CBD Creams vs. CBD Lotions
Creams and lotions differ in many ways, specifically in consistency and the oil-to-water ratio. However, they also have something important in common. Moisturizers are crucial for maintaining healthy skin, essential for overall well-being. Your skin serves as a protective barrier against environmental factors, helps regulate body temperature, fights germs, and provides sensory input. Skincare products include creams and lotions, and clinical studies show evidence that topical products may offer numerous benefits, including antioxidant, moisturizing, and anti-aging properties.
TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read):
CBD creams and lotions both contain cannabidiol, but they also include additional ingredients that support skin health, such as botanicals and vitamins. CBD cream is thicker than lotion because it contains more oils and butters, making it ideal for applying to specific areas of the skin. CBD lotion has a lighter consistency due to its higher water content, which enables quicker absorption and broader body coverage. CBD skincare products offer many potential benefits beyond hydration, including reduced discomfort and muscle soreness, and may support improvement in various skin conditions.
What is a CBD Cream?
A CBD cream is a topical product containing CBD and other ingredients that soothe and comfort the skin. Some CBD creams are formulated with additional amounts of cannabinoids, such as CBG. Various products contain ingredients such as mint, arnica, aloe vera, rosemary leaf extract, and a host of other botanicals and vitamins, including vitamin E. CBD creams also contain one or more essential oils, including lemongrass, sunflower seed, coconut, tea tree, and lavender oils.
Choosing cream for relief depends on your skin needs. For example, some products contain ingredients like histamine dihydrochloride. This FDA-approved ingredient dilates blood vessels and may help alleviate stiffness in muscles and joints. Humectants, like glycerin, may attract and bind water.
What is a CBD Lotion?
A CBD lotion is a lighter topical because it contains more water than a cream. Its primary ingredients are CBD and water, blended with essential oils and other beneficial ingredients known to benefit the skin, such as carrot extract rich in vitamin C and beta-carotene. Beneficial ingredients, besides CBD, may include hyaluronic acid, which locks in moisture in the skin.
Key Differences Between CBD Creams and Lotions
The primary purpose of moisturizers is to increase skin hydration and add a protective barrier. CBD creams and lotions serve these purposes. The main difference between creams and lotions is the amount of water versus oil. However, adding CBD to the formula offers additional potential benefits that non-CBD products do not, as the skin contains cannabinoid receptors. Numerous studies demonstrate the benefits of CBD creams and lotions for skin.
Like nearly all skincare formulas, neither CBD creams nor lotions enter the bloodstream. They penetrate only as deep as the epidermis and dermis. CBD works on the skin’s endocannabinoid system, located in the top layers of the skin, to relieve skin. The cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, which interact with phytocannabinoids found in the hemp plant, are present in keratinocytes (skin cells of the epidermis), sensory nerve fibers, and hair follicles within the skin.
The following is a CBD topical comparison.
CBD cream is more concentrated than a lotion, resulting in a thicker consistency that creates a barrier. A cream contains a higher percentage of oils and butters, like shea butter. It is ideal for targeting specific areas of the skin that experience excessive dryness, roughness, or soreness.
With its thinner consistency and higher water content, CBD lotion offers a versatile and adaptable skincare solution. It is easier to spread than cream, making it an effective whole-body skin treatment. Your skin can absorb lotion more quickly than cream due to its higher water content. Some people prefer its lighter weight. CBD lotion benefits for the skin may include promoting skin barrier recovery and potentially treating certain skin conditions. Of course, both creams and lotions hydrate the skin.
| Feature | CBD Cream | CBD Lotion |
| Consistency | Thick, rich | Light, fluid |
| Moisture level | Deep hydration | Refreshing |
| Application area | Small, targeted areas | Larger areas of the body |
| Absorption time | Slower | Faster |
| Ideal for skin type | Dry, rough, or cracked skin | Normal, oily, or sensitive skin |
| CBD Potency | Often higher-potency (e.g. 500–600 mg/oz) | Typically lower-potency than creams |
| Primary Use Cases | Localized relief, soreness, dry spots | Whole-body hydration, mild skin irritation |
| Texture after use | May leave a protective, slightly oily layer | Absorbs quickly with minimal residue |
How to Choose Between Creams and Lotions?
While both provide skin protection, knowing the difference between CBD creams and lotions can help you choose what works best for your needs.
→ Daily use and full-body coverage
If you need skin hydration throughout the day, the CBD lotion is a good choice. It can be easily applied all over the body without clogging pores and will not create a residue that others may notice.
→ Patchy skin areas
When there are patches of skin that need hydration or require potential treatment, CBD cream is the best choice. It can be applied to specific areas and provides heavier, soothing coverage for patches of skin, such as the knees, elbows, and heels.
→ Need for intense hydration
CBD creams contain more oil and are thicker than lotions. The cream offers long-lasting hydration for exceptionally dry or mature skin.
→ Environment
If you live in a cold or dry climate, which can lead to very dry skin, cream is the best choice. If the climate is warmer, lotion is a good choice because it is lighter, will not clog pores, and has a high water content.
→ Skin type
If you have normal or a combination of normal and oily skin, lotion is the best choice because it contains more water than oil. Lotions are faster absorbing than creams. If you have dry or mature skin, CBD cream, with its higher oil content, may provide the intense hydration your skin needs.
→ Skin needs
There are many CBD creams and lotions formulated with botanicals, essential oils and vitamins to address specific skin needs. They include bruise and injury recovery, muscle and joint soothing, relaxation, sports recovery, skin repair and skin cooling or warming. Many people purchase both creams and lotions to accommodate multiple needs. Always check the ingredients to ensure there is nothing you may be sensitive to.
→ Potency
Many CBD creams offer higher-potency CBD options compared to lotions, such as 500 mg or 600 mg per ounce.
Caring for the Skin is Important to Health
Your skin health is closely connected to your overall health. As the body’s largest organ, the skin is a protective barrier against various factors contributing to poor health, including germs and pollutants. It is essential for converting sunlight into vitamin D3, which is needed for healthy bones. Your skin can also indicate the presence of a medical condition, like when it develops an itchy rash.
Neglecting dry skin can lead to serious issues, such as eczema or infections, or cause the skin to crack and bleed. CBD creams and CBD lotions offer a simple solution to maintaining healthy, hydrated skin. Select a high-quality CBD product with ingredients that address your specific skin needs. Use it consistently on clean skin for hydration and targeted relief, making skincare as important as healthcare.
Sources
- https://www.americanskin.org/resource/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11511700/#Sec16
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545171/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9210160/#s0019
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10061782/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7736837/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8878527/
- https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/22/16523
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