In recent years, CBD has gained a lot of attention. But common questions that keep coming up include: What is it? How can you get it? What can it be used for? Fortunately, we’re not newbies when it comes to things, and we’re here to answer all your questions, as well as share an exciting announcement: budget retailer Aldi has just entered the CBD market.
Officially called cannabidiol, CBD is related to cannabis. But before you start getting ready to 420-style, or run a mile in the opposite direction, it’s not the same as its classic marijuana sidekick.
Derived from the hemp plant, CBD alone is not classified as a pharmaceutical substance World Health Organization and does not cause any high sensation. Although its effects are still highly debated, according to Health linethere is evidence to suggest that when it comes to skin care, CBD can regulate oil production (helping those with acne), reduce inflammation to relieve existing breakouts, and hydrate the skin to keep levels high of moisture
So if this sounds like something you could do with, and we imagine almost everyone could, it’s worth taking a look at CBD skin care and its powers. Fortunately, Aldi have made it very easy, thanks to their new bargain pack, which includes a facial cleanser, toner and moisturiser, all for under £15.
If that sounds too good to be true, read on, as in true IndyBest fashion, we put it to the test to see if this beauty package really was a bargain or a bust.
As we tried
The CBD Kit includes a facial cleanser, toner, and moisturizer, providing the foundations of a good skincare routine and the basic essentials for anyone looking to add their favorite serums on top. So not only was it a fairly inexpensive set, but it was also incredibly easy to use.
Using the kit both morning and night for a week, we washed our faces with the cleanser and warm water, followed with a spritz of toner and sealed with moisturizer. We tried not to use any other products alongside this trio (apart from sunscreen, of course) to really see how it changed the way our skin felt and looked. And this is what we found…
(Aldi)
The refreshing facial cleanser
While the bottle may not be the prettiest (we kept it on the inside of our bathroom cabinet), it does the job with a click cap that allows for easy opening and closing. Just make sure not to squeeze the bottle too much.
In an oil-based format, this cleanser is a joy to put on, forming a milky lather once water is added and rubbed in. A little goes a long way, so rinse really well, or your toner will lather it up again. up, resulting in a bit of a sticky mess.
Read more: 11 best facial cleansers for every skin type
Cannabidiol is one of the main ingredients, followed by orange essential oil, rosemary leaf oil, hops and lavender extracts, making the cleanser smell as amazing as you can imagine. While orange and rosemary help fight acne, lavender deeply cleanses and hops stimulate circulation.
Our tester is a big fan of oil-based cleansers because they clean deeply while removing stubborn makeup and even mascara in a moisturizing way, and this oil cleanser was no different. Although our tester doesn’t have acne, they noticed a subtle reduction in redness and the scent made the cleanser a pleasure. We only wished it came in a slightly larger size, although this was pretty good for the holidays when every ounce counts.
Balancing facial tonic
Toners can be hit or miss, working as a lovely, refreshing finish to your cleansing routine or smelling like alcohol and drying out your face. Our tester is quite skeptical of them for this reason – he only uses the best and often gets nervous trying it on others – but this one passed the test.
It comes in the same bottle as the cleanser, so while it’s functional, it won’t win any aesthetic points. Used on a cotton pad and smoothed onto the face, or spritzed as an aftershave, the choice is yours, but try not to waste, as at 120ml it won’t last longer.
Read more: 9 Best Eye Creams to Fight Dark Circles, Wrinkles, and Puffiness
A big plus of this toner is that it doesn’t smell of alcohol – if you’ve ever opened a toner that smelled suspiciously like vodka, you’ll know it’s a good one. The main ingredient is water, which is not surprising since it has a typical watery texture.
Again, the cannabidiol has many functions, as you would want from a CBD toner, and they follow the same key elements of orange essential oil, rosemary leaf oil, hops, and lavender extract. It also includes cucumber seed extract, lemon peel extract and vitamins C, A and E, making it a skin care cocktail.
Hydrating moisturizing cream
In a glass bottle with a removable cap and pump, the moisturizer feels much more premium than the cleanser and toner, so let’s leave this one out of the sink. However, at 50ml, it’s on the smaller side, so it won’t last you as long.
Water and sunflower seed oil are the basic ingredients, providing hydration while soothing the skin. Sunflower seed oil is said to be especially good for sensitive, mature, oily, dry and combination skin types, which pretty much covers it all.
Read more: 11 Best Face Sunscreens That Offer Non-Greasy SPF Protection
Cannabidiol is once again a central ingredient with all the same players as before, plus spirulina extract and hydrolyzed wheat protein, which help boost skin’s vibrancy and radiance. It had a similar scent to the cleanser and toner, but with a sweeter matte finish.
The result
While we probably didn’t use the products long enough to see a huge difference in our skin, they definitely seemed to soothe and calm the redness. The cleanser made our face feel clean and quickly removed all the dirt and makeup, while the toner kept it feeling fresh. The moisturizer hydrates all day and night, all while smelling like a botanical blend of herbal goodness.
The Verdict: Lacura CBD Collection
Working around £5 each, we’d be happy to take any CBD Collection products in our usual routines. And for overnight stays or vacations away from home when you’re looking to ditch the full-size products, they come in handy. Working as a trio, they seemed to complement each other well, were easy to use and gave us the foundation of a good skincare routine.
For anyone wanting to try CBD waters but not ready to ingest anything, we recommend this be your first port of call. Cheap, cheerful and soothing to the skin, we have no current complaints. Just be sure to do a patch test first, as with any new product, just in case.
Looking for more CBD skin care? Check out our list of the best CBD beauty buys