Chronic pain is the invisible enemy of many Americans today. It is unseen to the naked eye but deeply felt to anyone suffering from it. It can be for any reason, an old injury, a pulled muscle, an illness- the list goes on. The causes of chronic pain are many, but solutions are few and far between. Due to this, CBD relief cream has become one of the most popular temporary pain relief solutions for many suffering from chronic pain.
Pain CBD creams, balms, and salves work by infusing CB1 and CB2 alongside other natural oils and ingredients into a topical application solution. The cream sinks into your skin near instantaneously, granting relief to minor to moderate aches, pains, and inflammation right at the source.
CBD pain relief creams are flooding the market due to their popularity, making it hard to decide between the options. We have made the hunt easy, researching and showcasing the top CBD creams, balms, and salves currently available for your perusal. Read on to learn about these products and the many benefits of CBD pain relief cream.
The marketing of CBD pain relief products is competitive, with many miracle claims that most products don’t deliver. Through extensive research, such as contacting companies and manufacturers directly, verifying their analysis certificates, and testing, we have compiled the top list of CBD relief products for 2022.
Best CBD Topical Creams in 2022
Listed below are the top 20 products you can find for topical pain relief CBD.
- CBDistillery CBDefine Cream
- Kats Botanicals Range CBD Cream
- Medterra Relief & Recovery Cream
- Elixinol CBD Cream
- Endoca CBD Cream
- Mana Artisan Botanics
- RE Botanicals Range Relief Oils
- Green Roads CBD Skin Creams
- Bloom’s Hemp Topicals
- CBD Pure Muscle & Joint Formula
- Charlotte’s Web Topical Formulas
- Joy’s Organic CBD Creams
- Sabaidee Relief Rub
- CBD American Shaman CBD Topicals
- cbdMD Recover
- PureKana Topical CBD Cream
- CBDFx Joint & Muscle Cream
- Receptra Naturals CBD Topicals
- EirTree Skin Spray
- SolCBD Creams and Balms
Continue reading for individual reviews of these products and direct links to purchase.
CBDefine Cream by CBDistillery
CBDistillery has a wide selection of CBD products, including gummies, oils, and pain relief cream. Their CBDefine Cream is a popular item with a 500 mg hemp-based formula. It’s scented with frankincense, tea tree oil, lavender, rosemary, and other essential oils for a pleasant aroma. Some of the natural ingredients in this product include olive oil, coconut oil, and sunflower oil- all 100% organic. Creams range from $12 to $60 and should be used liberally for maximum effectiveness.
CBD Cream by Kats Botanicals
The Florida-based botanical company Kats Botanicals has many CBD products, including creams, lotions, roll-on options, and more. Their popular salve models, like their CBD Chill Relief cream, which comes as a roll-on, CBD Salve, and CBD Lotion RENEW, contain 500gm to as high as 1,000 mg of CBD per product. They use CBD at full spectrum as the main ingredient, on top of essential oils, butter, beeswax, and other great natural ingredients. Their creams are great for moisturizing skin, helping you feel refreshed on top of relief from pain. Their products have a pleasant scent, like the amber scent of their Renew Cream. Check out their site for a wide range of products and dosage types for you to purchase.
Relief & Recovery Cream by Medterra
Relief & Recovery Cream by Medterra uses high amounts of arnica and menthol on top of CBD for extra strength pain relief. You can feel the cooling effects on your muscles and joints instantly through topical application. The cream comes packaged in a lower 250 mg, a medium 500 mg, and a high 750 mg and is 100% THC free. Other ingredients include aloe vera, sunflowers seed oils, safflower seeds, lemon peel, ginger, and more. Their 99.6% CBD cream is individually batch tested to ensure its quality, ensuring every bottle is filled with only the best ingredients.
CBD Cream by Elixinol
Elixinol has a selection of multiple balms, gels, and topical CBD products. Their three main products include a full spectrum range Hemp Balm (500 mg CBD and overall coverage), broad-spectrum Sports Gel (1,000 mg CBD oil), and a total spectrum Lip Balm that you can safely apply straight on the lips. All topical products are manufactured from 100% organic hemp and are cruelty-free, non-GMO, and vegan-friendly ingredients. Their active ingredients beyond CBD include essential oils, copaiba, and capsaicin.
