Is CBD Skincare Safe?

Short answer: Yes. CBD in skincare is regulated as cosmetics under EU Regulation 1223/2009. This means every product must undergo a safety assessment (CPSR), have a designated responsible person within the EU, and be notified in the EU's cosmetics portal (CPNP) before it can be sold. As with all skincare, sensitive skin may react to individual ingredients, so a simple patch test on a small area of skin is recommended first.

How safety is regulated

A cosmetic product may not be sold in the EU until it has met a number of requirements:

• Safety report (CPSR) a qualified assessor reviews every ingredient and the entire formulation.
• Responsible Person a legal entity within the EU is responsible for the product's safety and documentation (PIF).
• CPNP notification the product is registered in the EU's portal before launch.
• Manufacturing according to GMP (ISO 22716).

Can CBD skincare cause side effects?

CBD itself is well tolerated topically. The skin reactions that occasionally occur with natural skincare are usually not caused by CBD but by other ingredients, particularly fragrances and essential oils, which can be allergenic for sensitive skin. That's why the 82 declarable fragrance allergens must always be declared in the ingredient list (INCI). Want to read the list correctly? See In Sweden, CBD cosmetics must be free of THC, not the EU's 0.3% limit, but non-detectable. Reputable manufacturers can show a batch-specific certificate of analysis (CoA). CBD must also come from industrial hemp or be synthetic, not a cannabis extract. More on this:

No. CBD is not intoxicating, and Swedish CBD cosmetics must also be free of THC.