CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis plants. Supplement manufacturers have learned how to extract CBD from cannabis and place it into various kinds of products, such as oils and creams. CBD has the potential to provide users with several benefits like pain relief and relaxation.
CBD is more popular than ever. You can find hundreds of CBD oil and cream products for sale online. Physical retail storefronts are also starting to pack these products on their shelves. But if you have never purchased CBD oils or creams before, you may not know which products are the best.
Below are the top 10 factors to help you choose CBD oils and creams with confidence.
1 CBD Concentration
Focus on the CBD concentration of a CBD oil or cream product. CBD concentration refers to the amount of CBD in the product. Not every CBD oil or cream product has the same CBD concentration.
The CBD concentration levels typically range from 250 milligrams to 1,000 milligrams of CBD per ounce. If you want to feel more powerful effects, choose a product with a higher CBD concentration. It all depends on your preference and tolerance level.
2. Organic or Non-organic
You may find some CBD oils and creams labelled as organic. The organic label means the CBD in the product was extracted from a hemp plant grown organically. Like all plants grown organically, no pesticides or unnatural chemicals are used on the plants.
If you want to ensure you have the most natural form of CBD and the Best CBD oil in Australia, then choose organic CBD oils and creams. Otherwise, all the other CBD products without the organic label were derived from non-organic hemp plants.
3. The Extraction Procedure
Manufacturers must wait until hemp plants are fully matured before the CBD extraction process can begin. The most popular CBD extraction methods are pressurized carbon dioxide gas or solvents like ethanol, propane, or butane. It is easy for impurities to get extracted along with the CBD, so trained lab professionals are the best equipped to do this procedure.
The best CBD extraction method is pressurized carbon dioxide because toxins from solvents don’t get added to the CBD mixture. Instead, you get all the beneficial terpenes and cannabinoids for maximum potency without getting tainted. So look for CBD oils and creams derived from the carbon dioxide extraction method.
4. Third-Party Testing
Some consumers don’t trust the direct claims of CBD product manufacturers regarding the CBD concentration and potency of their oils and creams. As a result, many manufacturers have their products tested by third-party laboratories to verify their claims for consumers.
A third-party laboratory has no direct affiliation with a CBD manufacturing company. That is what makes third-party laboratory results more trustworthy. Any CBD oil or cream product that has gone through a third-party laboratory test will have a “Certificate of Analysis” available.
The certificate provides unbiased data regarding CBD concentrations, THC concentrations, terpene concentrations, the presence of impurities & contaminants, etc. Therefore, if you choose a CBD oil or cream product with a Certificate of Analysis, you will be able to make a more informed purchasing decision.
5. Additional Ingredients
The best CBD oils and creams should contain as few additional ingredients as possible. The CBD products you choose should mainly consist of the chemical compounds from the hemp plant.
A carrier oil may get added to the CBD oil products, but that is normal.
However, if you see “flavored” CBD products or any products “boosted” with enhancers like guarana or melatonin, you should avoid them. Try to stay as natural as possible.
6. Type of CBD Extract
There are three types of CBD extract found in CBD products: CBD Isolate, Broad-spectrum CBD, and Full-spectrum CBD. Unfortunately, most consumers don’t even recognize or understand the difference between these different types of CBD extract.
CBD Isolate (such as our Krush Night – for better sleep) means you are getting 100% pure CBD oil or cream with no other ingredients added. You may want pure CBD Isolate if you wish to experience the total effects of CBD without other ingredients diluting or diminishing the effects.
Broad-spectrum CBD contains several chemical compounds of cannabis, such as flavonoids, cannabinoids, and terpenes. However, there are no psychoactive or euphoric effects from broad-spectrum CBD because it contains no THC. So if you are worried about drug tests or feel sensitive to THC, you are better off choosing broad-spectrum CBD oils and creams.
Full-spectrum CBD contains all the chemical compounds found in broad-spectrum CBD. The only difference is that full-spectrum CBD also has the psychoactive cannabinoid THC. Therefore, you may feel euphoric after using a full-spectrum CBD oil or cream product.
7. The CBD Strain
Not all cannabis and hemp plants are 100% the same. There are actually different strains of cannabis with various levels of cannabinoid potency, such as CBD and THC. That is why some CBD strains might have different effects on users than others.
For instance, ACDC is a CBD strain believed to be the best for calming people down and helping them relax. The Harlequin CBD strain is known for effectively helping people dealing with addiction problems.
You should research the various CBD strains and determine which one is the best for helping you with your particular ailment or health issue.
8. The Brand
CBD products have different brand names attached to them. In fact, several new CBD brands are popping up on the internet frequently. With so many brands to sort through, it can be challenging to tell which brands are trustworthy and which ones are not.
Obviously, when you’re shopping for a CBD oil or cream product, you’ll want to choose a product from the most reputable and trustworthy brand you can find. Look at what other customers are saying about various brands on the internet. That should give you some indication as to which brands are the most reliable.
And, of course, if the brand offers Certificates of Analysis with their products, that is always a good sign too.
9. Your Medical Condition
Why do you want CBD oils or creams in the first place? Are you trying to remedy a current medical issue like a muscle ache, stress, depression, etc.?
Have some idea of why you want to consume CBD before you start looking for a specific CBD product. For instance, if you want to relieve muscle pain, you would be better off with a CBD cream product because you can target the pain directly. But if you have a holistic issue like depression or stress, then a CBD oil product would be the better choice.
10. Bioavailability
You may see some CBD oil products using the term “bioavailability,” which refers to how much CBD your bloodstream will absorb after consumption. Usually, the bioavailability of CBD oil products is somewhere between 13% and 19%.
For example, if you see a CBD oil product with 100 mg of CBD and a bioavailability of 13%, then it means that 13 mg of CBD will end up in your bloodstream after consumption.
The amount of CBD in your bloodstream determines how much you will feel the effects of the product. A higher bioavailability means you will feel it more, and a lower bioavailability means you will feel it less.
As you can see, there are many factors to consider when choosing a CBD oil or cream product at a store. You may need to purchase a few different CBD products until you find the right ones for you and your ailments. In the end, you should be happy with the results.