CBD Cream by Endoca
Endoca focuses mainly on skincare products made with CBD, with a great lineup of salves, creams, and balms to purchase. Their products are made with hemp extract at full-spectrum, alongside critical vitamins like Vitamin C, D, and E for healthy, glowing skin. They are best used as daily creams, with products in various dosages and skin application areas. Their most popular products include their body and face Oil infused with CBD (300 mg per bottle), whipped hemp body butter (450 mg to 1,500 mg per jar), Hemp Salve (250 mg to 750 mg), Hemp Deodorant (100 mg), and Lip, and Skin Balm manufactured from low dosage hemp-based CBD (20 mg).
Mana’s Artisan Botanics
Mana’s Artisan Botanics is stationed in the sunny tropical paradise of Hawaii, right at the base of the volcano Mauna Loa. They offer a full lineup of CBD products, oils, and an excellent skin cream section. Mana Artisan infuses their artisan-made skin creams with hemp that uses the entire plant and other Hawaiian botanicals. Their flagship products include Massage Oil manufactured from the concentrate of hemp and CBD massage oil, alongside Hawaiian Balm made with hemp CBD, comfrey, and plantain. Their jars range from $35 a bottle and $80 per bottle, ranging between 150 mg to 300 mg of CBD in every jar.
Relieving Body Oils by RE Botanicals
Made local in the U.S. is certified USDA Organic farms, RE Botanicals produces premium CBD balms and creams. RE Botanicals has a fantastic reputation in the CBD industry with their popular products, including Relieving Body Oil roll-ons. Their products are made with dosages from 200 mg to 500 mg of CBD created from hemp. Starting at a low $10, they will soothe your body instantly with a mix of lavender, CBD, and other high-quality natural products.
Skin Creams by Green Roads
The prominent distributor of CBD products, Green Roads produces a wide variety of CBD roll-ons, topicals, ointments, and creams, in various dosages. Their Pain Relief Cream for muscles and joints ranges from a low 50 mg to a high 750 mg of CBD in every bottle, offering consumers the ability to choose the dosage right for them. Products are made with a blend of menthol, rosemary oil, avocado oil, and more to help reduce pain in muscles and joints. Beyond their flagship cream, Green Roads offers their Cool Relief CBD Roll-on, CBD Skin Relief Cream, CBD Heat Relief Roll-on, plus even more.
Bloom’s Hemp Topicals
With products created from CBD, evening primrose, jojoba oil, emu oils, and other great ingredients, Bloom Hemp has five different relief products. Full Spectrum Restorative Lotion, Essential Morning and Evening label CBD Roll-On, THC-Free Restorative Lotion, and THC-Free Relief Balm are made in various doses from full to broad-spectrum types. Their Roll-Ons are made using peppermint, rosemary, and full-spectrum range hemp at 200 mg per bottle. Their broad-spectrum hemp oil Zero THC Balm is made with 100 mg to 500 mg of CBD with all the benefits of a broad-spectrum product.
CBD Pure Muscle & Joint Formula
At 250 mg per bottle, CBD Pure’s Muscle & Joint Formula offers powerful full-spectrum relief. The formula mix of white willow bark and menthol strengthens the CBD properties in the cream, offering fast relief to sore muscles and joints. CBD Pure claims their formula is extra effective in a targeted application, using just a dime-sized amount of the cream. Tubes are reasonably priced at around $40, with pleasant natural ingredients like oil from the jojoba seed, apricot extract, and eucalyptus.
Topical Formulas by Charlotte’s Web
Charlotte’s Web has a fantastic reputation in the CBD market as they offer some of the highest quality CBD products around. With a wide range of products from topical CBD formula to hemp-infused balm, shoppers are sure to find a pain relief product right for them at a reasonable price. Their products come in stick, roll-on, and standard cream form for easy application all over, specifically for neck and back pain. Charlotte’s Web is perfect for all aches and soreness but makes creams specific for those who have arthritis. Their Hemp-Infused Balm contains 150 mg of CBD for $15 a container. Tropical creams contain 300 mg of CBD per ounce, with formulas free of synthetic fragrances, parabens, allergens, artificial dyes and colors, and other dangerous ingredients.
