An essential guide to CBD Topicals & How they work

What are CBD Topicals?

CBD has burst into the mainstream market and has created a comfortable niche for itself. Products containing CBD range from edible, foods and beverages to specialised cosmetics and oils. Although consumables containing CBD extract constitute a significant category of all CBD products, another diverse class is that of CBD topicals. Creams, gels, body washes and massage oils, CBD topicals can take many shapes and forms.

A CBD topical is any such formulation that is infused with CBD extracts designed to be applied directly to the skin. These topicals contain CBD extracts in many forms, and each kind may be created for a specific purpose. Here is your guide to choosing a CBD topical and how each one can be incorporated in your daily life.

How Do CBD Topicals Work?

Inside the human body, there exists a network of receptors and neural pathways called the endocannabinoid system. This neural pathway metabolises and produces the natural endocannabinoids that take part in many functions of the body.

CBD Topicals are designed to work in such a way, that the CBD Extracts they contain are absorbed into the skin, from where they slowly make their way into the body. Once inside, the CBD extract interacts with the body’s natural endocannabinoid system.

This interaction is responsible for the various beneficial effects of CBD, as the endocannabinoid system takes part in the maintenance of balance and homeostasis in the body. ECS receptors are found everywhere from the brain to the immune system, organs, connective tissue and other glands of the body, such as the skin.

From the skin, the CBD extract is absorbed and directly interacts with the Endocannabinoid system, as opposed to edibles, which must first pass through the digestive system.

In this way, the effect of CBD in topicals is more effective and pronounced and may be better suited for a specific situation where consuming CBD extract is not possible.

 

Does the Entourage Effect Still Work?

Many people are familiar with the Entourage effect that CBD produces in the body, creating balance and equilibrium across the many organs and systems (including the skin). It may seem that this phenomenon is only restricted to CBD consumption and doesn’t apply to CBD topicals. That is far from the truth!

As the CBD extract in topicals eventually makes its way to the bloodstream, just like it does with consumables, we get the same holistically beneficial set of effects.

The cannabinoid receptors in the skin are just the same as those found in other parts of the body, so no matter what kind of CBD extract you use, the CBD will interact with the same endocannabinoid system across the body, delivering its powerful and potent effects.

 

The Types of CBD Topicals

Although not exhaustive by any means, here’s a round-up of some of the common types of CBD infused topicals that you may find on the market, with a short review of the properties of each kind.

 

CBD Balms, Ointments and Salves

One of the most popular kinds of CBD topicals in the market, these different types mostly have the same base ingredients, composition and consistency with a few minor changes between each of them.

Core ingredients may include natural wax, such as beeswax, a fatty oil base, for emollience, the CBD extract and other optional ingredients that each brand may customise such as fragrances etc.

The primary difference between a salve, a balm and an ointment is their consistency. Ointments are the least viscous of the three kinds, with salves being a bit more viscous and thicker and balms being the most viscous and the thickest among the three. The consistency of the topicals is determined by the ratio of the beeswax and the emollient oil, which can be adjusted to create unique mixtures.

CBD Lotions and Creams

Lotions and creams are chemically a type of emulsion containing oil and water as the primary ingredients. These kinds of products are designed to hydrate the skin and provide moisture and softening. They can be customised with several additional elements along with the requisite list of stabilisers and preservatives that are needed for any cosmetic formulation.

These formulations offer additional benefits along with the fantastic effects of the CBD extract and may contain different quantities of CBD depending on the requirement. This leads to a synergy between the CBD and the other natural ingredients, creating a pleasant blend that is good for the skin.

CBD Dermal Patches

A quick and no-frills way of getting CBD to the skin is with a transdermal CBD patch. These patches are a kind of sticker that is coated on the lower surface with CBD extracts in varying quantities. These patches can be applied directly to the skin, and they offer a more convenient way of getting some CBD to the body.

These patches are designed in such a manner that they release a continuous supply of CBD extract to the skin for a set period. This means that as long as the patch is on, the skin will keep getting CBD that is then absorbed into the body. They are also better at getting the CBD to the bloodstream, while most other topicals sometimes fail to reach that deep and mostly interact with the ECS receptors in the skin itself.

 

CBD Massage Oils

CBD infused oils are the most popular kinds of CBD topical available in the market. These oils may contain a single type of base oil that is usually used for massage, infused with a CBD extract that transfers all the properties of CBD to the oil. When applied to the skin, the CBD in the oil is transferred to the surface. Some people make the point, that CBD infused oils enhance the absorption of CBD by the skin, as the oil helps to breach the lipid barrier of the skin, leading to more significant absorption.

Worth mentioning is another kind of CBD product that doesn't qualify as a topical but still uses the skin for the absorption of CBD. One of the newer types of CBD topicals available in the market, CBD bath bombs are an innovative approach that allows for a whole-body contact for the CBD extracts and possibly more excellent absorption through the skin. Although some argue that the water may dilute the CBD extract to negligible concentration, it is nevertheless a fun way to bring CBD into your daily life.

How Can I Buy CBD Topicals Online?

While several manufacturers offer CBD topicals online, choosing a trusted source that provides quality products and customer care is essential. The right manufacturer makes sure that its customers get the best products and service possible. Elixinol is a leading global producer of CBD products with a significant presence in many countries. Elixinol offers a range of CBD topicals and other products that are made with organic, full-spectrum and vegan-friendly CBD Hemp Extract. Head on over to the Elixinol Shop for a look at their range of CBD Topicals.