The boom of CBD products in recent months has been overwhelming. I don't know about you, but I feel bombarded all the time with products that supposedly have this miraculous ingredient. But, what is CBD? Is it safe? What benefits does it have? And is it regulated?

I’ve wanted for several months to find the answers to these questions and write about CBD and just a few weeks ago I had the opportunity to meet Estela Cockrell, owner of Switch2Pure, a natural product store in River Oaks District and I immediately knew that she would be the perfect person to help me decipher this CBD enigma.

Estela's story has not been easy, after several illnesses, Lyme disease being one of them, she decided to start the search for toxin-free products that she could use without aggravating her disease and that's how she found CBD and decided to open her own store to make natural skincare products available to everyone, in addition to developing her own line.

Today I share the conversation I had with her where she clarified all the questions I had about CBD, in addition to giving me very good recommendations on how to know what products are safe, how to use them, and what benefits do they have.

Before starting my conversation with Estela, let's start by defining what CBD is.

Cannabidiol or CBD is one of the more than 100 chemical compounds found in the plant known as Cannabis Sativa. You might be wondering if it has psychoactive effects since it comes from cannabis, and the answer is definitely no. The component that causes a “high” or psychoactive reaction is known as THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol, CBD doesn’t have a psychoactive component.

Q&A with Estela from Switch2Pure.

What are the benefits of CBD and why did you decide to use this ingredient in your skincare products?

The benefits of CBD are many, but the most important one for skincare is that it’s a very powerful antioxidant and a great anti-inflammatory. The two things that cause signs of aging in our skin are oxidation, which is the death of our cells, and inflammation such as rosacea, pigmentation or impurities. That is why all the products in my skincare line are made with very powerful natural ingredients that attack these signs. I chose CBD as one of these ingredients because it is a great alternative to the more aggressive ingredients, and it gives the same anti-aging, anti-inflammatory and rejuvenation results without exposing you to dangerous ingredients.

Is the use of CBD legal in Texas?

The use of CBD in Texas is legal as long as it is hemp-based and does not contain more than .3% THC.

Are products containing CBD regulated?

CBD is not yet regulated, so it’s very important to be very careful with products that are sold online and in other places since not all CBD is harvested or used correctly. I highly recommend knowing the brand of the product you’re buying from. There are also other types of certifications that are important to verify for example at Switch2pure, we have certificates for not containing artificial ingredients, for being organic and for being made in approved laboratories that make over-the-counter medications.

Hopefully, the United States government will soon regulate CBD to ensure that products containing CBD are made correctly, in approved labs and with the necessary standards so that we can remove from the market those clandestine brands that are selling non-complying products.

All Switch2Pure products are made in approved labs for over-the-counter medications and have certificates of origin and harvest of the CBD and its proper use.

What are the side effects of CBD?

According to the Mayo Clinic, although CBD is well tolerated in general, some side effects that have been found are dry mouth, tiredness, lack of appetite and contraindication in the use of other medications. Therefore, you must consult your doctor before using CBD products.

However, studies being conducted at the Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston are using high doses of CBD to treat neurological conditions such as epilepsy, pain, and anxiety and are showing great results.

How do we use Switch2Pure products in our daily skincare routine?

At Switch2Pure we have a new line of ideal skincare products that contain CBD. Our products are natural, contain no toxic ingredients and have eco-conscious packaging.

For a perfect bedtime routine, I recommend using the Bright + Shine cleanser, which is made with Aloe Vera and is perfect for any skin type, whether you have young or more mature skin. In addition to cleaning impurities, it is very moisturizing.

Then I recommend using the Be Glowy spray serum which is very good for combating aging lines and it deposits vitamins directly to the skin. This spray can also be used during the day.

Finally, apply the rejuvenating oil called Well & Glow which, in addition to having CBD, it also has a strong amount of Bakuchiol that is natural vitamin A. I developed the Well & Glow so you could have a moisturizer, an oil and Retinol all in a single bottle.

Another ideal complement for the care of the face, especially if you have eczema or acne is the soap bar called Glow Bar. I highly recommend using this soap with the Konjac sponge since it’s made with natural ingredients and is perfect for exfoliating and removing dead skin cells and it leaves your skin super clean and bright.

Thank so much Estela for helping us answer so many questions about CBD. I’ve been using CBD products from Switch2Pure for a week and I feel that my skin is cleaner, brighter and healthier. I loved all the products but definitely, my favorites were the Glow Bar soap bar and the Konjac sponge to exfoliate my face with and the Well & Glow oil as it contains the natural version of Retinol.

Switch2Pure has many more products so you can't miss visiting their beautiful store in River Oaks District.