CBD Creams by Joy Organic
Joy’s Organics is similar to Charlotte’s Web, is well known in the industry for high-quality products and hemp. The two main products of Joy Organics are their CBD Sports Cream and standard CBD Cream, ranging from 250 mg to 400 mg CBD per jar. The cream is topically applied to targeted areas for quick relief. Their creams are nourishing for cracked and dry skin while revitalizing muscles and joints. Joy’s Organic products are best used after a strenuous workout to lessen the strain and ache, with prices ranging from $33 to $40 per container.
Relief Rub by Sabaidee
Sabaidee offers a soothing broad-spectrum relief in its Relief Rub balm. At $36 to $49 per bottle, their Relief Rub packs 250 mg of Colorado-grown hemp-based CBD in every jar. The rubs are triple-tested for potency and purity and contain no artificial ingredients or scents inside. They have a sweet, slightly minty scent to them, without the potent smell of menthol invading your nose.
Additional components to the formula include avocado oil, camphor oil, jojoba oil, sunflower oil, wintergreen leaf, and blue tansy. The Relief Rub works best after thoroughly massaging it into your skin.
CBD Topicals by American Shaman
American Shaman sells many topical CBD products, from body lotion to face cream. Their topicals are made locally in the U.S., grown from non-GMO hemp, and mixed with their proprietary nanotechnology for quick and effective absorption. Their creams range from 250 mg to 500 mg per bottle, with 5ml to 15ml eyes and face creams. It helps with pain, correcting dark circles, and moisturizing your skin. Its best used when directly applied to an area of pain and thoroughly massaged in the skin.
cbdMD Recover
The Recover CBD cream made by cbdMD is sold as an inflammation formula cream. Dosages range from 300 mg to 3000 mg for extra strength relief. They claim Recover CBD works not only on aches and discomforts but helps lessen inflammation and hydrates your skin. It contains CBD, shea butter, essential oils, and less than a third of one percent THC.
CBD Cream by PureKana Topical
At 600 mg per bottle, PureKana’s Topical CBD Cream offers a refreshing, hydrating formula of hemp extract and CBD oils. They are best used as a daily moisturizing cream, with invigorating ingredients like shea butter, Montana flower, oil from the olive fruit, and capsicum.
Additionally, it comes in the easiest to apply bottles on the list, allowing you to quickly use the refreshing cream anywhere on your body. The cream is a bit expensive at $80 but is backed by a 30-day refund agreement.
Muscle and Joint Cream by CBDFx
CBDFx’s products may seem like a similar cooling CBD product to others on the list, but this vegan CBD relief cream holds a unique ingredient in its formula- caffeine. Their Muscle and Joint Cream is made with white willow bark, menthol, CBD, and caffeine for lasting pain relief. With bottles ranging from 500 mg to 3,000 mg of CBD, CBDFx claims their cream treats not only pains and aches but helps reduce inflammation through their anti-inflammatory botanical extracts.
CBD Topicals by Receptra Naturals
Receptra Naturals’ most popular line of products is its Serious Relief lineup of creams, balms, butter, lotions, salves, and ointments. Mixed with CBD and arnica, the Serious Relief products help soothe irritations and aches while prompting speedy recovery to target areas of your body. The products are naturally scented with ingredients of ylang-ylang, jasmine, camphor, and more to smell great, feel great, and open your pores while soothing your aches.
Skin Spray by EirTree
EirTree is a unique product on the list, offering CBD relief in a spray rather than a cream. They claim that the spray format will provide faster relief to targeted areas of your body, with their formulas endorsed by chemists, doctors, and health experts. Their sprays come in five different varieties, including hemp and a CBD version. Each bottle contains 900 mg of CBD, priced at $90 a bottle. Its highly-priced but high dosage and easy application make it a worthwhile investment when dealing with chronic pain.
Creams and Balms by SolCBD
SolCBD is the final item on our list and offers two different types of CBD products. Their Infused Herbal Balm includes 12 herbal extracts and 250 mg of organic hemp CBD. The Nourish Formula is a blend of herbs and cannabinoids used for nourishment and skincare, with 22 different skincare ingredients.
With $41 a jar for the balm and $55 for the cream, SolCBD claims their products to not only be potent and fast-acting but sophisticatedly nourishing skincare that revitalizes while soothing aches and pains in your body.
