Topicals

27 products

A CBD topical goes on the skin and is never swallowed. You apply it to one area. The formats differ in how they go on: a balm is scooped from a tin, a stick glides on hands-free, and a gel or roll-on dries fast. Many add menthol for a cooling feel. A few add nothing at all.

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How do you choose a CBD topical?

  • Start with the format. It decides how the product goes on and whether your hands touch it.
  • Decide whether you want a sensation. Menthol and camphor feel cool. The Warming formula of the Canna River CBD Body Balm goes the other way.
  • Read the big number twice. On some labels it is total cannabinoids, not CBD.
  • Set the milligrams against the container. The cbdMD CBD Freeze Roller comes with 750mg, 1,500mg or 3,000mg in the same 90mL bottle, so the concentration changes and the size does not.
  • Check the spectrum. Isolate has no THC, broad spectrum has none detected, and full spectrum keeps a trace.

What formats are in this collection?

Balms come in a tin or a jar. The NuLeaf Naturals Full Spectrum CBD Balm has two ingredients, hemp extract and organic shea butter, in 300mg, 600mg and 900mg jars at one concentration. The CBDistillery CBD Soothing Relief Balm holds 500mg of full spectrum CBD in a 1oz container. The Canna River CBD Body Balm splits 5,000mg evenly between CBD, CBC, CBG and CBN in a 2oz tin. There is more detail in the CBD balm collection.

Sticks are balms in a twist-up tube. The CBDfx Muscle & Joint CBD Balm Stick is broad spectrum, with menthol and camphor in a shea butter base, at 750mg or 3,000mg. The CBDistillery 1000mg CBD Isolate Relief Stick carries 1,000mg of CBD isolate with menthol, peppermint oil and arnica, and no THC.

The cbdMD CBD Freeze Roller is a fast-drying roll-on gel with broad spectrum CBD and 4% menthol. The JustCBD CBD+THC Ultra Relief Gel with Menthol is a 4oz jar with 1,000mg or 5,000mg of total cannabinoids, and it contains hemp-derived Delta-9 THC alongside the CBD. Creams, lotions and gels sit together in the CBD cream collection.

Massage oils from Lazarus Naturals, ERTH Wellness and CBDfx cover larger areas, and CBDfx also makes CBD bath bombs.

Balm, stick, gel or roll-on: which one fits?

A balm is the thickest. It has no water in it, so it stays where you put it, and that suits a small spot. You apply it with your fingers. A stick does the same job with clean hands and travels well. A gel is water-based, dries quickly and leaves no greasy film, so you can dress over it. A roll-on is a gel with a ball applicator, and it covers a narrow strip at a time.

Frequently asked questions

What is a CBD topical?

A CBD topical is a product you apply to the skin: a balm, stick, gel, roll-on, cream or lotion with hemp extract in the base. It is for external use only. The label gives the total milligrams in the container, not a serving, and you apply it to one area as needed.

How do you use a CBD topical?

Apply a small amount to clean, dry skin and work it in. Reapply as the label allows. Keep it away from the eyes and from broken skin. Menthol and camphor are strong, so try a small patch first if your skin is sensitive, and wash your hands after.

Do CBD topicals contain THC?

It depends on the spectrum. The CBDistillery Relief Stick is isolate and has none. The CBDfx balm stick and the cbdMD Freeze Roller are broad spectrum, with none detected. The NuLeaf Naturals and CBDistillery balms are full spectrum and keep a trace. The JustCBD Ultra Relief Gel adds hemp-derived Delta-9 THC by design.

What does the milligram number on a CBD topical mean?

It is the total in the whole container, not an amount per use. On some labels it counts every cannabinoid, not just CBD. The Canna River CBD Body Balm is labeled 5,000mg, and 1,250mg of that is CBD. To compare, divide the milligrams by the ounces or milliliters in the container.

Which CBD topicals have no cooling sensation?

The NuLeaf Naturals Full Spectrum CBD Balm is unscented, with hemp extract and organic shea butter and nothing else. The CBDistillery CBD Soothing Relief Balm is a rich balm, not a cooling product. The Canna River CBD Body Balm comes in Chamomile and Lavender formulas as well as Cooling and Warming.