Your mom always told you not to throw out the shampoo bottle until adding water would no longer produce a soapy residue. By God, you needed to make sure you got the most out of that shampoo! She also taught you to save your grocery store bags. You never know when you’ll need those. They make great trash bags, right? And think about how many other bags you can fit into the other. Mom was the pioneer of getting your money’s worth and never wasting things. So when you ask, “Can you use CBD oil topically?” go ahead and guess what your ma would say. Well, let’s ignore that. The definitive answer is that you can use oral CBD oil on your skin but it will be less effective than a CBD topical.
Read more about how to use CBD oil and topicals, so you can defend yourself against your mother (and get the most out of CBD!)
Table of Contents
What is CBD Oil?
CBD oil (sometimes called CBD tincture) is made from an extract of the cannabis plant. CBD extract is mixed with a carrier oil to dilute it and make it easier for the body to absorb. Hemp seed oil and other plant-derived natural oils are typically used as carrier oils. Medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) oils found in coconut and palm plants are also popular. However, they’re becoming less so because they can cause many health complications related to digestion and anxious feelings.
Tinctures are meant to be taken sublingually (held under the tongue) or ingested as a means to get your daily dose of CBD and are sold in a variety of concentrations.
What is CBD Oil Used For?
People who use CBD oil take it for a variety of reasons, including:
- Nerves
- Persistent discomfort
- Aches and soreness
- Moodiness
- Muscle spasms
- Heart and gut health
- Restlessness
- Improve quality of sleep
- Complexion
- Symptom relief
CBD oils are also taken as a general booster for both mental and physical wellness.
Some find it easier to ingest if it is mixed into their drinks or food. Adding a few drops to a smoothie or tea in the morning is a fast and easy way to ingest CBD oil.
What is a CBD Topical?
CBD topicals are any product infused with CBD oil meant to be applied directly to the skin. If there is a skincare product out there, it is likely to have a CBD-infused counterpart. This doesn’t only include CBD creams and CBD lotions; it can also include:
- Lip balm
- Salve
- Body balm
- Bath salts and bombs
- Transdermal patches
What are CBD Topicals Used For?
Applying CBD topically aids in muscle aches, soothes inflamed skin, moisturizes, or aids in deeper relaxation or sleep. The skin absorbs the CBD and interacts with cannabinoid receptors that trigger responses in the nervous system. Topicals are meant for local use only and will generally only affect the area they are applied to.
CBD topicals like creams or lotions also contain beneficial ingredients for healthy skin like shea butter and cocoa butter.
Can You Use CBD Oil Topically?
For the most part, yes. However, oil is absorbed much differently than topical products, so it may not be as effective as a product intended for topical application. CBD tinctures are specially formulated for absorption in the digestive tract and will be absorbed by the skin much more slowly.
Topical CBD products are formulated to include additional beneficial ingredients for the skin with soothing and moisturizing effects.
What Happens if You Use CBD Oil Topically?
CBD oil doesn’t contain the same ingredients as a topical, so the absorption is less effective. Oil is likely to sit on the skin’s surface and runoff because it is much slicker than a cream or balm would be.
Oils may also cause skin irritation for some people because their formulas are intended for ingestion. Oral CBD is meant to cause a whole-body effect that is absorbed by the bloodstream and distributed to the rest of the body. CBD applied to the outer layer of skin is not likely to be absorbed by the bloodstream and will stay superficially between skin cells.
What Are the Most Common Ways to Use CBD?
Depending on the effects you desire, there are different forms of CBD you can take. Some methods and products are preferable to others and are better at combating different issues in the body.
Ingestion
Oral CBD products that are meant to be eaten and digested are referred to as edibles. Edibles come as flavored CBD gummies, capsules or softgels, and even as infused cookies or other tasty treats.
CBD flower, oil tinctures, and concentrates like shatter or isolate powder can also be consumed orally. They can be mixed in with your food and beverages or taken as is. These products are for more potent full-body benefits and relief but generally take longer to work as the digestion process takes a few hours.
Inhalation
Inhalants include smoking CBD flower, vape cartridges, blunts, and joints. CBD shatter, concentrates, and wax can be converted into a vapor you can smoke as well.
CBD flower smokes and vapes are the fastest-acting CBD products because they are almost instantly absorbed into the bloodstream through the blood vessels in your lungs. However, it is the least-lasting form, and the effects of CBD will usually wear off in a few hours.
This method is best for those that desire immediate or fast-acting full-body benefits.
Sublingual
Blood vessels in the tissue under the tongue absorb CBD directly into the bloodstream, which causes effective results the longer a substance is held there. CBD oils or tinctures are usually preferred for this method, but refined concentrates like isolate can also be effectively absorbed if they dissolve long enough. This method is also intended for full-body effects.
Topical
CBD topicals are administered manually and are typically intended for local effects only. Products like CBD cream are rubbed into an affected area to relieve skin discomforts like muscles aches and dry skin. CBD lip balm can especially aid in the soothing of chapped lips by relieving burning and skin peeling. Stronger salves and balms can be absorbed deeper into the tissue and help ease sore muscles after a demanding workout or due to other nagging afflictions.
Where Can I Find the Best CBD Oil?
Hollyweed, of course! Our oil is formulated with full spectrum CBD extracted safely from high-quality US-sourced hemp plants.
Cannabinoids mixed in with the omega-fatty acid-rich superfood hemp seed oil are great for your body’s well-being and combined with CBD to complement a healthy diet. All-natural ingredients give you the confidence that the CBD products we carry are not only potent but good for your mind and body.
CBD Oil Alternatives for Topical Use
Because CBD oil isn’t an effective topical treatment, we recommend sticking to topicals if you want more potent and effective results. CBD body lotions offer a refreshing and aromatic alternative to thicker CBD creams and slippery CBD oil. For those that need a little more oomph from their CBD, salves usually contain more concentration of CBD for a stronger and faster-acting treatment.
Hollyweed carries both CBD salve and body lotion to make your skincare routine more effective than ever before.
Final Thoughts – Can You Use CBD Oil Topically?
While your mom might insist on getting the most out of what you buy, it might be best to save CBD oil for oral consumption only. You’re not wrong to think that CBD oil can work in more ways than one, but just like that diluted ghost of a shampoo that’s been in your shower for months, it won’t work as well as it could.
You’re better sticking to a range of topical items for your skincare needs: salves, lotions, balms, and creams that are specially formulated for skin application and absorption. Hollyweed serves as a convenient place for these items and more to make sure you have enough of the right stuff to get you through those aches, sore joints, and whatever-is-bugging-you problems.
