• Hemp-based skincare has been picking up steam lately, and for good reason.
• With the market being so saturated, how can one possibly know which products to choose?
• PRIMA is leading the pack as the first Hemp CBD brand to earn high quality environmental verification by the Environmental Working Group, and it happens to be our favorite.

Hemp and cannabis-based products are experiencing a rapid rise in popularity. In 2018, the CBD skin care market was valued at $633.6 million, and with its trajectory is expected to be worth upwards of $1.7 billion by 2025. While people let go of their preconceived notions about cannabis and begin to see individual health benefits from the plant and a variety of infused products, the market continues to expand faster than anyone could possibly keep up with.

But how is this expansion possible while the marijuana plant is still illegal on a federal level? The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 (CSA) defines marijuana with Schedule I status, making it illegal. However, it does not define particular parts of the cannabis plant, including sterilized seeds, stalk, fiber, and hemp. Anything that can be separated from the plant and defined otherwise (like hemp) is not considered marijuana and has been approved for importing and commerce purposes.

While the American science community still tries to wrap its mind around marijuana, certain parts of the cannabis plant have been approved for trade and commerce. This has directly led to the boom in production as defined above, and usage has brought with it a ton of anecdotal evidence that suggests wide-ranging therapeutic benefits. So, why is the industry still so difficult to approach?

• The United States is behind other countries in its acceptance of cannabis-based products.
  For centuries, cannabis has been utilized for therapeutic, industrial, and religious purposes globally. As noted, the United States chose to criminalize marijuana and related products early on. There is a lot of literature surrounding why this happened,  including, perhaps, to systematically oppress minority groups who were gleaning benefits from the plant itself. Because the United States wasn’t spending money on research of the substance for medical use and therapeutic treatment at the rate other countries were and could not meet the need to monetize it properly, the government chose to outlaw it to prevent people from obtaining it in other ways. Because of this, official research on the substance remains sparse. Approaching anything as a health supplement is very difficult without extensive research supporting its benefits. Using something that has had negative stigma attached to it for decades as a scare tactic? Not so easy.
• Regulatory bodies in the United States largely turn a blind eye to cannabis-infused products.
  According to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) website: “To date, the FDA has not approved a marketing application for cannabis for the treatment of any disease or condition.” In fact, the agency has only approved 4 cannabis-related products at all, and they are all available with a prescription only. While many view the FDA’s virtual non-involvement in the industry as a good thing for manufacturers and product developers stateside, this also makes the market very difficult to navigate.

   

  Because there is virtually no stamp of approval to give, products are being developed in all types of ways, and chemical enhancement of the ingredients happens pretty often. This isn’t just in the cannabis industry. As we have witnessed new legislation passed in the last year, the FDA has long ignored the beauty industry at-large. Self-regulation has been unreliable, and harmful chemicals and inhumane practices have begun to be weeded out because the general public is demanding standards. The user has to be very discerning when approaching their hemp and CBD products; examining labels, websites, and doing a deep dive into the company, its practices, and values before committing to a brand or product.

With the beauty and cannabis industries being so saturated and incredibly competitive, it can actually be daunting to try to navigate either at any capacity. Are you choosing a product that was ethically manufactured? Are there harmful chemicals in or around your staple items that could cause cancer, decrease your immune system’s functioning, or create other negative health impacts in years to come? There is no cure-all, correct way to approach it. That’s why we did the work for you.

PRIMA is a small company specializing in hemp and CBD-based skincare products that considers themselves, first and foremost, wellness advocates. PRIMA is a verified B Corps company. This means that they passed a rigorous assessment on the overarching impact they make as a company. Their products – serums, soft gels, body and hand creams, capsules, and powders – are light, luxurious items that all tout reviews of 4.5+ stars (out of 5). Their branding is clean and beautiful, their website is easy to navigate and highly educational, and their gifts and bundles make it easy to try an array of products that work in tandem at a reduced price. PRIMA truly is making the cannabis-infused skincare world much more accessible. And they aren’t stopping at just being a beautiful brand. Their dedication to uplifting their community shows itself in their everyday business practices.

PRIMA prioritizes health and safety.

The skin responds best to ingredients that come directly from the earth, rather than synthetic formulations or chemicals. While many hemp companies utilize unethical practices in growing and obtaining their ingredients, PRIMA is dedicated to bringing pure, high quality products to the market only. No known carcinogens, neurotoxins, developmental or reproductive toxins, endocrine disruptors, or ingredients that otherwise damage humans or the environment are employed in the production process. While the United States has only banned 12 ingredients for health and safety – far behind Europe’s 1,376+ – PRIMA has banned over 2,800 harmful or harsh ingredients from production. Their stringent standards are actually world-leading.

Along with non-toxic ingredients, PRIMA is vegan and cruelty-free. They were the first hemp CBD brand to achieve Environmental Working Group (EWG) verification, which indicates a transparent manufacturer void of chemicals of concern. They source their ingredients from sustainable, single origin family farms in Oregon. The company uses highly sustainable packaging – with 85% of it being recyclable – and is 100% carbon neutral.

PRIMA educates their customers.

Many CBD and hemp-based brands will throw clinical terms at you without giving context. A host of others won’t ever mention the science behind their work. PRIMA works to educate their audience with science on a regular basis. This can be noted simply by perusing their Instagram and other social accounts. PRIMA makes it so that their customers are knowledgeable enough to make purchasing decisions that benefit their unique body chemistry.

The PRIMA team prioritizes and actively advocates for mental health. In fact, the COVID-19 pandemic and the stress associated with massive lifestyle changes across the board has thrown into greater light the necessity of approaching stress with all-natural products.

PRIMA pays it forward.

PRIMA donates 1% of their annual revenue to an array of non-profit partners. Their donation partners include The Loveland Foundation, which works to provide communities of color with previously inaccessible healing and therapeutic opportunities. They work with the Sierra Club, an environmental organization that provides grassroots activism efforts to support our earth and its natural resources. The third foundation they contribute to directly is the Children & Nature Network, which aims to get children outside for nature-induced wellness.

If you’re looking to step into the world of hemp and CBD, PRIMA is a well-rounded option to try. We’re big fans of the Skincare Power Trio for facial skin hydration, anti-aging effects, and a glowy finish. Those looking to incorporate a more ritualistic experience into their lives should opt for the Night Renewal Duo, which includes a Gua Sha to help rejuvenate skin with the Night Magic Face Oil. If you’re not looking specifically for skincare benefits, some of our favorite ingested supplements also come from this company. Try the Day & Night Duo to obtain the benefits of broad-spectrum hemp CBD, specifically targeted to improve your body’s functioning at certain times of the day.

As brand ambassadors, we can offer you special savings when you purchase prima from their website.  Save 20% on your purchase when you check out with the code SWELL. (We may make a minimal commission on your order, but know we selected to be ambassadors of this brand based on its incredible purity promise, EWG’s ratings, the high satisfaction of its customers and its efforts to give back.)