How We Ranked The Best CBD Topical Creams
All CBD relief cream manufacturers claim their products offer expected benefits, like general pain relief and a decrease in inflammation. But not all pain creams are created equal, despite marketing claims. That’s why we tested these products, to show you the best creams currently available while avoiding the worst ones. See our criteria for reviewing the products below.
Pain Relief
The main job of a pain relief CBD cream is in its name- pain relief. You don’t use these creams for their sweet scents or moisturization properties (though some creams excel in this regardless); you use them to soothe the pain. This is the most important quality we tested in the products and separated our creams from good to bad, rooted in their effectiveness.
Muscle Relaxation
Another significant CBD cream benefit is muscle relaxation properties. It reduces aches by loosening tight muscles and can be extremely helpful after a workout. The best creams have muscle relaxation properties in their solution and are critical for our reviewing process.
Inflammation, Hydration, and More
The sub qualities of CBD relief cream are just as important as pain relief. The moisturization, inflammation reduction, and anti-aging effects of the CBD creams boost the value and benefits of the salve. The sub qualities can be hard to measure but were considered when reviewing these products.
Natural Ingredients
CBD may be the main ingredient, but many other oils and extracts go into cream to create that special salve. We value natural ingredients more highly than synthetic ones, meaning all-natural or primarily natural creams were the ones to end up on the list.
Dosage
Every pain relief CBD cream has a different dosage, and it’s up to personal preference what dosage works best for your body. This list offers various doses, from 100 mg to 3,000 mg of CBD, so you are sure to find the right amount for your body.
Lab Testing and Analysis Certificates
Marketing campaigns are not always the most truthful when advertising their products. Almost 1/3rd of all advertised CBD creams don’t contain the amount of CBD listed in the advertisement. For our list, we included pain relief creams that were transparent with their analysis certificates and listed lab results of THC, CBD, and additional cannabinoids in their cream.
Application Ease
Creams are only helpful when they can be applied easily, making the application ease of a product vital when reviewing the creams. Creams on this list tend to glide smoothly over your skin with quick skin absorption time. We avoided greasy, laborious, and challenging when applying lotions to save you from unpleasant skin sensations.
Price
Not everyone can drop a hundred dollars for a CBD cream, and some budgets will only allow for help that’s $10 or less. But with every budget being different, we made sure to include a large variety of cream price ranges to fit any wallet.
Company Reputation
Reputation is vital in the CBD community, and companies with longstanding positive reputations were ranked favorably on our list. A positive company reputation means products of high quality, excellent customer support, and prices that match the product. Companies with the best reputation usually staff on board for medical advisory and pharmaceutical divisions to ensure the best products are created and delivered to the customer.
CBD and Hemp Sources
When purchasing your CBD creams, it’s essential to be an informed shopper, knowing exactly where the hemp and CBD are sourced before being made into the cream. The source of cannabinoids was heavily considered in rankings, and companies listing their sources, ingredient type, and product quality were rated better than those with unlisted hemp sources.
Aroma
The scent of CBD cream is one of the hardest things to do right. Many creams are overwhelmed by the strong smell of menthol or just a foul and pungent smell in general. We smell-tested every product to ensure a pleasant fragrance for your pain cream experience.
Are CBD Creams For Pain Right For Me?
CBD relief cream is highly effective in combating soreness and aches in muscles and joints in some people. CBD can bring pain relief to most minor to moderate aches and can be helpful in the following:
- Reducing general inflammation
- Reducing muscle ache and soreness
- Reducing joint inflammation and pain
- Body recovery
- General pain relief
- Skin moisturization and hydration
Though these are the main positive effects of CBD relief creams, personal testimony has claimed anti-age and wrinkle removing benefits from cream use. CBD relief cream can be applied to a single targeted area, across elbows and knees, and even spread across the entire body.
CBD’s pain relief can also be found in balm or salve form for sensitive skin areas, like your lips. This allows for precision-targeted pain relief without aggravating sensitive skin types.
What CBD Cream Dosage Is Right For Me?
One jar of CBD cream can contain anywhere between 100 mg to 3,000 mg of CBD, with no more than a third of one percent of THC by law. The 3,000 mg of CBD is weighed as the entire jar and not the cream’s dime-sized application amounts, even in the maximum amount. The amount of CBD used in cream is based on personal preference; as some claim, 100 mg is enough to reduce the pain in a target area.
