Cannabidiol, or CBD, is the second most prevalent active ingredient in the cannabis plant. A survey of the different categories of skin care, hair care and wellness shows it has quickly become one of the most prevalent active ingredients in beauty, too. The holy grail ingredient is included in serums, moisturizers, cleansers, tinctures, eye creams, hair oils, masks and so much more to calm inflammation, relieve itching and address acne — benefits all backed by research.
That said, with so many CBD products to choose from, it can feel overwhelming to choose a gift for loved ones on your list. And since 2020 has dealt us more than our share of overwhelming, we're here to make CBD gift giving easier. Ahead, we've zeroed in on the perfect CBD products to give just about anyone you're shopping for, from a total CBD skeptic to someone who takes hers with vibrationally-charged crystals.
Image via @saintjanebeauty
For the Bougie CBD Newbie
Try: Chantecaille CBD 300 Face and Body Cream, $125
For the well-heeled beauty lover in your life whose beauty supply is stocked with prestige skin care products and who knows little about CBD, this face and body cream by botanically-fueled skin care brand Chantecaille makes the somewhat foreign nature of CBD feel familiar, thanks to a whipped formula that contains 300 mg of CBD among its 98 percent plant-derived ingredients. What's more, it feels plenty elegant — and it's housed in a luxe, mirrored jar that will look right at home on her vanity.
For the Protector of Her Crown
Try: Philip B. CBD Scalp + Body Oil, $95
Those prone to dry scalp — or in need of a moisture-restoring hot oil treatment — can simultaneously hydrate and calm irritation with this scalp and body oil, thanks, in part, to CBD inside. But where this multi-use oil rises above the rest is with its inclusion of CBG (another cannabinoid, which has been shown in studies to boost sebaceous glands' lipid synthesis, and in turn, help hydrate the skin).
Use the oil (which smells like eucalyptus, hops, faint florals and fresh tree bark, courtesy of the terpenes inside) as a spot treatment to quell, dry, itchy flare ups on the head, or try it as a moisturizing hot oil treatment: Before shampooing, brand founder Philip B. suggests applying the oil directly to the scalp and brushing it through the hair before blasting lengths with a shot of heat with a blow dryer for a few minutes. The DIY hot oil treatment will leave hair with a high-gloss shine, minus the harsh chemicals found in old-school hot oil treatments.
For the Adaptogen Fiend
Try: Plant People Restore Face Mask, $59.99
For the forager who prefers her skin care with adaptogenic properties, this mask covers all the bases. Medicinal mushrooms (like adaptogenic shiitake extract), cannabinoids (including broad spectrum CBD and CBC are used in this formula), congesting-sucking clays (french green and white kaolin), bio-fermented sea kelp and lactobacillus probiotics join forces in this formula that happens to make for one of the most unique masking experiences yet: After 20 minutes on skin, the paste wipes away with no water needed. It left our skin completely free of redness that usually resides around our nose and mouth and extremely hydrated, too (as if we had just pressed a facial oil into our skin).
For the CBD Skeptic (With Extremely Dry Skin)
Try: Prima The Afterglow Deeply Restorative Cream for Youthful Radiance, $96
What good is a CBD-laced moisturizer if it can't compete with the ultra-rich, ultra-hydrating creams made for chronically dry skin? This fragrance-free moisturizer is built like a bonafide super hydrator (see: fatty-acid rich kokum, bacuri, murumuru, tucuma and cupuaçu butters; four types of hyaluronic acid, squalane) and wields an ayurvedic adaptogen complex (which includes turmeric and ashwagandha extracts) and 500 mg of hemp-derived CBD.
But what really takes this baby to the next level is how it performs: our generous applications absorbed quickly and left no greasy residue — just a lovely, demi-matte finish. What's more, it became our savior when tending to our fragile skin following a medium-depth chemical peel; It erased irritation, redness and dry, cracked skin to such a degree, we didn't want to switch back to our regular moisturizer after our skin had healed.
