Ingredients

For the bars:

• 1 cup (100g) gluten free rolled oats
• ¼ cup (40g) whole almonds
• 1 ¼ cup (280g) packed pitted medjool dates
• ½ cup (50g) unsweetened, unflavoured protein powder
• ½ cup (120g) natural peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon (5mL) pure vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons (30mL) virgin coconut oil, melted
• 3-5 tablespoons (45-75mL) water, as needed
• ⅛ – ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt, to taste
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon

For the chocolate topping:

• ½ cup (95g) Euphoria Extractions Milk Chocolate Bar
• 1 ½ teaspoons (7.5mL) virgin coconut oil

Directions:

1. Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper (with overhang) and set aside.
2. For the squares: in a large food processor, process the oats and almonds to a fine crumb.
3. Add the pitted dates and process again, until they’re finely chopped.
4. Add protein powder, peanut butter, vanilla, melted oil, water, salt and cinnamon and process until the mixture becomes a smooth, dense dough.
5. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Then press the dough into the pan evenly, and set aside.
6. In a small pot, melt the chocolate and coconut oil over low heat, stirring frequently. When the chocolate is mostly melted, remove from the heat to avoid burning and stir until smooth.
7. Pour the chocolate on top of the dough slab, and spread evenly until the entire top of the dough is covered.
8. Place the pan in the freezer until the chocolate hardens (roughly 15 mins).
9. Slice the slab into squares and enjoy!

 This recipe & photo courtesy of @amanda.benko. Original Recipe is originally from Oh She Glows.

Does the CBD in all these beauty and skin care products actually do anything different?

Topically, CBD’s most enticing attributes are its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and pain-killing (analgesic) powers. Skin is the largest organ you have and your body’s first line of defense against damaging organisms and pollutants, so it follows that it also has the highest amount and concentration of cannabinoid receptors. Together the receptors make up the endocannabinoid system, which regulates a lot of the most critical functions and responses your body requires to achieve homeostasis, including stress, pain, appetite, inflammation, sleep, immunity and even how much oil our skin produces.

Because CBD has the same receptors as our skin, our skin can respond really well to the compound. By stimulating our skin’s cannabinoid receptors, it helps to ease pain, relieve inflammation, fight bacteria, reduce lipid and sebum production (which can lead to acne), and release histamines. It can also control skin cell proliferation that causes psoriasis, and treat dry skin, eczema, and other difficult skin conditions, which is why it’s is popping up in so many of our everyday use products.

When it comes to skin care, from acne to signs of aging, inflammation is the real super villain. In addition to being highly anti-inflammatory, CBD is known to be a potent antioxidant, the combination of which could be effective in calming irritated skin and reducing redness, helping to lessen visible signs of aging, and as a potentially powerful way to combat acne.

Here are just a few ways that CBD helps with your beauty routine:

CBD Oil for Acne

Acne is caused by so many different moving parts—excess sebum, blocked pores, inflammation, and bacteria. Interestingly, while acne rates are going up, there aren’t a lot of new options for the people suffering from them. It’s a pain in the ass to deal with, and most of the best solutions are retinol-based products that make skin worse (dry skin, redness and puffiness, peeling) before making it better.

We all know that CBD is anti-inflammatory, and because acne is an inflammatory condition, CBD’s soothing properties can help diminish breakouts and reduce redness. Recent findings about CBD’s impact on our lipid production indicates that it can also limit excessive sebum (oil) production and help offset other triggers of acne. And with its supremely low comedogenic rating of 0, CBD might be the ticket to clear skin for this growing population of people looking for better, natural alternatives to today’s Accutanes and spironolactones.

Our favourite acne fighting products are Smooth CBD Cream by Calyx, Calm CBD Cream and Support CBD Cream by Herb Angels, and CBD Infused Facial Serum by Nectar.

CBD Oil for Anti-Aging and Wrinkles

CBD oil’s antioxidant properties indicate that it can help lessen the visible signs of aging skin. By counteracting free-radical damage, CBD anti-aging creams may be able to help visibly diminish issues like firmness, wrinkles, skin dullness, and ruddy skin tone. And of course, there are lot of antioxidants in the sea, so CBD is just one of many to consider, especially if you’re looking to compound its other benefits.

Our favourite regenerative and anti-aging products are Smooth+ CBD Cream by Calyx, CBD Body Lotion by Delush, and CBD Infused Facial Serum by Nectar.

CBD Oil for Sensitive Skin

Another benefit of CBD oil is that it has been found to have significant soothing properties. Its substantial skin-calming and skin-normalizing effects can help minimize issues related to skin sensitivity, including redness. Even if you don’t think of your skin as “sensitive” per se, all skin types are affected by environmental stressors, so CBD’s soothing mechanism can help keep skin in check.

Our favourite products for sensitive skin are CBD Body Lotion by Delush, CBD Infused Facial Serum by Nectar, and Calm CBD Cream by Herb Angels.

What’s the difference between CBD isolate and “full-spectrum” (“whole-plant”) CBD?

As you probably guessed, CBD isolate is exactly what it sounds like—CBD and nothing but CBD. Some people prefer knowing that it won’t be affected by any other cannabinoids, while others believe that cannabinoids work better together than alone, dubbed the entourage effect.

A recent study from Israel showed that CBD isolate didn’t work as well for pain as whole plant extract. The research indicated that a full cannabinoid profile, including CBN AND CBG, is required to be effective. Other research indicates that isolates deliver the most effective ingredient consistently, providing transformative benefits without the strong, pungent odor.

Wait, but what’s the difference between hemp oil and CBD oil? When should I go for which?

If you’re looking for a lightweight oil to add some extra moisture and boost your nutrient intake, hemp oil is generally a more affordable way to get those benefits. However, if you want an oil that’ll calm irritated skin or combat acne the experts, CBD would be more effective and therefore, the better choice.

The real problem with the mix-up

Both are wellness ingredients that can fit pretty much anywhere in your self-care routine, so there’s no harm done if you use one over the other… unless you’re trying to reap the potential benefits of CBD oil. So if you’ve mixed these oils up, you’ve probably experienced a financially painful mistake more than anything.

Unfortunately, a number of brands are attempting to cash in on the rising popularity around cannabis and the lack of education around it, making claims that their products contain CBD and calling it cannabis sativa oil, which is misleading. While they make come from the same plant, they’re no Patty and Selma. They’re more like the Hemsworth brothers Chris and Liam (sorry Luke), both sexy for their own reasons, but very different makeups and benefits.

Our advice is to always check the product label, ask questions, and make sure you know what you’re buying. An educated consumer market will help the wellness industry continue to destigmatize and normalize the plants benefits. It’s the only way everybody wins.