What do glazed donuts, weed, and vampires have in common? Aside from their common ground in modern skin care vernacular, absolutely nothing. However, if you find another similarity, let me know. Let’s connect the dots – as a coworker of mine said recently to a client in our retail area regarding a facial oil, “The kids these days say, ‘this’ll make you look like a glazed donut.’” Cannabis is gracing our retail shelves in everything from bath and body products to performance skin care products. Meanwhile, vampires fit in because they are the namesake for PRP (Platelet-rich-plasma) topical application following a microneedling treatment. The point is that cannabis in skin care is still a very foreign concept to some. That being said, as an ingredient, it isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Cannabis has a lot to offer skin care professionals and has the potential to stay as a major player in and out of our treatment rooms, but it is important to go back to the basics and get a rooted understanding of this plant first. 

THE SEEDS OF WEED 

Cannabis likely originated in Western China, the Middle East, and Asia. The earliest documentation of it goes back as far as 2,800 BCE by the father of Chinese Medicine, Emperor Shen Nung, in his pharmacopoeia. He listed it as a staple of medicine, critical to health and wellness. That was 5,000 years ago! This plant is so much bigger than just hippies rolling joints and “Pineapple Express” (Although I truly love Seth Rogan!). This plant is intertwined into the fabric of humanity. It has been revered for its medicinal, industrial, and cultural uses for millennia and spread its seed the world over.  

THE MAKEUP 

Cannabis is special because it contains at least two important compounds – terpenes and cannabinoids. 

Antonia Schreiber is a New York state licensed massage therapist, cosmetologist specializing in aesthetics science, and electrologist. With over 16 years’ experience in the industry, Schreiber’s work has brought her everywhere from the classroom to her certified green spa, the Windham Spa, to the United States Olympic Training Center and beyond. Outside of the treatment room she is a writer, speaker, and consultant with the New York State Department of Education, leading education firms and industry magazines. Her current passion projects include treatment research and development for burn patients, and assisting in the development of the United States Paralymic Bobsled and Skeleton Team.