The Marijuana Facial. Yes, It Exists.

And no, it won’t make your clients high.

Skincare junkies are always coming up with new –  invariably wackier – things to take to the pedestal as the next hero ingredient in complexion perfection, which may explain the rise of bizarro treatments like the bird poo facial and the fire treatment (yes, it involves real fire, and yes, it’s on your client’s face) in recent years.

Now, before you get ahead of yourself, your clients won’t be leaving the treatment room with an insatiable case of the munchies, nor will they be convinced they’ve had an existential experience.

So it’s perhaps not surprising that the latest controversial health craze, hemp products, has spilled over into skincare and become a bona fide facial treatment craze unto itself.

It’s a little known fact that THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the main psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana, is an antioxidant with potent anti-inflammatory properties. And while smoking cannabis hasn’t been associated with skincare benefits (much to the contrary), using it topically, has. In fact, applying it to the skin has been found to achieve everything from reducing fine lines to brightening a dull complexion and treating acne, and hemp seeds themselves are rich in a variety of vitamins and minerals, including polyunsaturated fatty acids and omega 3s.

the main psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana is an antioxidant with potent anti-inflammatory properties.

Now, before you get ahead of yourself, your clients won’t be leaving the treatment room with an insatiable case of the munchies, nor will they be convinced they’ve had an existential experience. The hemp oil infused serums used in what’s been dubbed ‘the cannabis facial’ are not high inducing.

While marijuana itself is still illegal in most countries, hemp products, which contain only trace amounts of THC, are not. In fact, most health stores now retail everything from hemp protein powder to hemp oil – the product that’s traditionally used in the cannabis facial.

Despite containing only tiny amounts of THC, the hemp oil used in the new facial treatments craze, still possesses powerful skin tonic properties.

Though hemp oils and hemp enriched skincare products have been on the market for some time now, Colorado’s Primal Wellness Day Spa was the first to pioneer the marijuana infused facial treatment, which has already seen explosive popularity with clients since it launched.

The treatment typically lasts for around an hour and includes a combination of serums, scrubs and, of course, hemp oil. Clients are said to see everything from plumper skin to a general reduction in fine lines and hyperpigmentation.

The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal recently published findings confirming cannabinoids regulate skin conditions like acne

And there’s proof it works. The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Journal recently published findings confirming that cannabinoids are able to regulate skin conditions like acne and rosacea thanks to their ability to promote lipid synthesis.

“Our preclinical data encourage one to explore whether endocannabinoid system-acting agents can be exploited in the management of common skin disorders,” FASEB scientist, Tamás Birótold told The Huffington Post.

As for whether it will ever make its way to Australian shores, hemp cultivation for hemp based skincare, food and eco-friendly clothing is currently legal in Australia and New Zealand under strict licensing arrangements, with some health stores and salons now stocking hemp based products, so a hemp facial could very well be around the corner.

Have your say: What’s your opinion of the hemp facial? Would you offer it in your salon?