In case you’d forgotten, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are expecting another baby. A lot has happened since the initial announcement of baby number four, but somewhere in the world, their surrogate is getting close to delivering. There’s another boy on the way soon, and over the weekend, Kim had a baby shower for all her famous friends. Unlike recent Kardashian party themes like Avengers and Giant Inflatable of Stormi’s Head, Kim decided to go with more of a chill vibe, but of course it was still extra AF. And by that, I mean that she had a CBD and meditation-themed baby shower. Ugh.
In keeping with the Kanye’s recent church vibes and Kim’s outfits that look like the world’s bougiest yoga clothes, Kim focused the whole shower around ~wellness~, whatever that means. From the photos, it looked like they were all on a driveway in the middle of a forest, but it was probably just the backyard of one of Kim’s mansions. With everyone’s yoga mats arranged around some bizarre-looking metal bowls, this really looks like a rich person’s MLM party. It’s like if that sad girl from your high school who’s shilling essential oils was rich.
The main theme of the day was CBD, and guests got to make their own CBD-infused body oils, bath salts, and flower arrangements. Until this moment, I didn’t realize that CBD flower arrangements were a thing, but truly nothing surprises me anymore. CBD is used for tons of products, and people believe all kinds of ridiculous things about CBD and its properties. In addition to the DIY portion of the afternoon, guest also enjoyed a “sound bath” while relaxing on yoga mats. I’m not going to bother Googling what a sound bath is, because I don’t need to be angry about anything today.
The guests also guessed the new baby’s name on a whiteboard, which is really the only thing normal that happened at this baby shower. There was one suggestion that Kim liked enough to put on her Instagram: Harut. It’s Armenian for “He Has Risen,” which seems like the exact kind of name that Kim and Kanye would pick for their child. He’s not even born yet, and the Jesus comparisons are already rolling in!
Guests at the baby shower included Kourtney Kardashian, Larsa Pippen, and Chrissy Teigen. I’d like to think that Chrissy was rolling her eyes throughout the sound bath, but she probably took home a CBD flower arrangement so she didn’t look rude. We still don’t know exactly when Kim Kardashian’s new baby is due, but the due date probably isn’t far off. I’ll be anxiously waiting to see if Kim goes with Harut, or something else equally pretentious.
Images: @larsapippen, @kimkardashian (2) / Instagram
Lately, it seems like people can’t stop talking about CBD. There has been a huge surge in all things CBD, from beauty products to dietary supplements—some companies even sell CBD-infused lubricant. When it isn’t already integrated into a product, CBD often comes in the form of an oil. The compound supposedly helps to alleviate a variety of conditions, including pain, anxiety, and inflammation. While cannabidiol (CBD) is safe and beneficial for treating these conditions and more, there are still a lot of misconceptions surrounding this versatile compound. Increased interest in CBD has led to a surplus of CBD-related products hitting the market—which also means a surplus of misinformation. Let’s take a look at some of the most common CBD myths:
1. CBD Is “Non-Psychoactive”
When someone says CBD is non-psychoactive, they’re referring to the fact that CBD does not get users intoxicated, or high, like THC from the same cannabis plant does.
But to call CBD non-psychoactive is incorrect, since a psychoactive substance is simply one that affects the brain—not necessarily one that causes intoxication. A psychoactive substance can affect mood, cognition, and behavior. CBD has been shown to have antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects, so it is psychoactive because it affects mood and mental processes.
2. CBD Is Used For Medicine And THC Is Used for Recreation
The human body has an endocannabinoid system, meaning it produces its own cannabinoids. External cannabinoids from plants (called phytocannabinoids) can also influence the endocannabinoid system, where pain, inflammation, and other processes are regulated.
THC and CBD both work on the endocannabinoid system, THC directly and CBD indirectly, to unleash their effects. Both compounds are medically recognized to alleviate a number of conditions.
To call CBD the medicinal part of the plant and THC the fun part of the plant is far from the truth. Anecdotal and scientific evidence has long suggested that CBD works better with some THC present. Many medical marijuana patients use THC on a regular basis for conditions like chronic pain, glaucoma, nausea, and more. To ignore the years of medically verified uses for THC while embracing CBD would be ill-informed.
