Sensuous and wonderful are your lips. To show the world your happiness, they can be stretched into a smile, make kissing fun, and they also happen to be ground zero for absorbing CBD’s nourishing properties.

Cannabidiol (CBD)

When taken internally, cannabidiol (CBD) is known for its ability to alleviate anxiety and minimize muscle pain, but what happens when it is added topically to our skin? CBD interacts seamlessly with an existing mechanism called the Endocannabinoid System in the human body (ECS). They live in the nervous system, the immune system, in your gut, and on your skin. Your body is filled with endocannabinoid receptors. And yours, those luscious lips? It occurs that the whole face contains the largest concentration of endocannabinoid receptors.

The skin on your lips varies a little bit from the rest of your body, mostly because there are no hair follicles or sebaceous glands in it. In the rest of your body, the sebaceous glands are responsible for producing oil that keeps your skin smooth, supple, and properly moisturized. Your lips are particularly vulnerable to drying out without the presence of the natural oil. Often, the skin on your lips is a lot thinner than the rest of your body. This makes your lips characteristically soft and supple, but also much more open to the elements and other irritants (perfect for steamy make out sessions!).

Cracked Lips

The impression of cracked, dry, or even bleeding lips is nobody’s favorite, which is why CBD lip balm is such a vital feature of every skincare routine. Standard lip balms, however, will only do so much to give your lips hydration and protection. Enter: CBD lip balm enriched with CBD. The addition of CBD will not only keep your lips nice and moist in your lip care routine, it will also serve as a high-performance healing agent. Think of it for your lips as medicine.

Here are 3 unique ways in which CBD heals your lips:

1. Pain relievers it:

When CBD comes into contact with your lips, it starts communicating with the cells there instantly. The bulk of the endocannabinoid receptors in your lips belong to the sensory nerve cells responsible for pain registry. If your lips crack and hurt, to help soothe the pain away, CBD can bind to those receptors.

2. It has anti-inflammatory properties:

CBD’s strong anti-inflammatory effects can also treat painful swelling, itchiness, or raw red lips. When the immune system is working to fight something off, inflammation in the body occurs. It will send more and more immune cells to the problem region, whether the body is battling bacteria, toxins, tension, or an imbalance in your diet, and it is the involvement of those immune cells in your lips’ epidermal layer that triggers discomfort, itching, redness, and swelling. In order to reduce the inflammatory response, CBD interacts with endocannabinoid receptors in your immune cells.

3. It helps heal the skin itself:

CBD lip balm is also an effective way to heal and rejuvenate your lips, in addition to healing swollen lips and reducing pain. The skin cells on your lips often contain endocannabinoid receptors, and they are stimulated to regenerate and stay healthy when CBD interacts with those cells. That means applying a CBD-infused lip balm can help shed aged, dead skin cells from dry and cracked lips and replace them with new, healthy ones.

It’s important to look for a lip balm that contains real, nourishing ingredients such as shea butter and coconut oil, whether or not you decide to use a CBD lip balm. It is also important to regularly apply lip balm; it is best for optimum moisture and protection after showering or washing your face, before leaving the home, and before bed. By drinking plenty of water and holding a humidifier in your house, another important way to give your lips the love they deserve is to (this is also helpful for keeping the rest of your skin and body properly hydrated). Thanks to your lips for taking good care of them, and so will the next person you kiss.