them to an unexpected place: a laboratory.
“In Germany, we can’t source the product from the
buds of the hemp plants,” says Rushworth, who notes that
using lab-created CBD removes even the miniscule
amounts of THC that would make it ineligible for sale in
many countries across Europe. “If I say, ‘We use synthetic,’
people raise their eyebrows, but it’s not a bad word. It has
exactly the same benefits as naturally-derived CBD oil.”
Using this “nature-identical” CBD has other advantages
as well, according to Simpson. With no potential for variation
on the products’ ingredients listing, consumers and
spa professionals alike will know exactly what they’re getting
when they use the phyto-CBD serum and cream included
in the new line. “Spa owners and operators have
always been at the forefront of researching the brands
they choose to work with. [They’re] looking for transparency
and performance. I don’t see that changing; I only
see that increasing.”
Time for Transparency
Luongo echoes those thoughts and suspects that brands
emphasizing transparency and quality of ingredients in
their CBD products will be far more likely to find success
in an industry that prizes those characteristics so highly.
Therapists and service providers, she points out, are often
drawn to products that are clear about what they contain
and, perhaps more importantly, what they don’t. “Estheticians
feel confident understanding the ingredients, understanding
the performance and using it in the treatment
room or recommending it as a retail or homecare option,”
she says. “When somebody leads with that as a brand and
they have the quality of ingredients—a lot of times the
proof is in the pudding when you look at an ingredient
listing. I love when I see [brands] not using silicone or petroleum.
I love when I don’t see sulfates in the CBD lines.”
Simple, clear ingredient listings may be high on the list
of concerns when evaluating the use of CBD products in
spa treatments, but there are other markers of quality—
such as tracing and third-party testing—that Kreider urges
service providers and spa-goers alike to keep in mind,
no matter which brands they use. “Consumers are more
CONTINUED ON PAGE 23