CBD has gained popularity because it has therapeutic effects without intoxicating the user, which appeals to many people hesitant to use cannabis. That doesn’t mean CBD is the only medicinal compound in the plant.
3. CBD Works Best When Isolated
The bulk of the CBD market is made up of either isolates or whole-plant extracts. Many mistakenly believe that isolating cannabidiol from the rest of the plant is the best way to get therapeutic effects, but evidence suggests that the opposite is true.
When using whole-plant extracts, all compounds of the plant are able to work synergistically with one another to boost their effects. Terpenes, the organic compounds that make up the taste and smell of cannabis, create a symbiosis with CBD and other cannabinoids in the plant, resulting in a stronger therapeutic effect.
CBD in its isolated form can still provide relief, but using full-plant CBD is more effective. This was shown in a 2015 study that stated, “Other components in the extract synergize with CBD to achieve the desired anti-inflammatory action.” The study also found that isolated CBD only worked in limited dosage ranges.
4. CBD Is A sedative
This is a confusing one, because a lot of people claim to use CBD to help them sleep. It can help with insomnia, as CBD relaxes the body, which can help you fall asleep faster. One study has even shown that CBD increases overall sleep time.
This does not make it a sedative, however. In fact, it’s been found to promote wakefulness, and many people consider their CBD dose to be energizing.
Those experiencing sedative effects from CBD may be able to attribute it to myrcene, a terpene found in high concentrations in many CBD strains. Myrcene is known for its sedation-inducing effects.
5. CBD Is Legal Everywhere In The United States
With CBD’s mainstream uprising, you might think that it must be legal everywhere. But the compound is still in a gray area when it comes to the law. Since the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp is recognized as an agricultural tool and is no longer considered a Schedule 1 controlled substance. CBD derived from hemp is now legally in the clear anywhere in the country. However, marijuana-derived CBD’s legality depends on the state where it is being sold, and that state’s own cannabis laws.
To sum up, CBD extracted from cannabis (rather than hemp) is federally illegal, but may be legal at the state level. Hemp-derived CBD is legal everywhere in the United States.
This murky legality hasn’t had much effect on availability. CBD can be found just about anywhere these days, and it’s only growing in popularity. That makes it all the more important that you know fact from fiction when it comes to common CBD myths.
Images: Caleb Simpson / Unsplash; Giphy (5)
CBD is all over the place right now, especially in LA. Everywhere from my favorite coffee shop to my dog groomer carries products with CBD. And tbh, I totally can see why. CBD does not get you high, but instead can help with pain, arthritis, anxiety, depression, blood pressure, and it seems like a million other things. Like most popular health kicks, everyone tries to get it on it. Here are a ton of products that I would have never thought would have CBD, but do, and their unexpected uses for it.
1. High Heel Pain
I’m sorry, what? I love heels and I’m famous for being able to wear my shoes all day and night without flinching. I’ve walked the entire Vegas strip in 6-inch stilettos. It’s mostly due to my paralyzing fear of germs, and over my dead f*cking body would I ever walk around barefoot, especially somewhere as dirty as Vegas. But anyway. There is now a foot cream called Cannuka that uses CBD to ease inflammation and calm angry feet so that your heels don’t kill you by the end of the night. It also can be used to help with any skin ailments like dry skin, lips, acne, eczema, and psoriasis. No pain and I don’t have to take my shoes off? What is this, witchcraft?
2. Athletic Recovery
Weirdly enough, I would never think this would apply to me, but I’m currently in so much pain from doing squats for the first time in a while two days ago. Seriously, I’ve been half-limping all day. Elevate Pain Relief Cream is to help actual athletes, instead of just out-of-shape people like me, recover from their workouts and injuries without prescription painkillers. It also helps them bounce back quickly to get back to training. I’m all for using a natural product over highly addictive drugs, so yeah, this is a really great idea, regardless of your athletic level.
