Best CBD Lotions
Cannabidiol (CBD) has become a familiar word in the wellness industry, and the types of products are proliferating. The Brightfield Group estimates the CBD market will reach $16.8 billion by 2025. Included is the projected growth in sales of CBD topicals. The research group found people are purchasing topicals for two main reasons, which are relief and enhanced mental health (relaxation and calming experiences). The leading users are posting anecdotal evidence that CBD topicals are used for fitness and self-care.
Research into the benefits of CBD lotion and other types of topicals is expanding because CBD is a natural plant compound that delivers many wellness benefits. What are the best CBD body lotions, and how do they work?
TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read):
CBD lotion is a type of moisturizer for nourishing and hydrating skin. It is formulated with CBD extract and various other ingredients, like arnica, menthol and essential oils. Each CBD lotion is formulated to address a specific purpose, like recovery after exercise, promoting calm and relaxation or general skin health.
Table of Contents
Skin Health
Skin is a protective barrier against environmental conditions that can cause oxidative stress and the source of cell damage. Oxidative stress is also involved in aging skin and various skin disorders. Skin exposure to these elements and other factors, such as skin type, diet, and intense exercise, can lead to dry and irritated skin.
The best CBD body lotions feel great and soothe dry, troubled skin for maximum relief. One of the many advantages of using CBD lotion is that you can apply it wherever it is needed most.
What is CBD Lotion?
CBD lotions are a type of moisturizer infused with cannabidiol (CBD) and formulated with other ingredients like essential oils.
A lotion is lighter than a cream because it has more water content. The lighter texture and weight make it more readily absorbable.
However, most lotions only penetrate the epidermis, which is the top skin layer. To ensure maximum benefits, CBD lotions are formulated with different ingredients.
Cannabinoids are lipophilic (fat soluble) substances, so carrier oils are added to assist the lotion with penetrating the skin as deeply as possible. Some features of various CBD lotions include the following.
- Available with full spectrum and broad spectrum CBD.
- Often contain vitamins, like B3, E and C, known to support skin health.
- May contain hyaluronic acid, which supports tissue hydration and supplements the natural hyaluronic acid found in the skin.
- Contain botanicals that are essential and carrier oils like jojoba oil, argan oil, safflower oil, MCT oil, lemongrass oil, hemp oil, etc., which help the skin absorb CBD and other hemp plant compounds to support healthy skin.
- Many are formulated to address a specific need, like relaxation, so have ingredients like menthol, a chemical in peppermint and mint plants that provides a cooling and aromatherapy effect.
Full spectrum CBD contains all the natural compounds in the hemp plant, including cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids. This means it does contain some THC but within the legal limit of 0.3%. On the other hand, if you want to avoid all THC, the broad spectrum CBD lotions have all the hemp plant compounds except THC, which has been removed (except for perhaps a trace) during production.
What Are the Potential Uses for CBD Lotion?
More research is in progress, but there is already a lot of clinical evidence that CBD lotion has many uses.
1. Hydrate skin
Dry skin is more than flaky. It can be itchy and tight and change the appearance of skin tone. One of the common causes of dry skin is trans-epidermal water loss, meaning too much water is escaping through the top layer of skin. Regularly applying CBD lotion prevents water loss while delivering skin barrier repair properties associated with cannabinoids.
2. Treat minor skin irritations and itching
The endocannabinoid system receptors are involved in the itch response, and research has found that some receptors play an important role in the communication of immune cells, sensory nerves and keratinocytes (cells forming the epidermis) involved in itching. CBD may reduce itching and ease skin irritations due to its interactions with skin cells.
3. Protect skin
CBD has demonstrated the potential to protect keratinocytes against the damage caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays. CBD has been shown to increase endocannabinoid levels and activate CB1 and CB2 receptors or TRPV1. By counteracting against oxidative stress and changing the keratinocyte’s lipid structure, the epidermis is protected.
4. Soften skin
By moisturizing skin, CBD softens it. CBD lotions are formulated with ingredients that nurture healthy skin, increasing skin pliability.
5. Support relaxation
Soothing ingredients in some CBD lotions can promote calm. For example, menthol, peppermint and magnesium can help calm feelings of stress and promote calm. Many essential oils can ease feelings of anxiety and support muscle relaxation. Combining CBD with these types of ingredients enhances the CBD lotion’s effects.
