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Can You Use Oral CBD Oil Topically On The Skin?


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When it comes to CBD, there are seemingly endless ways to consume it. You can take it orally as a tincture or capsule, vape it, or apply it topically. But can you use edible CBD topically? And if so, is that a good idea?

In this blog post, we'll explore whether or not you can use edible CBD topically and what the benefits might be.

Stay tuned!

Key Takeaways:

  • CBD is a non-intoxicating compound derived from hemp flowers.
  • CBD oils combine hemp extract and a carrier oil like MCT coconut oil or hemp seed oil that's designed as an oral supplement.
  • While you can technically use CBD oils on your shin—it's not the best use of the product and there are better CBD topicals available to suit a variety of skin concerns.
  • CBD topicals work by interacting with endocannabinoid receptors on the skin to support the skin organ's function.
  • CBD doesn't enter the bloodstream through topical application—so it only provides localized support.

What Is Oral CBD Oil?

Oral CBD oil, sometimes coming in 2000MG CBD tinctures, is a blend of hemp extract and a carrier oil like hemp seed oil or MCT coconut oil. They're available in a wide range of strengths indicated by the MG of CBD told on the bottle.

The carrier oils help the fat-soluble cannabinoids absorb into the body efficiently, and it allows you to have more control over precise dosing. While smoking cannabis products is many people's favorite way to leverage the benefits of cannabinoids—it's not ideal for everyone, which is why oral CBD products like hemp infused oil have become very popular as a smoke-free alternative.

What Are The Benefits Of Applying CBD Oil On The Skin?

Cannabinoids like CBD interact with the body's endocannabinoid system to exert their effects for supporting the homeostasis of many of our vital systems and organs—the skin being one of them.

As the largest organ, the skin has a significant role in regulating the immune response and temperature and protecting us from our environment. The endocannabinoid system has receptors in our skin tissue that CBD can interact with to support its function.

Many people will use topical CBD products for muscle recovery, discomfort, minor skin irritation, and anti-aging—depending on the product's formulation [1].

When CBD is applied to the skin, it doesn't enter the bloodstream to exert its effects throughout the body. Instead, it supports the endocannabinoid system in the skin to provide localized relief quickly.

What's The Difference Between Topical CBD and Oral CBD Products?

The main difference between CBD tinctures and topical CBD products is the formulation.

They're both made from hemp extracts derived via supercritical CO2 extraction or ethanol extraction before formulating into a specific CBD product.

Pure hemp extract applied to the skin has an abysmal absorption rate, resulting in a waste product, so it's mixed in with other oils to improve its use.

Pure CBD oil for oral consumption are pretty simple and only have one to two ingredients—depending on the product's intended purpose. At the same time, topical CBD involves a long list of ingredients to improve its absorption into the skin and nourish and condition the skin.

Some CBD topicals like CBD rubs and pain creams may have heating or cooling agents that help to relax the muscles and alleviate pain.

You can find topical CBD products in the forms of massage oils, gels, creams, balms, salves, and lotions—make sure you read the entire ingredient list and understand the purpose of the product to ensure you get the best use out of it.

Commonly supporting ingredients in CBD topicals are jojoba oil, essential oils, menthol (for cooling), capsaicin extract (for heating), and vitamins.

Before applying CBD lotions or balms to a larger area of your body, always patch-test it to ensure you don't have an adverse reaction to the ingredients.

Should I Use Oral CBD Oil Topically?

Technically, you can use oral CBD but preferably if you use High CBD oil on the skin if you're in a pinch, but you'll likely have better results using a CBD product designed for topical use.

A CBD topical will have additional ingredients that aid the cannabinoid absorption into the skin and may offer more benefits for conditioning the skin texture or improving comfort over plain oral CBD oil.

Since there are many different CBD topicals on the market, it's best to find a formula that addresses your concerns. If you have trouble choosing, you can always opt to review the best cbd for back pain and inflammation.

What Are The Types Of CBD Topicals Available?

The benefits of applying CBD topicals on the skin are gentle yet effective for a wide range of skin concerns and muscle pain that are very user-friendly.

Let's get into Neurogan's collection of CBD topicals available.