Find the dosage that suits your needs by testing a variety of cream and cream types. Remember, many ingredients go into a pain-relieving CBD cream, meaning some may find the secondary ingredients of menthol, essential oils, or camphor in higher doses react more than a higher CBD dosage. This means a 100 mg CBD cream with a high dosage of menthol may work better for somebody types than a 3,000 mg of CBD with less menthol.
CBD cream is absorbed into your body via the endocannabinoid network, which impacts inflammation and pain. The greater the CBD contained in the cream, the greater the amount the endocannabinoid network absorbs. The receptors CB1 and CB2 in your system will help absorb the cream through the skin and directly into the bloodstream for pain relief. The higher the CBD dosage, the greater the response from the endocannabinoid network.
Mix and match dosages and ingredient types to find the level suitable for your body and your pain.
CBD Cream Negative effects
Science has shown no reported significant adverse effects for individuals when using CBD cream. Generally, reported adverse effects of an individual cream are caused by the essential oils or outside plant extracts and not the CBD. This is why it’s critical to check the ingredient list on your CBD cream to know what types of oils and plants they placed into it to avoid a reaction.
The most common adverse effects associated with the oils and extracts used within creams are redness and irritation. Extreme allergic reactions may result in inflammation or hives in the applied area. Still, these adverse effects are commonplace for all creams and salves and not exclusive to pain-relieving CBD cream.
Research shows that CBD is safe to absorb into the skin and ingest, up to a high of 1,500 mg. 1,500 mg is considered a high dosage for adults but still can be consumed without reported significant adverse effects. CBD relief cream consists of far less than the maximum dosage amount. With no connection linking topical CBD creams and significant adverse effects, you can be reassured of the safety of pain relief CBD creams.
Still, if you find yourself concerned about possible effects, a simple skin test can reassure your worries. Apply a minimal amount of cream to a clean area of the skin of your arm, and observe for effects within 24 hours.
What Science Says About CBD Creams
Research has shown the promising pain relief results of CBD creams, especially those mixed with menthol and jojoba. Though research continues, various studies show that CBD can aid the body in inflammation and pain management. Additional research conducted in 2018 also shows the positive effects of CBD in helping relieve the pain of arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Evidence is promising but not proven. Still, researchers are constantly learning more about the positive and negative effects of CBD. Significant research started in 2016 for the earliest published studies on pain relief CBD. Researchers in this study applied CBD cream to rats and studied the response, finding this popular CBD gel significantly increased mobility in limbs, joint swelling, and inflammation recovery. They concluded based on the positive results of both the 6.2 mg dosage and 62 mg CBD dosage gel and their therapeutic properties on the rats.
A more recent study in 2020 shows that CBD does work…we just aren’t sure how yet. Though research remains limited, researchers acknowledge the positive effects of CBD, especially in skin conditions like eczema, pruritus, inflammatory diseases, and psoriasis. But as one of the only chronic pain relievers sold over the counter that works, the technicalities are less critical than real-life results.
A common ingredient in almost all popular CBD formulas, Menthol has been tested and studied as an effective topical pain relief solution. A 2014 study gave both menthol and a placebo cream to workers and found those given menthols reported a significant reduction in body pains and aches. An older test in 2012 saw researchers comparing the beneficial effects of ice to that of menthol. Sixteen studied subjects found that menthol significantly decreased the discomfort, more so than ice.
Both menthol and CBD have shown positive effects in research, making their combined use in pain relief creams a sure-fire way to fight against chronic pain and skin issues. Research is still being conducted, and science is sure to reveal more about the positive effects of CBD with time. For now, we will focus on what we do know: a targeted application of CBD topical treatment is likely to reduce minor to moderate pains and aches and help fight against some skin disorders as well.
Try the creams out for yourself. Experiment with doses and formulas to find the suitable lotion or balm for your body and condition. Apply liberally, or sparingly, to everywhere or just a target area. We recommend that CBD cream users start with some of the less expensive treatments on the list to test their body’s response to the formula. With 20 great products of varying prices, dosages, and ingredients, you are sure to find a CBD relief treatment that works for your body and your price range.