3. Dry Skin Relief
Body creams with CBD (like this one from Extract Labs), help with winter skin, dry skin, and itching. It also helps your skin heal and rejuvenate faster. As a victim of adult acne (and chestne, backne, assne, etc, is it skin? I get acne on it), it’s super hard to find lotion that is heavy and moisturizing enough but also doesn’t make me breakout. Since CBD is also an acne treatment, this seems like it would basically solve all skin problems? Is that possible? That’s pretty cool.
4. Concentration
Sweet Reason Strawberry+Lavender
Ladies, put down your Adderall. Sweet Reason is a CBD sparkling water company, and honestly, I want it just because the bottles are so cute??? Like, this is way chicer than La Croix. Anyway, by putting CBD in the water, Sweet Reason boasts that you’ll feel calmer, have less anxiety, be less stressed out, and be able to concentrate better. So yeah, way more beneficial than La Croix that is just expensive flavored water. I say, un-ironically, as I take a sip of my La Croix (it’s the mango one, unsure if I like it). And don’t be grossed out by the thought of drinking CBD—I promise, it does not taste like the smell of your college dorm. And their flavors actually sound really good, like Grapefruit, Cucumber and Mint, and Strawberry and Lavender.
5. Sexual Arousal
Foria Awaken Natural Arousal Oil
Yes, you read that correctly—CBD is in lube now. Foria is the first company to make an “intimate arousal oil” with broad-spectrum CBD and botanical and aromatic oils. The company says it’s “formulated for women to enhance tactile sensation and pleasure while decreasing tension, discomfort and dryness” and has a chocolate and mint aroma. It’s only intended for topical use, but it is edible, vegan, and gluten-free. It really checks all the hippie boxes.
6. Dry Lips
Image: Kimberly Nanney / Unsplash
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Cannabidiol, more popularly known as CBD, is officially taking over the world. Hemp is now legal and CBD products are being sold in stores. I remember when my mom didn’t even let me touch the Hempz lotion on the shelf at CVS… good times. Now I’m writing a CBD wellness post for Betches. LOOK AT ME NOW, MOM! (She’s definitely going to see this. Hi, mom.)
Okay, so I battle chronic Lyme disease and anxiety on the daily. I also train Brazilian jiu-jitsu 3-4 days/week. What I’m trying to say here is that I’m basically an ideal candidate for CBD because I’m always broken and hurting.
CBD is said to work wonders for pain management, stress relief, overall health improvement, as well as beauty and skin care. Since I need all the help I can get, I put a few products to the test for a week to see just how effective CBD products are for relieving pain, easing the mind and body of stress, chilling TF out, and improving my skin. Here’s how well they worked:
Beauty/Skin Care
Skincare routine who? Yeah, I don’t have one.
As someone with eczema and super sensitive skin, trying any form of beauty or skin care product on my face or body (aside from my tried-and-true usuals) has always scared me. Was I going to break out in pimples and rashes everywhere or was I going to turn into a magical goddess with flawless skin? Nobody knows!
I tried CBD For Life’s Eye Serum and Face Cream on Sunday night after I showered and found out for myself.
CBD For Life Eye Serum
I pumped a glob onto my finger and wiped what I thought was a respectable amount of serum underneath and around my eyes. I had some extra serum left over, so I wiped it into my hands then struggled to open the jar of face cream because I had eye serum all over my hands. Again, NOT a beauty pro.
CBD For Life Face Cream
So, did I turn into a pre-pubescent teen all over again or a beautiful goddess?
My skin felt healthier after applying the eye serum and the face cream, and continued to feel that way all week long during this trial run. It was shiny and glowing. It looked so good that I sent my mom a selfie then got yelled at when I told her I wasn’t sharing. Bad daughter, good skin. Oh well. Here’s photographic evidence of my skin before and after applying the cream, so you don’t just have to take my word for it.
Before: My winged eyeliner is flawless but my skin is not.
After CBD. My skin is so much smoother and less blotchy and red.
I also swapped out my fragrance-free and hypoallergenic Aveeno for CBD For Life’s CBD Hand & Body Lotion as a daily lotion and moisturizer throughout the week. I didn’t have any reactions or break out in any rashes at any point, and it kept my skin smooth and hydrated, but it didn’t cause any drastic, noticeable differences compared to the Aveeno I usually use. It actually felt about the same.