6. May act as an anti-bacterial agent
CBD has shown it may be a potent anti-bacterial agent. It seems to be particularly effective against MRSA-causing skin infections. Also, CBD and CBG may exert anti-bacterial activity without harming the balance of healthy microbiota in the skin.
7. Relieve discomfort due to exertion
After exercising, performing strenuous work duties or participating in sports, it is common to experience stiff muscles. CBD lotion with menthol and essential oils may soothe sore joints and muscles.
Though CBD is not approved as a reliever, some studies have found CBD topicals may improve and speed up recovery post-exercise after strenuous activities. In one study, athletes who experienced a lower-body injury applied a topical of 5 mg of CBD formulated with camphor and essential oils like wintergreen and lemongrass twice a day (10 mg total) reported significant improvements in function and decreases in discomfort after six weeks of application.
Top Best-Selling CBD Lotions
Here are four of the best-selling CBD lotions.
1. Social CBD Body Lotion
- CBD type:Â broad spectrum
- CBD per bottle:Â 1600 mg
- Price:Â $23.99
Social CBD lotion is carefully formulated to boost feelings of calm and relaxation. It delivers 40 mg of CBD per a .2 oz application and a blend of magnesium for muscle relaxation, arnica for healing, hyaluronic acid for skin hydration and aromatherapy oils like lavender and chamomile. The lotion also contains skin-enriching botanicals like cocoa seed butter, shea nut butter and mango seed butter. It is one of the most soothing and relaxing CBD lotions available.
2. Level Select CBD Daily Sport Lotion
- CBD type: broad spectrum
- CBD per bottle: 1600 mg
- Price:Â $18.99
The THC-free Level Select CBD lotion is unscented, so it is an excellent choice for people with sensitive skin. Each application contains approximately 40 mg of CBD. Designed for athletes and sports enthusiasts, the lotion also contains hyaluronic acid, vitamin B3 and calendula, a plant known for skin health with anti-microbial qualities. You can use this product for everyday relief and after every workout to soothe stressed skin.
3. Cornbread Hemp CBD Lotion Skin Formula
- CBD type:Â full spectrum
- CBD per bottle:Â 750 mg
- Price:Â $37.49
Cornbread Hemp CBD lotion uses a proprietary Flower-Only hemp extract. Hemp flowers have the highest CBD concentration compared to other plant parts. The USDA organic CBD extract is blended with organic ingredients like rosemary oil, safflower oil and lemongrass oil. The lotion is a full-spectrum product, so it also contains THC to maximize benefits. Each application delivers 25 mg of CBD and 1 mg of THC to nourish your skin with all the hemp plant nutrients.
4. Endoca CBD Face + Body Oil
- CBD type: full spectrum
- CBD per bottle:Â 300 mg
- Price:Â $49.50
The lightweight Endoca CBD apricot oil is rich in antioxidants. Each bottle has 300 mg of CBD, less than 0.2% THC, natural food-grade ingredients like cold-pressed apricot kernel oil, bergamot oil and vitamins E and A. It is also rich in terpenes. Endoca’s product contains only 100% natural and 100% certified organic ingredients to ensure the healthiest formula for all skin types. The face and body oil is absorbed quickly to hydrate and nourish skin, leaving a silky feel.
How to Choose the Best CBD Lotion for Your Needs?
You want to buy only the best CBD lotion to protect your skin and meet your particular needs. Following are some guidelines.
- Buy CBD lotion from established, reputable brands
- Read customer reviews
- Review the Certificate of Analysis (COA) prepared by a third-party laboratory
- Look for products made with premium ingredients
- Review the ingredients, looking for those that support your specific skin needs and verify there are none you may be allergic to or have a sensitivity to
- Check for the potency per application
- Look for lotions that use CBD extracted from high-quality hemp with natural ingredients
- Choose products that supply consistent dosing information
- Choose lotions formulated to meet your needs, i.e., relaxation, daily calming, intense hydration, post-sport skin stress, etc.
Natural Soothing for the Skin
To get the most benefit from CBD lotions, it is important to apply lotion each day. Repeated applications over time will enable the CBD and other skin-soothing ingredients to produce the desired effects. High-quality CBD lotions made with the best ingredients offer softening and hydration properties for the skin, but additional ingredients enhance the effects further with ingredients that stimulate the senses.
Sources
- https://blog.brightfieldgroup.com/who-buys-cbd-topicals
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9210160/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7736837/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10672037/
- https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9284/11/1/22
- https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/cbd-beauty-products.html
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2021/6647222
- https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/9/6/297
- https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/3/2389
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10061782/
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