Some of the hottest, most talked about ingredients in cosmetics today are cannabis derivatives such as CBD. Their use has evolved into a major skin care trend with numerous products marketed as oils, balms, creams, lotions, and facial serums. Unfortunately, there is a lot of confusion over cannabis derivatives related to their quality and what they legally can contain
The Basics - What is it?
Cannabis-based products can be categorized as products for cosmetic/industrial application, or medicinal use and recreational drug use. These include hemp oil (low in Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), CBD enriched oil (high in CBD), and marijuana/cannabis oil (THC enriched oils). THC is the psychoactive fraction of cannabis and CBD is the medicinal, non-psychoactive fraction
The cannabis plant belongs to the Cannabis genus of which there are three species; Indica, Sativa, and Ruderalis. Strains of Cannabis indica, Cannabis sativa, and hybrids of the two (e.g., Blue Dream, Cherry OG, and Kandy Kush) make up the majority grown for recreational drug use. Cannabis ruderalis is a wild species which is naturally low in THC (1,2). There are 483 known compounds in cannabis including at least 65 other cannabinoids. Hemp seed oil used in cosmetics contains very little CBD or THC.
Hemp seed oil is a clear, colorless liquid typically extracted from the seeds of industrial hemp. Industrial hemp Cannabis species that is high in fiber and low in THC. There are two types of industrial hemp, one grown to produce fiber for textiles and industry, and another used to produce hemp seeds for oil production.
The Rules Are Changing
As formulators, we have to stay up to date with the consistent changes of the hemp and CBD space within the skincare and beauty. Don't tackle the regulations and laws alone. Trust us, we've seen brands fail and the FDA after them.
Just as in our basic formulation services, we can help develop superior products under expedited timelines to meet your needs. Contact us today to find out more.
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