CBD Cream

10 products

A CBD cream is hemp extract blended into a base of water and oil. It spreads further than a balm and absorbs instead of sitting on the skin, so it suits a larger area. Lotions and gels are lighter versions of the same idea. Before you compare two, check the total milligrams, the container size and the spectrum.

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What is the difference between a CBD cream, a lotion and a gel?

Water content. A cream is an emulsion of oil and water, thick enough to stay in a jar. A lotion has more water, so it is thinner and usually comes in a pump or tube. A gel has little or no oil. It dries fast and leaves no greasy film, so you can dress over it. A balm has no water at all, which is why it sits on the skin. Those are in the CBD balm collection.

What should you read on the label?

  • The milligrams and the container size together. The milligram figure is the total in the jar, not an amount per use.
  • Whether that figure is CBD or total cannabinoids. The JustCBD CBD+THC Ultra Relief Gel with Menthol is sold as 1,000mg or 5,000mg, and that is total cannabinoids per 4oz jar.
  • The spectrum. Isolate has no THC, broad spectrum has none detected, and full spectrum keeps a trace. The JustCBD gel contains hemp-derived Delta-9 THC alongside the CBD by design.
  • The sensation ingredients. Menthol and camphor cool, and capsaicin warms. Patch-test them if your skin is sensitive.
  • A Drug Facts panel. Some CBD creams are over-the-counter drugs with an active ingredient such as lidocaine or menthol. That is a different kind of product, so read the panel before you buy.
  • The base. Sweet almond oil, lanolin and beeswax are common in creams and matter if you have an allergy or avoid animal ingredients.

What is in this collection?

The creams here run from plain to cooling. Charlotte's Web Soothing Cream and two Lazarus Naturals creams are plain, with no menthol, so they have no cooling or warming feel. For warmth instead of cooling, CBDfx makes a heating lotion that pairs CBG with CBD. JustCBD CBD Relief Cream also comes in an Unscented version.

Medterra Rapid Recovery Cream holds 2,000mg of broad spectrum CBD in an aloe base. CBDfx Muscle & Joint Cream comes in 1,000mg or 3,000mg of broad spectrum CBD. Both add menthol for a cooling feel, as do the JustCBD Relief Cream With Menthol and the JustCBD CBD+THC Ultra Relief Gel. The With Menthol cream also lists lidocaine on its Drug Facts panel, so read it before you buy.

Every product page links the Certificate of Analysis for its batch. Sticks, roll-ons and every other format are in CBD topicals.

Frequently asked questions

Is CBD cream the same as hemp cream?

Not always. A hemp cream can be made with hemp seed oil, which comes from the seed and is not a source of CBD. A CBD cream states the milligrams of CBD or cannabinoids on the label and has a Certificate of Analysis that shows them. If there is no milligram figure, assume there is no CBD.

How do you apply a CBD cream or gel?

Massage a small amount into clean, dry skin and let it absorb. Reapply as the label allows. Creams and gels are for external use only. Keep them away from the eyes and from broken skin. If the formula has menthol, try a small patch first and wash your hands after you apply it.

Does CBD cream contain THC?

It depends on the spectrum. A cream made with CBD isolate has none. Broad spectrum has none detected. Full spectrum keeps a trace. The JustCBD CBD+THC Ultra Relief Gel with Menthol goes further and adds hemp-derived Delta-9 THC on purpose. The Certificate of Analysis on the product page shows the measured amount.

Should you pick a cream or a balm?

Pick by area and feel. A cream or gel spreads over a larger area and absorbs, so nothing is left on the skin. A balm is thick, has no water and stays on one small spot. A gel dries fastest. A balm lasts longest on the skin and is the one that needs a hand wash after.