Now more accessible than ever, CBD beauty products are sweeping the nation. As states undergo legalization and a reduction in restrictions on hemp production, consumers are seeing an increase in the availability of CBD skincare products. Additionally, celebrities waste no time creating and promoting boutique-worthy CBD products for the most luxurious shoppers.

Estimated by Cowen & Co to reach 16 billion by 2025, the CBD market is more than a fad. As with every market, early iterations of CBD cosmetic brands have not always proven their worth. However, as more research emerges on formulating natural skincare products, the quality and efficacy of CBD cosmetics continue to improve. When used properly, CBD is a versatile and effective ingredient proving itself to disrupt the cosmetic industry.

What is CBD Isolate?

Although no legal or formal scientific definitions exist, isolate refers to CBD's purified crystal form. Categorized as the purest form of CBD extract, CBD isolate is a powder-like substance that often contains upwards of 98% pure CBD molecules.

Frequently derived from the industrial hemp plant, CBD isolate undergoes a variety of purification steps to arrive at its ultimate level of 98%+ CBD isolate purity:

Extraction: CBD oil is extracted from raw plant materials such as stems, leaves, and flowers, also known as “biomass.” An ethanol-based extraction method is one of the most commonly used approaches.
Winterization: This first extract is called CBD Crude Oil extract. The CBD crude extract is a dark green-brown, herbaceous-scented, thick oil at this stage. The CBD crude oil extract is then winterized to remove any fats and lipids.
Decarboxylation: After winterization, the extracted CBD crude oil is heated to a high temperature. This step in the process is often referred to as “decarboxylation.” The heat applied to the CBD crude extract creates a chemical reaction that removes the carboxyl group, decarboxylating the compounds within the oil and releasing carbon dioxide. This process turns the acidic CBD (also known as CBDa) molecules to their active state CBD.
Distillation: The winterized CBD crude oil extract is refined through a distillation process turning the thick green-brown CBD crude oil into a transparent golden oil called CBD distillate. During this distillation process, many of the plant's waxes, terpenes, and green chlorophyll are removed from the CBD crude oil. What remains are mostly CBD molecules with trace amounts of other cannabinoids like CBC, CBG, and CBN. These cannabinoids are also called “minor cannabinoids.”
Isolation: The golden CBD distillate now undergoes an isolation process using chromatography to isolate the CBD molecule from the rest of the other cannabinoids, oils, and terpenes still present in a CBD distillate. What remains after the chromatography is pure 98-99%+ crystallized CBD isolate.
Testing: CBD isolate must be tested to confirm purity. Make sure that the CBD isolate you purchase come with a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) confirming the concentration of CBD.

Evidence of CBD Skincare Benefits

Contrary to popular belief, adding CBD to cosmetics is more than a cheeky marketing ploy. Existing primary research highlights the various soothing benefits of formulating cosmetics with CBD. There are hundreds of primary research studies on PubMed and other medical journal articles with research suggesting that cannabinoids such as CBD and CBG may benefit the skin, hair, and oral health.

It should be mentioned that the FDA has not yet approved CBD claims for these or any other topical efficacy claims.

Manufacturing CBD Cosmetic Products

Not every CBD product will stand out. Understanding the nuances of CBD formulations is important for creating effective, consistent, stable, and exciting personal care products. Understanding CBD’s properties, various formulation techniques, ideal form factors, and delivery methods will result in an effective end product.

Additionally, when manufacturing CBD cosmetic products or buying bulk CBD, it is important to choose a trusted supplier. A quality CBD supplier will be transparent about their CBD ingredients, formulation knowledge, and recommend formulations. Supportive suppliers play an important role in the overall success of CBD cosmetic products.

Using CBD Isolate in Your Products

The demand for high-quality CBD personal care and beauty products continues to grow exponentially. Research suggests that the benefits of CBD are valuable for producing innovative cosmetic formulas. However, not every CBD product is created equal. Understanding how to manufacture CBD cosmetic products is important to formulating skincare that works.

Ready to launch your CBD brand? Let our knowledgeable team make it easy.

Contact us to learn more about our CBD skincare formulators and the benefits of introducing CBD to your personal care products.

References:

Azer, V., Blackledge, J., Charles, A., Chen, O., Kernan, J., Nadeau, P., Neivert, C., Osborne, J., Rhyee, C., & Schenkel, D. (2021, November 3). Cowen's collective view of CBD. Cowen. Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://www.cowen.com/insights/cowen-collective-view-of-cbd/

Devash, M. (2018, June 25). Everything you need to know about the CBD beauty trend. Allure. Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://www.allure.com/story/cbd-oil-in-beauty-products

Lessard, P. C. (2020, September 8). CBD in cosmetics: A practical primer. Cosmetics & Toiletries. Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://www.cosmeticsandtoiletries.com/research/methods-tools/article/21835839/cbd-in-cosmetics-a-practical-primer#figures-and-formulas