Everything You Should Know About CBD Topicals

With the emergence of CBD, topical CBD products, including creams and salves, are rapidly rising in popularity. But what are they used for? And are topicals right for you? We cover all that and more to help you figure out if CBD topicals make sense for your lifestyle.

What Are CBD Topicals?

Topical CBD products are simply salves, creams, lotions, and other CBD products that are applied topically. Unlike other CBD products that are taken sublingually (under the tongue), ingested, or inhaled, CBD topicals are applied externally to specific areas of need.

Do CBD Topicals Contain THC?

This depends on the type of CBD topical. Topical products containing CBD isolate will not contain THC. Topicals with full spectrum CBD derived from hemp will have trace amounts of THC (0.3% or lower) that are under legal limits.

Be aware that in states where marijuana use is legal, some CBD products may be extracted from marijuana instead of hemp. These products can contain significantly higher amounts of THC, so it’s important to pay attention in these instances.

Are CBD Topicals Legal?

In most states, CBD extracted from hemp is legal following the federal legalization of industrial hemp that was passed in the 2018 Farm Bill. A small group of states have maintained state laws against CBD. Get a deeper look into CBD’s legality in the U.S. to better understand if it’s legal where you live.

What Are CBD Topicals Used For?

CBD topicals, including salves, sports creams, and skin care products, are used for several different purposes.

Targeted Relief

One of the primary reasons consumers use CBD topicals is to provide targeted relief to muscles, joints, and other areas that are causing issues. This is a unique use that CBD topicals offer that other options don’t. All other CBD products distribute CBD to receptors throughout the entire body. Because of this, topicals are often used alongside other CBD products.

Though much of the evidence that CBD topicals help with pain and inflammation is anecdotal, there is significant research into CBD as an anti-inflammatory, such as the following studies:

• CBD for reducing joint pain & inflammation
• CBD for difficult to treat pain such as multiple sclerosis
• CBD for lessening the impact of inflammation in oxidative stress

Skin Care

There are many ways consumers use CBD for skin care, including inflammatory skin conditions, dry skin, acne, and more.

Though studies are limited on CBD for skin care and skin health specifically, there are studies linking CBD to anti-inflammatory benefits, which is why many believe it can have a positive impact with inflammatory skin issues like acne.

CBD Topicals vs. Other CBD Products

Topicals are uniquely used to treat specific areas of need. All other CBD products are typically taken internally and distribute CBD to receptors in the brain and body.

For those looking to experience the comprehensive benefits that CBD can offer, including mental and physical benefits that CBD is being linked to, products like tinctures and gummies will be most effective.

For those experiencing nagging pain or soreness in specific areas, CBD topicals are the better option, as it’s believed they can deliver beneficial cannabinoids directly to the receptors to help manage pain and inflammation.

Because CBD topicals are used for such a different purpose than other CBD products, it’s fairly common to use something like a tincture and topical together to take advantage of the benefits that each offers.

Choosing the Right CBD Topical for You

If you’re ready to start shopping for a CBD cream or salve, it’s important to consider a few things.

Identifying a Topical That Fits Your Needs

With products designed specifically to help with pain, muscle soreness, skin health, and more, it’s good to find the product that matches your needs. Frontier Jackson offers three types of topical CBD products:

• CBD Salve: Designed for general use to be applied to areas experiencing pain or soreness.
• CBD Ice: Specifically designed for athletes, CBD Ice is a topical product that includes full spectrum CBD combined with menthol to provide targeted relief and help aid recovery.
• CBD Skin Elixir: Designed to rejuvenate skin and help with skin irritation, this product combines CBD with other proven skincare ingredients, such as aloe vera to rehydrate, reduce irritation, and more.

Full Spectrum CBD or CBD Isolate

Another important choice to make is picking between full spectrum CBD and pure (or isolated) CBD. Each has their own benefits, and the choice between them often comes down to personal preference.

Full spectrum CBD is hemp extract that includes high concentrations of CBD along with the other naturally-occurring components in hemp, such as additional cannabinoids like CBG and CBN, terpenes, flavonoids, and more. Full spectrum is the more common option because of its effectiveness. Research has shown that CBD is more effective when working alongside the other naturally occurring components of hemp. This is known as the “Entourage Effect.”

CBD isolate is CBD that been isolated from everything else in hemp. This is why it’s often referred to as pure CBD. The main reason for using a CBD isolate topical would be to avoid trace, non-detectable amounts of THC present in a CBD product. Full spectrum CBD extracted from hemp contains 0.3% THC or lower. These amounts are legal and will not get you high, but some people simply prefer no THC in their product.

CBD Concentration

Finally, it’s important to figure out how much CBD you’d like your topical to contain. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to CBD dosing. Each person responds differently to CBD and will benefit from different amounts. Our advice is to start with lower concentrations and adjust up if you feel like more can provide additional benefits.

Ready to get started with a topical product? Shop CBD topicals from Frontier Jackson now. We offer premium CBD products that are full spectrum and lab tested to provide complete transparency.