pollution all generate free radicals, and when they come in contact with your skin, your skin suffers and you age more quickly.  Over time, some people can even develop skin cancer.

THC and its fellow cannabinoids contain antioxidants that are more powerful than vitamin C and E.  They can help counter that Rip Van Winkle effect by repairing your skin and reducing your lines and wrinkles.

2).  Anti-inflammation

If you’re suffering from a skin rash, eczema or psoriasis, marijuana is a great remedy.  THC, CBD and other cannabinoids have powerful anti-inflammatory properties that can alleviate these conditions.  There’s even evidence that the oil from cannabis seeds can be effective at treating acne.

3). Omega Fatty Acid Force Field

Hempseed oil contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.  These beneficial fats not only moisturize your skin, but when they team up with THC and its antioxidant properties, they help protect your skin from sun damage.  This translates into fewer wrinkles as well as protection against skin cancer.

4).  Faster Skin Absorption

Terpenes are aromatic compounds found in the cannabis plant that give the plant its familiar aroma.  Terpenes have a wide range of beneficial properties.  The terpene known as limonene, for example, gives off a citrus-like aroma and can help your skin absorb creams and other topical treatments more quickly.  The faster these treatments are absorbed, the more quickly they can get to work!

5). Hair Strengthener

Hempseed oil isn’t just good for your skin; it’s also great for your hair!

The oil contains ceramides, which are a type of fat that strengthens cell membranes.  When it comes to your hair cells, these membranes can stop moisture from leaving your hair.  That means healthier, shinier hair, and because of the omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, it also means less dandruff.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will These Beauty Products Get Me High?

No.  Topicals are designed to be absorbed through your skin, but they won’t enter your bloodstream.

What Kind of Marijuana Beauty Products Are Available?

Like we said earlier, there are a lot of marijuana-infused beauty products available on the market.  These products include but are not limited to:

• Soaps
• Lotions
• Creams
• Balms
• Pomades
• Perfumes
• Shampoos

How Popular Are Marijuana-Infused Beauty Products?

There are already spas and massage centers in Colorado that include marijuana-based topicals in the treatments that they offer.

And if this still seems like a fringe movement to you, consider this: even Vogue, Elle and Marie Claire have published articles on the beauty benefits of marijuana.

Make no mistake.  This is a growing trend.  With medical and recreational marijuana on the rise, we can expect this trend to grow even larger. It may not be long before marijuana-based beauty products are a major player in the beauty industry.

Where Can I Purchase These Products?

Hempseed oil is legal in the United States and can be purchased at natural food and health stores.

Although hempseed oil packs a powerful omega-3-and-omega-6-fatty-acid punch, it lacks the powerful cannabinoids and terpenes that you find in the cannabis plant.  Which means you lose out on marijuana’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

You really want the fatty acids working alongside the cannabinoids and the terpenes so that you can experience the full beauty benefits of marijuana, also known as the entourage effect.  And that means you need to use cannabis-infused products.

If you live in Nevada and have a medical marijuana card, you can purchase these types of products at your local dispensary.

Don’t Miss Out on the Beauty Benefits of Marijuana

Beauty is not just a vanity issue.  Healthy skin and hair are, by consequence, beautiful skin and hair.  When our hair and skin get damaged, we now know that we can turn towards marijuana for healing.

Like we always say: marijuana is medicine.  The beauty benefits of marijuana simply confirm that fact.

If you’re interested in learning more about marijuana beauty products, or you’re ready to schedule an appointment to get a medical marijuana card, Dr. Green Relief is available to assist you!