As of the day I’m writing this article, it’s been nearly a year since I’ve filled my Xanax prescription, and the Happy Dance CBD bath bombs by Kristen Bell is part of the reason for that. I had very legit reasons for being on Xanax for several years. Unbeknownst to me at the time, you aren’t supposed to take them as a maintenance medication. My psychiatrist at the time had been prescribing them as such.
Imagine my surprise when, upon changing psychiatrists, I was informed that taking Xanax every day as a “maintenance medication” isn’t exactly smiled upon. In short, unbeknownst to me I had given myself yet another habit to break. As an ex-smoker and ex-binge drinker I was up for the task but I knew it would be hard. If you’re considering going off of Xanax yourself please consult a doctor.
When I say I’ve had chronic anxiety my entire life, it is by no exaggeration. I didn’t get help for it until college, and it took several years to find what I thought was the “right” pharmaceutical profile I needed. I had taken Xanax XR daily – sometimes twice daily – for several years before giving CBD a go.
And while Happy Dance hasn’t necessarily been a silver bullet, I’m surprised at the results I continue to see.
What Is Happy Dance CBD?
The Happy Dance skin care line includes bath bombs, (original or peppermint blossom), body butter, coconut melt, hand cream, and eye cream. For the most part I stick with the bath bombs, although I use the body butter for when I get dry skin and have used the coconut melt for chaffing.
If the medical benefits of Happy Dance products aren’t reason enough to love them, it’s all vegan, cruelty-free and organic. It doesn’t hurt to have Kristen Bell’s name behind the brand either (a fellow mom who *gets* it? Yes, please!). All products are also certified by third-party ISO certified labs. This is critical when buying any CBD product.
I was really curious how Kristen Bell got into CBD in the first place. She tells Forbes that a hairstylist would use CBD cream on her shoulders.
It’s hard to explain what it did to me, but I just felt this overall improvement, and at the end of a chaotic day, using any Lord Jones product made me feel like I was either turning down the volume on my children or turning the thermostat of my life to exactly the right temperature.
I contacted Lord Jones and just asked them if we could create a product together that demystifies CBD, that doesn’t play into the stoner trope or feel too clinical but that feels cheeky and a little more me, and at a price point that can be more accessible.
I really wanted to allow people who had not used it before or who had not been exposed to it the accessibility, and in any of my entrepreneurial ventures, that’s always been the priority.
What is CBD?
CBD is a cannabinoid (or chemical compound) found in the hemp plant. It does not carry any psychoactive effects (unlike THC). Translation: it won’t get you high. CBD has been used for thousands of years for medicinal purposes. In fact, the first recorded use of cannabis for medicinal purpose occurred in 2727 BC.
In 1940, scientists learned how to isolate CBD from marijuana. By 1998, it finds it way into pharmaceuticals as several states legalize CBD. After the 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the CBD buzz reached a fever pitch. It’s now available in many forms, including edibles, tinctures and topicals. The Happy Dance line falls into the topical category.
How does CBD Work?
Our body already has a network of cannabinoids that it makes on its own, known as the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is responsible for sleep, pain, mood, appetite, and other bodily functions. When CBD is introduced into the endocannabinoid system, it helps good compounds bind to receptors and blocks out harmful compounds.
The scientific research is still catching up, but what we’ve learned so far is that CBD can activate serotonin receptors, promote dopamine and amplify GABA. Studies also are looking into how CBD use impacts pain by binding to TRPV1 receptors.
How Do You Use Happy Dance?
Bath Bombs
My favorite Happy Dance product is the original bath bombs. Lightly scented with ginger and grapefruit, the bombs also are infused with coconut oil, cocoa butter and CBD (60 mg). To achieve the full effect, I use two bombs and soak for at least 15 minutes. I’m also kind of obsessed with Bath and Body Works’ aromatherapy line, so I’m constantly mixing and matching different things to suit my mood. Another cool thing I’ve noticed is that it doesn’t always take 2 bath bombs – when it comes to CBD less can be more depending on what you are trying to accomplish and how your body reacts!
At $15 a box for four bath bombs, it works out to $7.50 a soak if you’re using two. It’s not chump change, but I’ve spent much more on way less helpful things.
At that price point, you may think you’ll just stay with your Dr. Teal’s thank-you-very-much. This occurred to me as well and I definitely put in some time Googling other brands or even DIY options. But after further examination I was hard pressed to find anything comparable at that price point.
After a lot of digging I learned that most 100 mg bath bombs started at least in the $10 price point. I even considered making my own bath bombs, but finally concluded that it was worth the investment to not have to turn my kitchen into a chemistry lab when Happy Dance already has it figured out. (You could even buy them at Direct CBD online and save 15% when using autoship.)
