Did you know that CBD can be applied directly to the skin? When combined with oils and fats it makes an easy to apply balm that can be used to target problem areas.
Several supplement companies and CBD pioneers have come up with their own unique formulas. With a fragrant mix of essential oils and natural ingredients, you can now choose a product for your specific needs.
So you are not overwhelmed by a balmy sea of CBD concentrations and essential oils we have rolled up our sleeves and begun topically applying several of the brand leaders to ourselves. We’ve sorted out the extracts from the oils and will give you what you need to know about the best CBD balms available in the UK.
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Contents
How Are They Made?
Balms are a great way to utilise the potential soothing and pain-relieving properties that studies attribute to cannabidiol. They are applied to the skin directly at the source of any discomfort or irritation. Focused on localised relief the active ingredients are not transmitted through the bloodstream but stay in the applied area.
Each product is usually made with a combination of CBD and essential oils infused into a base of fatty oils and wax. The presence of the essential oils adds fragrance but also provides a host of other complementary properties.
The wax is often beeswax, although vegan balms use plant-based waxes. This holds the other ingredients in a form that is easier to store and apply. The fatty oil most commonly used is coconut oil. The more fatty oils included in the balm the more active ingredients can be included and transmitted into the skin.
Balms are predominantly made with all-natural products and other pain-relieving benefits can be ascertained with the inclusion of essential oils or herbs such as lemongrass or arnica.
Why Do People Use CBD Balm?
Studies have shown that the CBD present in balms may be linked to a wide range of benefits to your body and particularly your skin. Users report it as being effective at relieving pain, reducing inflammation, calming irritation and other skin conditions.
For the treatment of pain, it was declared that ‘the future for cannabinoid therapeutics appears very bright, indeed.’ Balms are a great way to apply this directly to the source of your discomfort. A study conducted by the University of South Carolina concluded that ‘cannabinoids suppress the inflammatory response.’
Inflammation of the skin is present in the skin conditions psoriasis, eczema and acne giving a powerful incentive to try topical CBD.
How to Apply a CBD Balm
CBD Balms can be easily applied to any affected areas with your hands and rubbed gently onto the surface of the skin.
Start by applying a very small amount to your skin and wait to ensure that your skin is not sensitive to any of the ingredients. Once you are happy that you have not reacted, apply a larger amount to the required area. When you have used the balm a few times you can begin to apply it more liberally.
Usually, a higher concentration is required to gain the desired effects through or on the skin. If your balm has a lower concentration expect to need a larger amount.
1) Hempura Revitalise CBD Cream
Hempura Revitalise feels light and cool on your skin and absorbs quickly without leaving an unpleasant greasy mess. You can apply it to your body or face, but I used it on the dry red patches on my forehead and eyebrows.
In the past, I’ve struggled to find a balm that will stop my skin from flaking when it gets dry. Some topicals I’ve previously tried have cleared it up for a short period, but few have lasting effects. Revitalise soothed the redness and removed the flakes almost immediately. After a few applications, it just got better and better; now, my facial dryness and irritation are entirely gone.
The hemp used in this cream is grown on EU regulation-compliant European farms. It’s carefully tested then imported to the UK. Also, every jar comes with a batch number to help you access the lab results for your products. The certificates have a cannabinoid profile that verifies the advertised amount of CBD. Trusted UK laboratory British Cannabis conducted all third-party lab testing.
Balm Information – CBD content: 250mg CBD per 50ml. Also available: 500mg CBD per 50ml.
Read the full review: Hempura Revitalise Cream
2) Love CBD Hemp Balm
This cannabis-infused balm from Love CBD has a delicious scent of hemp, rosemary and chocolate. In one jar, you get 30g of balm with 300mg of CBD alongside a few other cannabinoids, terpenes, coconut oil, cocoa seed butter and rosemary oil. It’s green and greasy, but when you apply it to your skin, it absorbs surprisingly quickly, leaving a pleasant scent for a short while afterwards.