CBD For Life Hand & Body Massage Lotion
FINAL THOUGHTS: CBD works pretty well to heal and rejuvenate your skin. My face didn’t break out and has been glowing ever since I started using the eye serum and face cream. The lotion wasn’t life-changing but kept my skin hydrated like any other lotion I’ve used. Regardless, I think I’ve officially converted from a non-skin care believer to a regular CBD beauty product user.
Stress & Tension Relief
As a betch with anxiety, I need something to calm me the hell down, so I found the perfect product to try: Baked Beauty Co.’s CALM THE HELL DOWN CBD Anxiety Salve.
Baked Beauty Co. Anxiety Salve
For seven days, I applied the salve first thing in the morning once I woke up to relieve my already stiff and aching neck. I also applied it onto my shoulders and behind and around my knees after training Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Lucky for me, I was PMSing during this experiment so I was able to see if the product worked to reduce these symptoms as well, like headaches, lower back aches, and cramps. I massaged the salve into my temples, lower back, and pelvic area. Worked like a charm within a few minutes and lasted for a while! This 1,000 mg salve 1,000% helped to relieve stress and tension from my head and body. It soothed my inflamed joints after exercising and literally calmed me the hell down like the product name told me to.
FINAL THOUGHTS: If you struggle with life anxiety, bad PMS symptoms, or stress from work, your relationship, or anything else, then you should try a CBD anxiety/stress relief product. It’s crazy how much better your day can be when you’re not holding as much tension in your shoulders, body, and mind.
P.S. Can we please take a minute to appreciate how amazing this company’s branding is? SO cute.
Pain Management
Last but not least, the biggest, baddest test of all: Can CBD help manage and reduce pain from exercise and everyday/chronic ailments? I put Blue Ridge Hemp’s 200mg CBD-Infused Salve to the test for the week to find out.
Blue Ridge Hemp Co. CBD Infused Salve
I’m currently dealing with a displaced rib, a stiff neck, and aching bones. My pain started acting up after BJJ class Monday night, so I rubbed some of the salve into my calf for the first time. I’m not even kidding when I say I experienced immediate pain relief. I couldn’t believe it.
During Thursday night’s class, my hip popped like the grandma that I am and caused a rude amount of pain that radiated down to my knee. I couldn’t even walk without crying limping. As soon as I got home I applied the salve around my hip and all over my leg… and woke up with little to no pain. I have absolutely no idea how that happened, but I’m so grateful for this miracle rub because that hip pop felt like it should have kept me bedridden for days.
I even let my friend who trains muay thai try it, because sharing is caring (especially when you hold the cure for pain relief and you’re surrounded by people who enjoy beating the sh*t out of each other). The same exact thing happened for him too. We were sitting on my couch obsessing over how quickly it helped to relieve our shoulder, knee, neck, and joint pain. Yay, the joys of getting old!
FINAL THOUGHTS: CBD DEFINITELY works to manage and reduce pain stemming from chronic illnesses, exercise, and injury. It drastically reduced the aches and pains I have on an everyday basis and from training a very physically demanding contact sport. The salve was so soothing and healing that my friend tried to steal it the night I let him try it because he loved it so much. I know I just said sharing is caring, but IDC—that sh*t is MINE and I need it.
Overall Thoughts
CBD is my new miracle drug (which isn’t a drug at all). I can confidently say that after trying all of these products for a week, CBD absolutely works to improve your skin, reduce stress, and relieve pain.
It might sound like I’m promoting the products I used by saying they all worked well but that’s SO not the case. They seriously helped me and I’m genuinely advocating the benefits of using CBD for these reasons based on my experience. I’m just really excited about it, okay?
This was a really fun experiment that has changed my life for the better in many ways. I mean, I’m still an anxiety-ridden betch with a few chronic ailments, but at least now my skin looks and feels healthier, my stress is reduced, and my pain is manageable thanks to these awesome wellness products.
Thanks, CBD! 10/10 would definitely recommend.