1. CBD Rub

Neurogan's CBD Cooling Rub is one of the best-selling products for supporting pain relief and muscle recovery. It's made with organic moisturizing ingredients and a high concentration of full spectrum or THC-free broad spectrum extract (2000, 4000, and 16000MG of CBD).

The cooling sensation comes from peppermint essential oils and menthol to provide soothing comfort where it's applied. It also contains a blend of plant oils and botanical extracts to condition the skin. After a workout, it's best massaged into the affected areas to promote a fast recovery.

Neurogan Full Spectrum CBD Cooling Rub in a glass jar with beige colored cream and silver lid

CBD Cooling Rub

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Our best-selling CBD Rub provides immediate relief for muscle soreness and aches, featuring a potent full-spectrum extract favored by our customers. With its cooling effect and the invigorating scent of...

2. CBD Balm

For those with more sensitive skin types, this CBD balm features a very similar formula to the muscle rub—but with lavender essential oil to support relaxation after a hard day. The balm spreads quickly on tired shoulders, feet, and all your hardworking muscles.

3. CBD Massage Oil

A good massage session with CBD oil is a match made in heaven. Our CBD massage oil has a high concentration of CBD extract (4000–32000 MG) to support full-body relaxation and recovery.

The massage oil is different from oral CBD oil. It contains mineral oil, safflower oil, skin-conditioning vitamins, and other plant extracts for a gentle and smooth application on the skin with enough grip for a massage.

4. CBD Lotion

The CBD lotion was designed for everyday use for conditioning dry and sensitive skin all over the body. It's one of the most potent CBD lotions on the market, with 16000 MG of full spectrum hemp extract in a lush and creamy lotion formula that's fast-absorbing and non-greasy.

Neurogan CBD Lotion 16000MG in brown bottle with pump dispenser.

CBD Lotion

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Our CBD Lotion gently nurtures your skin, offering a direct pathway to potentially provide relief from muscle soreness & joint discomfort by leveraging the anti-inflammatory of high-concentration, full-spectrum CBD extract. Immerse yourself...

5. CBD Face Cream

You shouldn't put oral CBD oil on your face because the pores on your face are much more prone to clogging and may lead to breakouts.

Most CBD oil use carrier oils that contain molecules too large to absorb into the delicate skin on the face. Instead, it sits on top of the skin, making it easier to clog pores with acne-causing bacteria.

This face cream is a lightweight, non-comedogenic formula you can apply daily, even on the most sensitive skin types, to nourish the skin from the deepest layers and reveal a healthier complexion.

6. CBD Night Serum

The best time to apply more decadent topical CBD products is as part of your evening skincare routine to allow all the ingredients to sink deep into the layers of skin overnight for deep hydration, which is especially beneficial for dry skin types.

This buttery CBD topical for the face is jam-packed with botanicals like calendula, chamomile, passion fruit, and acai extract to support hemp extract's anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

7. CBD Freeze Roll-On

For a mess-free topical application to support pain relief, we've created a potent CBD roll-on applicator with cooling agents to help relaxation. This convenient packaging allows you to take this product on the go to apply it to your sore neck and over-worked muscles without any wasted product on your hands.

All Neurogan products are available in full spectrum CBD and THC-free broad spectrum extracts in various potencies, depending on your needs.

We're not in the business of tricking anyone into purchasing something that won't truly benefit them, which is why we have a 30-day money-back guarantee on all our products. You can try it for a few weeks, and if you don't see any benefits, let our team know, and we'll make it right.

8. CBD Lip Balm

We found that many of the CBD-infused lip balms on the market don't contain enough CBD to have any effects. Our CBD lip balm contains 200 MG of CBD in a convenient chapstick applicator to combat dehydration, windburn, and protect against harmful UV rays on the delicate skin on the lips.

Neurogan CBD Lip balm 200mg 2pack in peppermint, and pomegranate

CBD Lip Balm

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CBD Lip Balm 200MG (0.16oz) is created with full spectrum cannabinoids combined with soft & creamy plant based ingredients to help support lip hydration. Unlike regular chapstick, our inspired CBD chapstick formula...

