CBD Face Oils vs. Vitamin C Serums: Which Is Better?

Vitamin C and CBD oil are two of the hottest trends in skin care right now. They’re both full of natural medicinal qualities, and they both promise great benefits for your skin. However, they do have some key differences, and depending on your needs, one might work better than the other.

If that sounds vague … well, it is. No matter what your skin type is, caring for it can be confusing. Many products containing different ingredients claim to do the exact same thing, and the complicated jargon that brands use to sell their products certainly doesn’t help, nor does the conflicting advice given by skin care experts.

This is particularly ironic given the fact that skin care is, in fact, quite simple when stripped down to its basic fundamentals: cleanse, moisturize, protect. Both vitamin C serums and CBD facial oils are well equipped to meet these needs, but they do it in different ways.

Vitamin C serums are oil based products that have a high concentration of the titular vitamin in them. These serums are usually marketed as anti-aging products thanks to the antioxidant (i.e. wrinkle busting) abilities of vitamin C. However, they’ve also been proven to have other beneficial effects on the skin — more on that later.

CBD facial oils are a newer product to the beauty market, but they’re becoming increasingly popular. CBD is a natural compound that’s extracted as an oil from cannabis plants, but this doesn’t mean it will get you high. That particular effect of cannabis is thanks to a different compound called THC, which is also becoming a common skin care ingredient (to a lesser extent). Like vitamin C serums, CBD facial oils have anti-aging benefits, and they also have potent anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.

As you can see, both vitamin C serums and CBD facial oils are great for your skin. But which is better? Well, that depends on what you’re using them for.

Vitamin C Serum vs. CBD Facial Oils

Depending on what kind of results you’re trying to achieve, either vitamin C serums or CBD facial oils could soon become your go-to skin care product. Here’s how each perform in various areas.

To Reduce Signs of Aging

There are seven signs of aging, the most common of which are fine lines and wrinkles, sagging skin, and dark circles. Both vitamin C and CBD oil are excellent at reducing these common skin complaints, since both of them are powerful antioxidants. These are chemicals that fight off free radicals, which are tiny molecules in the body that attack healthy skin cells and cause the visible signs of aging.

As a result, using products that contain either of these ingredients is going to help you reduce free radical damage and achieve younger-looking skin. Which is better? Studies suggest that CBD could be the most powerful anti-aging ingredient, though both are highly effective.

For a Clear Complexion

Vitamin C is often hailed as the best ingredient for improving the brightness of the skin, and this reputation is well deserved. Vitamin C serums can certainly lead to a marked improvement in the complexion. But can CBD facial oils achieve the same effect?

There isn’t any research that shows CBD oil to have any great ability when it comes to improving skin tones. However, there is a theory that CBD could brighten the skin by supporting the endocannabinoid system and regulating the amount of sebum in the skin. Dry skin can make the skin appear dull and tired, so by helping it to increase its oil levels, CBD products could help with brightening skin, but probably not as much as vitamin C products.

To Treat Acne

Many people use vitamin C and/or CBD oil in an effort to reduce their acne. However, in this case, vitamin C serums aren’t going to be much help. They have been shown to improve the texture of the skin and reduce “under the skin” pimples that lie deep under the surface, but they have no noticeable effects on bacterial acne.

CBD-infused products can, though. Not only will they get rid of pimples, but their ability to fight bacteria and reduce infections make them effective at treating the root causes of the most common forms of acne. CBD acne treatments can also combat the inflammation caused by breakouts, and the pain that often accompanies them. If you’re trying to fight the effects of the world’s most widespread skin complaint, CBD facial oils will be the best choice of the two.