How To Shop For CBD Topicals: A Buyer’s Guide
Here are 3 things you should look for in
Quality CBD products
The CBD market is growing, and it’s growing fast. In a dynamic CBD market, CBD creams in particular have become a huge sensation. It’s easy to shop online or at the nearest store for the first CBD cream you see. However, CBD, short for cannabidiol, is currently not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has different regulations in every state, leaving it up to the buyer to choose trusted quality products. Additionally, the quality of CBD Creams and other CBD topicals and salves, can vary greatly between different stores and different brands.
So, where do you buy CBD Creams? Below we created a practical guide of 3 things to look for in quality CBD Cream product.
1. A Certificate of Analysis (COA)
A COA helps ensure that a manufacturer’s products are made to specification and indicates the quantity of cannabinoids found in each product, like CBD. COAs are meant to keep customers safe and informed, but they also help emphasize quality and trust.
Is the COA located on the back of the product?
Usually, when a CBD product has a COA, you will find a QR code printed on its package, typically on the back. The QR code will contain a link that will take you to the COA.
2. Third-Party Testing
To ensure you’re buying the best quality CBD, it is essential that a qualified and reliable laboratory has carried out third-party testing. This is another important aspect of COAs, as third-party testing proves that the CBD product is legitimate and the lab results provided by the CBD company are unbiased. If a company has not or will not share its third-party testing results or its COAs, consider that a huge red flag.
Where can I check for third-party testing on the product?
Since third-party testing is an important aspect of COAs, the same QR code on the back of the product package should take you to the COA and show if a third-party lab result was carried out by a qualified and trustworthy laboratory.
3. Short Ingredient List
The ingredient list on the back of a CBD product should be short, and the hemp should ideally be grown using sustainable farming practices in the United States. In addition to CBD, a product can add other herbal, botanicals, or active ingredients to make them even more effective. Understanding the ingredient list is critical.
There are many other things to look for in CBD Cream products before buying, including:
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- Understanding the difference between broad-spectrum CBD vs. full-spectrum CBD (including THC) and how to choose between the two.
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- What’s the correct dosage one should take? There are a lot of variables that go into deciding how much CBD you should take. Before trying CBD, be sure to talk to your doctor about the appropriate amount and any potential risks.