If you’re just starting out, the whole “CBD thing” can feel like wading through a big leafy maze: how much should I take? What’s the difference between full spectrum, broad spectrum and isolate? Which is best for anxiety, which is best for pain?
The rule is start slow and low and gradually build up. Buy from trusted brands only (because quality, provenance and taste vary widely) and know the regulations that apply to your country. Brands that are vague…avoid. Any labelling is important (food, beauty, etc) but correct, detailed CBD labelling is a must.
But what if you’re not keen on the taste? Have a look at flavoured products like 2021 awards winners PASO’s orange CBD Oil Spray or Cheerful Buddha’s chocolate & hazlenut drops.
Or dip into CBD edibles like chocolate, nut butters and even CBD-infused hummus.
So…
HOW MUCH CBD SHOULD I TAKE?
How much CBD should you take? It depends. On your individual makeup/weight/health issues, and whether you’re taking it for anxiety, sleep or pain or whatever your needs are. But yes there is an official “cap” set by the FSA which is 70mg as a maximum daily dose.
Beauty Shortlist winner Love Hemp’s online guide is a useful place to start:
https://love-hemp.com/pages/how-much-cbd-do-i-take
HOW SHOULD I TAKE IT?
Drop the CBD oil under your tongue and leave it there to absorb for 60-90 seconds. Do not (!) swallow it immediately, it needs time to absorb through the capillary rich membrane under your tongue and into your bloodstream.
Much as I am a fan, I do think though that CBD, like many herbs, may not be for everyone. Because not everything “works” with everyone’s systems.
But it’s an ancient medicinal plant which has been used for ages, and it has been completely and unjustifiably vilified (for financial and political reasons, let’s not forget what an incredibly versatile plant hemp is – and the potential threat it posed to paper, tobacco and even nylon producing companies like DuPont) – more on this here:
The CBD oil sold legally has either no – or a mere trace – of THC (the psycho-active component), so there’s no need to worry about any possible “hallucinogenic” effects from taking CBD oil. Having said that, higher and carefully controlled amounts of THC in CBD oil for medical reasons are more effective for combatting pain, as it’s the THC component that works to alleviate pain.
TESTED + RECOMMENDED: THE CBD WINNERS AT THE 2021 BEAUTY SHORTLIST WELLBEING AWARDS
CBD categories were a bigger part of the awards this year, so these are just a few of the brands and products that got great ratings (for those asking last week, no, CBD categories are not part of the 2021 Mama & Baby Awards – for more info please see the entry form & more details here) but the 2022 Wellbeing Awards will open again for entries on 1 September.
[The CBD entries were judged by the panellists with a thorough understanding of CBD: for example last year, red carpet makeup artist Justine Jenkins who is a certified CBD expert judged the UK entries, while in California, freelance beauty and wellness editor and CBD expert Jessica Ourisman who contributes to Halle Berry’s re.spin (and founded Beauty Stoned and writes for The Zoe Report and Harper’s Bazaar among others) joined us for 2021.]I know it’s always useful to get some CBD brand recommendations you can trust, so I thought I’d share a selection of this year’s winners, from OTO CBD’s beautiful hand balm to Love Hemp’s dark chocolate CBD balls (delicious, I’ve tried these!) and it was nice to see a boat load of love for Dr Lipp’s multi-use CBD Calm Balm (lovely as a lip gloss).
THE WINNERS
One of the top-scoring CBD brands this year was London-based Lady A (see below). This brand also carries high quality capsules within a varied collection of oils, balms and tinctures if you prefer capsules over drops.
TESTED & LOVED CBD EDIBLES
Sweet treats: Love Hemp’s Jelly Domes and CBD-infused dark chocolate balls (even if you finish the whole pack, you’ll still be 20mg under the FSA’s recommended daily limit)
LADY A’s CBD CAPSULES WITH MATCHA AND ROSEHIP OIL (25mg CBD each)
Lady A’s broad spectrum CBD capsules
Another favourite: DR LIPP’S CBD MULTI-PURPOSE (LIP) BALM
OTO CBD’S MOISTURISING CBD RITUAL HAND BALM
Winner, Best CBD Product: Hands (much loved!)
THE “SLEEP WELL” WINNER: APOTHEM’S “LIGHTS OUT”
Apothem’s Lights Out Drops blend CBD isolate with some key chillout botanicals like lemon balm, chamomile, L-Theanine, passionflower and 5-HTP (5-HTP can be a gamechanger if you’re having sleep issues in case you’re still searching for a sleep booster. I’ve been testing 5-HTP, I’ve noticed that even if I wake up in the middle of the night instead of sometimes having to try to get back to sleep again, I fall asleep much more quickly).
Apothem has excelled in the taste department with this one: it’s a lovely, pre-wind-down great-tasting elixir of vanilla, cardamom and caramel. Their DAY CBD Oil tastes good, too.
LIGHTS OUT – FULL INGREDIENTS
Organic MCT Oil, Cannabidiol Isolate (derived from Hemp), Flavour, Milky Oats (Avena Sativa), Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), Passionflower (Passiflora), Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), Catnip, Griffonia Seed Extract (5-HTP), L-theanine, Vitamin D (as Cholecalciferol).
For more info you can read up on Apothem’s Lights Out CBD Drops on their website HERE
3,000mg CBD
(blended with calming, sleep-promoting botanicals)
THE CBD SPRAY FOR ORANGE LOVERS: PASO CBD
Another excellent discovery, and oh my goodness PASO’s dark and milk CBD-infused chocolate bars are good! (But OUT OF STOCK at the moment).
Finally, one of the natural tasting, unflavoured CBD oils I personally liked the most this year was Nutrigold’s Raw CBD Oil 500mg, a low dose entry point if you’re just getting into CBD and you can find it online at The Natural Dispensary, the natural health supplements retailer used by many nutritionists I know – there’s more on the Nutrigold oil here:
https://naturaldispensary.co.uk/products/CBD_Oil_500mg_10ml-10000240-165.html
Another BSL Wellbeing Winner, Hemptouch, also makes really good CBD Oils (in various strengths) – it’s another brand worth earmarking.
CBD also featured in a lot of muscle balms, creams and gels entries this year!
To see all the 2021 Beauty Shortlist WELLBEING Awards winners including the shining CBD stars, have a look HERE.
HEY BABY! Our 2021 Mama & Baby Awards open for entries this week! We’ll be announcing this year’s judges before the end of the week including five delightful new ‘mini testers’ – three of them are under age one. They are super cute and raring to go, and their mums have been sending me photos (two baby boys and a baby girl).
For full details, the new categories and to send your samples in to us, click for the MAMA & BABY AWARDS ENTRY FORM page HERE.
DATES
Entries open: 1 April
Entries close: 30 April
Awards Day: FRIDAY 11 JUNE
(Side note: as I mentioned earlier, CBD categories are not included in these awards, but the 2022 Wellbeing Awards will open for entries on 1 September, late summer).
Wishing you a good rest of the week!