CBD Creams FAQs
Q: What exactly is CBD-infused pain cream?
A: CBD-infused pain creams are ointments made with cannabidiol to reduce pain in the body, joints, and muscles. They are topical treatments made mainly with cannabidiol but can include additional ingredients to aid in pain management.
Q: How do CBD salves and balms help reduce pain?
A: Scientists are still learning about CBD and the positive impacts it has on the body. We know that the CB1 and CB2 relieve pain when topically applied to the skin and processed into the endocannabinoid network. CBD creams ease inflammation and pain in the endocannabinoid network, giving quick relief to minor to moderate aches and muscle pain.
Q: What makes up CBD cream?
A: A pain CBD creams, balms, and salves are manufactured with many different ingredients, primarily hemp extract. Natural ingredients and plant extract are also popular additives, alongside essential oils for aroma.
Q: What CBD cream is the best?
A: We recommend Charlotte’s Web and Joy Organics on top of the other top-rated creams listed in this article, as they currently prove to be the best.
Q: What can CBD cream help?
A: Research shows topical CBD cream can help lessen inflammation, soreness, and mobility in the areas it’s been applied.
Q: Will I test positive on drug tests with CBD relief cream?
A: Though some creams have a small amount of THC (no more than a third of one percent), it is doubtful they will impact the results of drug tests.
Q: Can I get high from CBD cream?
A: No, CBD creams have no psychoactive effects or properties, and the trace amounts of THC in some creams are not enough to get someone high.
Q: Is there a difference between broad and full-spectrum creams with CBD?
A: The difference between broad and full-spectrum creams is in their ingredients. Full spectral range hemp uses all the plants’ ingredients in the cream, including THC. Broad-spectrum help uses hemp but not the THC elements for their cream. Broad-spectrum creams are recommended for those wanting to abstain from THC as a whole.
Q: Is CBD cream airport safe?
A: CBD creams are like every other liquid and must adhere to the proper sizing and packaging requirements to be taken on a plane. Though safe across America, some customs may flag CBD as an illegal substance, depending on the rules of the country you are visiting.
Q: Is it legal to use CBD relief cream?
A: Yes, pain CBD creams, balms, and salves are entirely legal and approved in all the U.S. states and contain no more than a third of one percent of THC.
Q: What amount of THC is used in pain CBD creams?
A: To be a legal CBD cream, it must contain no more than a third of one percent THC. However, some creams, like broad-spectrum creams, don’t use THC in their product; thus, it depends on the cream and its manufacturer.
Q: Is there a difference between hemp cream and CBD?
A: They are virtually the same, often used interchangeably. The technical difference is between the seed oil of hemp and CBD oil. The oil in hemp seed is created from cannabis seeds, while CBD oils are made from the plant itself, like leaves, buds, flowers, and stems. Still, they are so similar they are often listed as the same cream, just with different names.
Q: Is it safe to use pain CBD creams?
A: Science suggests that ingesting or absorbing as much as 1,500 mg of CB a day is generally safe for the majority of the population. With CBD creams, you are receiving far less than the recommended safe dosage. Even covering yourself head to toe in CBD cream won’t be enough to reach the 1,500 mg limit. Most people are unlikely to have adverse negative effects concerning CBD creams and dosages.
Q: How can I use pain CBD creams, balms, and salves?
A: Each bottle will come with specific instructions on how much cream to use and where to place it. Generally, a pea or dime-sized amount applied to where you feel pain is enough for instant relief.
Q: Are there adverse effects of pain CBD creams?
A: Science has shown no significant adverse effects when using topical CBD creams. However, allergic reactions can occur in response to other components of the cream, such as the plant extracts or essential oils used in the salve. Read the ingredients behind your preferred CBD cream to see if one of their ingredients may affect you.
Best CBD Topical Creams in 2022 Conclusion
CBD relief creams, balms, and salves have been shown to help relieve the pain across your entire body through a targeted application. Manufacturers have also created pain relief CBD products that claim to lessen general inflammation as well.
CBD creams are more popular now than ever and are available everywhere, online and offline. Though many products are available, the ones reviewed and listed above have proven the best available. Use any one of the listed creams to enjoy instantaneous pain relief.
You can buy all of the products listed in this article directly from their website. You can find direct links above in each product section.