Body Butter
I like to lather on this stuff good right before bedtime. The older I get the more I’ve been reaching for the body butter (thanks, perimenopause!) I keep some of it at my desk for a pick-me-up, and I enjoy the fresh smell. It’s also great for neck and back massages!
Shea, cocoa butter and olive oil are the magic ingredients here that provide the moisture. Rosemary and rice brand extract bring antioxidants into the mic. They recently updated their formula because people like me love to cake it on and it had the tendency to flake. Not the case with the new formula!
For the ultimate self-care day, I like to pair this with a roll on my Chirp wheel, topped off with a Headspace meditation or a relaxing channel on Brain.fm.
Coconut Melt
The coconut melt is the Swiss army knife of the collection. I’ve used it as a hair mask, a salve for my C-section scar and a chaser for my hair lightening spray. Also, if I’m ever out of bath bombs I can dump it straight into the bath (which I have totally done more than once).
One of the best features of the coconut mask is its simplicity. It comprises of only two ingredients – coconut oil and CBD. When you first take some of the coconut melt out of your hands, it’s solid, slumpy and white. Apply a little friction to it and it becomes a clear, warm oil.
You basically use it exactly as you would coconut oil and it can be applied in either a solid or liquid state. That said, keep in mind that it’s for topical use only.
Face Cream
I love the pudding-like consistency so much that I hold my breath and try to avoid the smell. If it weren’t for the faint, almost mildew smell it would be perfect. To be fair, the smell isn’t as intense if you store it in a cool, dry place (or they’ve updated the formula). The first jar I ever ordered stays in the car, and the Texas heat definitely brings out the smell a little more. Maybe in a future iteration this will be less of an issue.
Active ingredients include avocado oil, hyaluronic acid and, of course, CBD. A bisabolol and ginger blend is added for even skin tone and reduced redness. I’m not much of a face/eye cream type of person, so I typically stick with the bath and body products. Those who love it enjoy the creamy non-stick texture and how it’s easy on sensitive skin. And also that it’s a premium skincare product at an affordable price.
It looks like they’ve also recently released a companion eye cream that contains avocado oil, hymagic 4D, quinoa derived extracts, peptides and CBD. If you’re desperate for a solution to de-puff your eyes, the reviews are very strong in favor of this product.
Does Happy Dance Make You High?
When I get out of the bath after using the Happy Dance CBD bath bombs, my skin is left feeling fully moisturized. I don’t get high, but I get this “ahhh” feeling that I used to distinctly notice right around the 15-minute mark. Nowadays I may go 30 minutes or an hour post-bath before noticing the subtle difference but it’s there. It’s less about any additional effect, but noticing the absence of that heavy anxiety feeling after I’ve had a good soak. I’ve also noticed if I’ve gone awhile without using the bath bombs, I can either feel the effect sooner or I don’t necessarily need 2 bombs. Good to know if you need to stretch them out or are being extra budget-conscious.
Compared to ingesting CBD via capsule or gummy, I have found that soaking in a tub is more effective in achieving this “ahhhhhh” effect. CBD experts would tell you that’s because the skin is the largest organ in the body, thus soaking with a bath bomb has the powerful effect of fully engaging the endocannabinoid system in a way that these other methods don’t. It also helps to have the warm water and aromatherapy effect. They all combine for the best sensory experience. You also can layer on one of those relaxing Brain.fm channels for the ultimate sound bath + bath-bath experience.
All Happy Dance products carry less than the federal limit of 0.3% THC.
Where to Buy Happy Dance
It took me awhile before settling on a regular place to get my Happy Dance CBD bath bombs. Initially I had been buying them directly from the website but began to notice that shipping was taking too long. For awhile there I was dropping into Ulta, which also carried them. However, I noticed that Ulta.com wasn’t always accurate with which of their locations had Happy Dance in stock. However, they do provide free shipping on orders $35 and up.
Nowadays, I order them from CBD Direct for a few reasons (side note, I’m an affiliate). In addition to free shipping on orders $49 and up, they have a rewards program that is comparable to Ulta’s (and arguably better once you hit the Insider tier and start receiving double the points). Because they specialize in CBD products, they do a good job of keeping you in the loop on interesting products and the industry at-large. They’re also always offering generous promotion (as I’m writing this, they’re offering a 20% off promotion for existing customers.)
Ready to give Happy Dance bath bombs a try? Buy from Direct CBD and receive 35% off your first purchase with code: NEW35.