The greasy texture of this balm makes it best suited for your hands and body. I found it particularly effective on the dry, chapped areas of my hands. After a few days of regular use, it almost completely removed the dryness and just left some faint redness. The CBD concentration is relatively high, making it excellent value. You can also choose from a range of different sizes.
The cannabinoids are extracted from legal European hemp strains, which have been grown without pesticides, herbicides, artificial fertilisers or harmful chemicals. Lab results for each batch are available via a tab on the Love CBD website; they verify the presence of CBD and traces of several other cannabinoids.
Balm Information – CBD content: 300mg CBD per 30g. Jar sizes available: 10g, 30g and 100g.
Read the full review: Love CBD Balm
3) Blessed CBD 750mg Balm
The hemp used in all Blessed CBD’s products is grown on pesticide-free farms in Colorado, USA. They mill the dried hemp into a coarse powder, which is then extracted with supercritical CO2. The extract is combined with several other beneficial ingredients, including jojoba oil, shea butter, sweet almond oil and apricot kernel oil.
The lab certificates are readily available from the product page and the only cannabinoid detected is CBD. Disappointingly, the measurements they use make it hard to work out if it matches the amount stated on the label.
Balm Information – CBD content: 750 mg. Jar sizes available: 50ml.
Read the full review: Blessed CBD Balm
4) Cannawell CBD Body Balm
Cannawell Cannabis balm comes in a large 300ml tube and is ideal for applying to dry skin and aching muscles. It’s made with a whole plant extract that CannaWell says contains a broad range of beneficial cannabinoids. The other ingredients include comfrey, menthol, eucalyptus and shea butter. This gives it a medical-like smell that can be a bit off-putting but doesn’t linger for long.
Because you get so much in one tube, it’s ideal for applying liberally to any problem areas. I found it worked equally well for dry skin and aching muscles. In addition, if you have a sore area that needs rubbing to relieve the ache, this will soothe it and act as an effective lubricant.
The cannabinoids in this balm are extracted using low-pressure CO2 from hemp grown on organically certified farms in Europe. It’s completely natural, suitable for vegans and free from parabens, silicone and petroleum. This is an excellent balm that could rank higher in this list if Cannawell published their lab results and made it clear how much CBD one tube contains.
Balm Information – CBD content: Unknown. Tube sizes available: 300ml.
Read the full review: CannaWell CBD Balm
5) Medterra Manuka CBD Cream
Based in the USA, all of Medterra’s CBD comes from hemp grown in Kentucky. They have an active research department where they employ experts to ensure that they use the latest methods in farming, extraction and quality control.
The third-party lab results are easy to find on the product page. They verify the CBD content and show that no THC or contaminants were detected. The honey is of medium strength and has a Unique Manuka Factor of 12+. However, there are no details as to how much is included.
While we usually only recommend full-spectrum products, Medterra’s isolate range has impressed us with its quality and affordable prices.
Balm Information – CBD content: 125mg or 250mg. Jar sizes available: 30ml.
Read the full review: Medterra CBD Cream
Summary
As you can see we are blessed with an ever-growing range of topically applied CBD balm sand creams. They are a great way to apply the benefits of CBD directly where it is needed.
When it comes to choosing your balm there are lots of factors to consider:
- Think about what you want to use it for and what features it might need.
- Finally, weigh up the amount of CBD and other active ingredients you are getting for your money.
If you bear these things in mind before you buy you are bound to have a satisfactory and sweet-smelling experience.
Further Reading
If you are looking for a little help making a decision, we have further best of lists which are all based on our personal experiences. We look at quality, cost and safety to ensure you only buy the best.
- Best CBD oil
- Certified organic CBD oil
- Best CBD gummy bears
- Best CBD capsules
- Best CBD vape juice
- Best hemp tea
- High Strength CBD products
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