5 Top-Rated Cannabis Beauty Products to Help Winter Skin

The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting chillier, and the twinkling lights of the holidays are drawing ever closer. But with these seasonal changes comes another, less-anticipated event — it’s time for winter weather to wreak havoc on your skin. Fortunately, we’ve rounded up some of top cannabis-infused products to help you keep those annoyances at bay. But first, let’s understand the benefits of cannabis for your winter dermis. 

Winter Skin Problems (and How Cannabis May Help Solve Them)

Winter is tough on your skin for a variety of reasons. The temperatures are colder, obviously. The winds are stronger, too. And depending on what part of the country you’re in, central heating is on full blast from dawn until dawn again. Add it all together, and you’ve got a recipe for a whole host of skin problems, including but not limited to:

• Dry skin
• Oily skin
• Chapped lips
• Flaky scalp
• Winter rash and other forms of itchiness
• Acne breakouts
• Dry cuticles
• Scaly hands and feet

You might be wondering how cannabis could be the answer to any of your skin-related problems, but honestly? It’s not actually as crazy as it sounds. Here’s why. 

Cannabis is thought to be a great moisturizer. One of the main causes of dry skin (and all the problems that come with it) is a lack of sebum, an oil naturally produced by your skin. Multiple studies show cannabis can help re-calibrate your sebum levels by interacting with your skin’s cannabinoid receptors. And since you have cannabinoid receptors all over your body — including your scalp, lips, face, and various appendages — this means cannabis could (at least in theory) help minimize everything from dandruff to chapped lips to super-dry hands.

Cannabis might be able to reduce wrinkles. Dry, cracked skin can lead to wrinkles, and it turns out, cannabis may be one of the most potent wrinkle-fighters out there. Scientists believe it’s adept at countering the effects of free radicals, which can give your skin a certain reptilian quality when left unchecked. 

Cannabis could also help get rid of blemishes. When your skin loses its moisture, it tends to become itchy and inflamed (which can trigger acne breakouts, psoriasis flare-ups, and other skin issues). Cannabis could help reduce these symptoms, since the same cannabinoid receptors that regulate sebum production also play a role in controlling itchiness and inflammation.

Top Cannabis-Infused Winter Skin Care Products

The cannabis beauty world has gotten so big that it now has its own category on Wall Street, with approximately ten bazillion types of infused products crowding the shelves of every store from Saks to Sephora. How are you supposed to choose the best ones? Well, you could spend the next several weeks doing exhaustive research on every balm, scrub, and cream on the market — or you could just check out the list of well-reviewed products from reputable brands below:

Herbivore Emerald CBD + Adaptogens Deep Moisture Glow Oil – $58

OK, so this product’s name is a bit of a mouthful. But if you can look past its verbose moniker, it has quite a lot to offer. The 30 ml bottle contains 100mg of full spectrum CBD oil and — you guessed it — adaptogens. 

But what on earth is an adaptogen? We’re glad you asked! They’re herbal pharmaceuticals that work to reverse the effects of stress on the skin. This is why the Deep Moisture Glow Oil from Herbivore makes such a useful addition to your winter skin care regimen. Simply add a couple of drops to your face and gently massage them in, applying pressure so that the oil soaks in deep for maximum relief. Theoretically you could use it on your hair or body too, though that could get expensive quickly. 

Price: $58

Where you’ll find it: Herbivore or Sephora

Cannuka CBD Nourishing Body Cream

This CBD-infused body cream from Cannuka — a brand that rose to prominence by combining CBD oil with manuka honey in its wellness products — earned raves from cannabisMD beauty writer Marie Lodi when she reviewed it earlier this year. Aside from its pleasant smell, the biggest benefit it brings to the table is its ability to moisturize and soften your skin.

In fairness, it’s hard to tell if that credit should go to the cream’s 100 mg of CBD isolate. That’s because it also contains a long list of other ingredients with moisturizing properties like beeswax, aloe vera, and hemp seed oil(which is not the same as CBD, by the way). Either way, though, it definitely gets the job done. 

So if your biggest wintertime gripe is dried-out skin on your hands, arms, legs, decolletage, or elsewhere, this body cream could be for you.

Price: $28
Where to find it: Cannuka or Ulta

CBD for Life CBD Eye Serum

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past five years, you’ll know that eye creams and serums are (almost) a legal requirement for beauty lovers now. Aside from their potential wrinkle-reducing abilities, these products can play an important role in a winter skin care routine as they can prevent the very delicate skin around the eyes from drying, cracking, and causing discomfort and irritation. 

This serum from CBD for Life is an ideal choice for such a product because it contains natural plant ingredients (aside from CBD oil, you’ll also find extracts of olive, orange, cucumber, to name a few) and gentle chemicals that help lock moisture into the epidermis for longer. Just dab a pea-sized amount on the skin under and around the eyes in the morning and evening, then prepare for soft, supple skin even in the harshest weather conditions. At least, that’s the idea. 

CBD for Life says that their product is “the hardest working eye serum you’ll ever apply,” which is a big claim considering how many similar products exist today. But judging by its 4.8/5 rating from customers, the brand might have a point.

Price: $32

Where to find it: CBD for Life

Kana Skincare Lavender CBD Sleeping Mask

Sure, you’ve used face masks before — who hasn’t? — but have you tried a sleeping mask yet? If not, this is the perfect time of year to take advantage of their unique benefits, especially when a double dose of cannabis is involved. 

Along with 80 mg of full spectrum CBD, this mask contains hemp seed oil, which doesn’t have any CBD in it but is packed with skin-enhancing properties nonetheless. Other ingredients include lavender oil, hyaluronic acid (the holy grail of moisturizers), fatty acids, proteins, minerals, and vitamins. 

It’s worth mentioning here that Kana’s product might not look like what you’d expect from a “mask.” Rather than a piece of fabric you put over your face, it’s more of a mud-like substance that hardens overnight (it comes in a 50 ml pot, in case you’re curious). Here’s how Kana recommends you use it:

• “Scoop a suitable amount and apply an even layer on clean skin (face + neck).”
• “Pat gently and let it absorb.”
• “Leave it on overnight and wash off with warm water the next morning.”

Price: $55
Where to find it: Kana or retailers around the country

Cannabliss Organic Bliss Kiss Balm

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that a good lip balm is the key to (metaphorically) surviving winter. There are few sensations in the human experience more annoying than severely chapped lips. You can’t talk, eat, drink, or smile without being reminded of those crusty bits of skin in the corners of your mouth. It’s tough. 

The Bliss Kiss Balm from Cannabliss to the rescue! According to our own Marie Lodi, it’s everything you’ll need in your cannabis-infused winter lip balm. The formula contains 3 mg of full spectrum CBD, plus a long list of other moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, avocado oil, and jojoba oil. Mix them all together, and you’ve got a product that’ll keep your lips soft and supple on the blusteriest of sub-freezing days, even if you’re a fan of heavy matte lipsticks. 

The only downside here is the price, since $12 is more than most of us are willing to pay for a lip balm. But if chapped lips are your least favorite thing about winter, Bliss Kiss Balm could be well worth the money (Lodi says it’s her new favorite lip balm). 

Price: $12
Where to find it: Cannabliss or retailers like Neiman Marcus and Urban Outfitters