9. CBD Salve

For those who prefer a softer and lighter consistency, ensuring effortless absorption for larger skin areas. Our CBD salve is made with candelilla wax, a plant-based substitute for beeswax, and enhanced with powerful sage and thyme extracts, our salve offers a smooth and easily spreadable texture, making it ideal for muscle recovery and rejuvenation.

Can CBD Topicals Make Me Fail A Drug Test?

CBD isn't a compound that drug tests look for because it's not an illicit substance.

Furthermore, topical CBD works by interacting with cannabinoid receptors on the skin—and doesn't enter the bloodstream (unless you're using a medical trans-dermal patch), which means it won't get metabolized by the liver to get detected by most drug tests.

We recommend trying our THC-free broad spectrum CBD extract if you're concerned about even trace amounts of THC use. It still contains a wide range of naturally-occurring phytochemicals to support CBD's role in the endocannabinoid system but without any THC.

What Are The Potential Side Effects Of CBD Oil Topically?

CBD applied to the skin is generally well-tolerated. Still, there are instances of some people developing allergies to terpenes (the scent in the cannabis plant) and other ingredients in the formula.

The side effects may include:

  • Swelling
  • Redness
  • Sensitivity
  • Itching

It's always important that you patch test the product on a small area before massaging it onto joint and muscle pain or on your face to ensure you don't have an allergic reaction to the formula.

The Takeaway: Can I Use Oral CBD Oils On The Skin?

You can use sublingual CBD oils on the skin, but it's not the best use of the product as products are available that will be better suited for a wide range of wellness goals.

CBD tincture or oil typically consists of a CBD extract and carrier oil for ease of use and better aboral absorption in the gut.

Many carrier oils like MCT coconut oil have fat molecules that are far too large to absorb well into the skin on the face, which is why we don't recommend using CBD tinctures as part of your facial skincare routine.

Instead, look for formulas with non-comedogenic ingredients and a potent CBD content to support a wide range of skin concerns and muscle aches.

FAQ

What is oral CBD oil?

Oral CBD oil, also known as tincture, is a combination of hemp extract and a carrier oil such as hemp seed oil or MCT coconut oil. They come in a variety of strengths, as indicated by the MG of CBD on the bottle. The carrier oils aid in the efficient absorption of fat-soluble cannabinoids into the body, giving you more control over precise dosing. 

What are the benefits of CBD Oil on the skin?

The skin, as the largest organ, plays an important function in controlling immunological response and temperature, as well as insulating us from our surroundings. CBD can interact with endocannabinoid receptors in our skin tissue to support its function. Depending on the product's formulation, many people will utilize topical CBD products for muscle recovery, pain, minor skin irritation, and anti-aging.

Can I use oral CBD Oils on the skin?

You can apply sublingual CBD oils to your skin, but this is not the greatest way to use the product. CBD tincture or oil is often made up of a CBD extract plus a carrier oil for ease of administration and improved aboral absorption in the intestines. Because many carrier oils, such as MCT coconut oil, have fat molecules that are far too big to enter properly into the skin on the face, we do not advocate utilizing CBD tinctures as part of your facial hygiene routine. Look for products with non-comedogenic components and a high CBD content to help with a variety of skin issues and muscular aches.

What are the potential side effects of CBD Oil topically?

CBD is generally well tolerated when applied to the skin. Nonetheless, some people have developed reactions to terpenes (the aroma of the cannabis plant) and other chemicals in the solution. Swelling, redness, sensitivity, and itching are possible adverse effects. To guarantee you don't have an adverse reaction to the formula, always patch test the product on a tiny area before massaging it onto joint and muscle discomfort or on your face.

Resources:

  1. Oláh, A., Tóth, B. I., Borbíró, I., Sugawara, K., Szöllõsi, A. G., Czifra, G., ... & Bíró, T. (2014). Cannabidiol exerts sebostatic and anti-inflammatory effects on human sebocytes. The Journal of clinical investigation, 124(9), 3713-3724.
BY
Nicklas Brandrup

BSc International Business, Copenhagen Business School Nicklas is the co-founder of Neurogan and a serial entrepreneur with a proven track record in the health and wellness space.  Nicklas has generated more than $250M in sales on Amazon with brands that he owns and operates. He is passionate ab...


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