Stars turning to CBD to survive hours in high heels

With Sunday’s Golden Globes fast approaching, the 2019 red carpet season is kicking into high gear — and for celebrities, that means hours of posing, schmoozing and delivering acceptance speeches in painful, perilously high heels.

But while stars (and their stylists) have long used tried-and-true tricks like moleskin and gel inserts to make stilettos more comfortable, many are adding something else to their arsenal: cannabis. And no, they’re not lighting up before getting out of their limos.

“One great trick that a lot of celebrities in LA use is CBD cream on their feet, because it numbs the pain,” E! style expert Zanna Roberts Rassi told Page Six Style. “The Lord Jones cream is one that Michelle Williams swears by.”

Karla Welch, who dresses A-listers including Karlie Kloss, Sarah Paulson, Tracee Ellis Ross and Elisabeth Moss, has sung the very same potion’s praises on Instagram.

“A shout out to my friends @thelordjones,” the powerhouse stylist wrote. “Their pain and wellness cream with CBD is the absolute CURE for aching feet on the red carpet.”

Added Welch, “Don’t worry, your feet aren’t going to get high but this miracle cream is going to make a long #GoldenGlobes evening much more fun. So until designers learn how to make a stiletto as comfy as sneakers, @thelordjones is in my styling kit. #thisisnotanad”

Mandy Moore has similarly spoken out about trying the remedy for her aching toes. “This year I’m trying some CBD oil on my feet, which my stylist recommended,” the “This Is Us” star told Coveteur in 2018. “I asked her if there was some kind of numbing cream, and she was like, ‘No! [Try] Lord Jones CBD oil.’ [So] I could be floating this year.”

CBD (or cannabidiol) may come from the cannabis plant, but unlike THC (tetrahydracannabinol), it has no psychoactive effects — and is legal throughout the US. And while Lord Jones’ CBD-infused lotion will set you back more than most foot creams at $60, options abound at a range of price points.

“CBD applied topically is an excellent way to decrease focal pain,” board certified podiatric surgeon (and self-proclaimed stiletto lover) Dr. Suzanne Levine told Page Six Style. “When applied topically, very little CBD is absorbed into the bloodstream, and it can provide significant reduction in local pain and inflammation.”

As for possible side effects? There are next to none, Levine said, although “conceivably one might have a local reaction in a small minority of patients.” To minimize risk, she recommends buying from a known manufacturer and noting the CBD dosage in any product you consider purchasing. “Generally, the higher the amount of CBD the better,” she said. “But also, the more expensive.”

There are several ways to use the stuff: Before slipping on your heels, or as a mid-evening pick-me-up, just as the ache starts to set in. “CBD does not act instantly after topical application,” Levine pointed out, “so if you are fairly sure that you will develop pain in a certain area, it does make sense to apply the CBD prophylactically” — say, on the balls of the feet or the tops of your toes.

Fans of topical cannabidiol might also consider trying oral CBD (via an oil or tincture) for more general pain relief; just be sure to read the label carefully first. “If taken orally, there should be no THC in the product,” Dr. Levine warned. “Unless you have a different goal.”