Millions of people are today affected by chronic pain, with many of these looking towards CBD products, e.g., balms and salves, for relief. CBD creams instill cannabidiol and a host of other natural ingredients into the body when applied to the skin.

They help to provide pain relief while easing any inflammation present.

Today, the market has become saturated with more CBD products than at any other time in history. But as you seek CBD products to provide you relief, you need to note that these products are not the same.

Below is a detailed review of the Best CBD pain balms, salves, and creams for 2021.

Our Best CBD Pain Creams Rankings

Each CBD manufacturer insists that their products are the best and should be considered by anyone looking for pain relief. But not many companies can provide the quality needed. For this reason, we have spent the last few weeks testing the products listed below.

To ensure we conducted a thorough review, we got in touch with the CBD manufacturers and checked whether the products had CoAs (certificates of analysis). Our review team also engaged in endless debates on the creams and balms available in the market today.

The following are our findings.

Charlotte’s Web Topical Formulas

Charlottes’ Web is among the most renowned companies in the CBD industry. It provides a wide variety of CBD creams and topical formulas, including:

• Hemp-infused balm with CBD
• Hemp-infused cream with CBD

Users can apply the cream as an ordinary cream or using a stick. It also manufactures specialty formulas for different purposes, the top among them being:

• Back and neck pain
• General cooling
• Arthritis aches

Each hemp-infused balm with CBD container from Charlotte’s Web comprises 150mg of plant-based cannabinoids and retails for $15. Every product manufactured by this company comes with 300mg of CBD for each ounce.

We highly recommend its product, as its formula is free from artificial dyes and colors, allergens, synthetic fragrances, and parabens.

Joy Organics CBD Creams

Joy Organics produces two flagship products: a CBD cream and the CBD Sports Cream. Both creams contain between 250mg to 400mg of CBD. The flagship products are applied topically to assist in soothing aches and pains.

The company is quite popular in the CBD space, with many associating it with the production of high-quality products. This is because it has committed to ensuring consumers get access to the best hemp products possible.

Creams can revitalize joints and muscles, nourish dry and cracked skin, and be applied in any part of the body. Its flagship CBD Sports Cream is designed to assist in soothing sore muscles after an intense workout.

It permeates the skin to target your stiff joints. Joy Organics cream retail for between $33 for the 250mg bottle and $40 for the 400mg bottle.

Sabaidee Relief Rub

Sabaidee Relief Rub is a topical balm made from a blend of numerous natural botanicals. Its formula includes a broad-spectrum CBD obtained from hemp. The cream does not contain any artificial ingredients or scents.

Relief Rub by Sabaidee comes with a delicately sweet scent but does not contain the menthol odor present in cheap balms. A single jar retails for between $36 and $49. In addition, the product is tested by multiple labs to guarantee its potency and purity.

Every jar of Relief Rub comes with 250mg of CBD obtained from hemp. The company sources its supply of hemp from Colorado farmers. Included in its formula are other ingredients that have:

• Wintergreen leaf
• Camphor oil
• Blue tansy
• Avocado oil
• Jojoba oil
• Sunflower oil

CBD American Shaman CBD Topicals

The company manufactures several high-quality topical CBD products meant for use in varying parts of the body. CBD American Shaman creams and serums are manufactured using non-GMO hemp produced in the United States.

Its creams are infused with its unique nanotechnology to guarantee optimal absorption. Creams in its product line include:

• Topical Cream (250/500mg bottle)
• CBD Lotion
• Topical Serum Roll-on
• CBD Body Lotion
• CBD Face Cream
• CBD Under Eye Serum
• Terpene Rich Topical Serum (5ml/15ml)

CBD American Shaman creams can help soothe pain and eliminate the dark circles under the eyes.

cbdMD Recover

The Recover CBD Cream from cbdMD is described as an inflammation formula. Every tube contains between 300mg to 3,000mg of CBD, depending on how you would like to use the cream.

The company claims that its products can help soothe temporary discomfort and relieve minor aches while hydrating your skin. Furthermore, its pain-fighting ingredients are known to assist with pain and soreness.

As is the case with all the other CBD creams reviewed here, cbdMD contains less than 0.3THC and is produced in the United States. Additional ingredients include essential oils and shea butter.

PureKana Topical CBD Cream

A single tube of PureKana’s Topical CBD Cream comes with 600mg of CBD. The manufacturer claims that it can provide a user with a hydrating and highly refreshing sensation. The hemp extract present in the creams is the same extract used in its oils.

Daily application of this cream helps moisturize the skin, allowing you to enjoy healthy, supple, and smooth skin. Apart from CBD, other ingredients used in the production of this cream include:

• Olive fruit oil
• Arnica Montana flower
• Capsicum
• Shea butter

The cream retails at $80 per tube and comes with a thirty-day money-back guarantee. Its bottle is among the easiest to use on this list, making it easy to apply all over the body.

CBDFx Muscle and Joint Cream

The Muscle and Joint Cream from CBDFx are described as a cooling formula that contains CBD, white willow bark, and menthol. They are the same ingredients used on most of the creams reviewed here. Caffeine is another ingredient used in making this cream.

A single bottle of this cream can provide between 500mg to 3,000mg of CBD, depending on the user’s preferred dosage levels. According to the manufacturer, the company uses anti-inflammatory extracts to target joint pain and muscle aches.

Menthol provides a cooling sensation, while caffeine and white willow bark help to soothe different aches and pains.

Receptra Naturals CBD Topicals

Receptra Naturals manufactures long-range CBD topical products, including ointments, creams, salves, butter, and balms. Its most famous line of products includes the Serious Relief Lineup.

The lineup comprises Serious Relief + Arnica creams, body oils, and sticks. Receptra Naturals uses a blend of arnica and CBD to produce products that can target irritated areas of the body while promoting enhanced recovery times.

Its products are scented using ingredients like camphor, ylang-ylang, and jasmine. The ingredients also promote the fast healing of joints and muscles while opening up the skin pores.

EirTree Skin Spray

As the name suggests, EirTree is more of a spray than a cream, making it the first of its kind in this review. The manufacturer claims that the spray is designed to provide relief to exhausted muscles and joints.

It has been endorsed by many health experts, chemists, and doctors. The company produces five variations of this spray, including a CBD version and a hemp version. Its HYPO CBD comes with a sprayer and a 12ml bottle.

The spray has the highest CBD dosage on this list, with a single bottle containing 900mg of CBD. It means that two EirTree HYPO CBD sprays contain 30mg, with each bottle retailing for $90.

SolCBD Creams and Balms

SolCBD produces two main CBD products: A Nourish Formula and a CBD-infused Herbal Balm. The balm contains 250mg of organic hemp and 12 herbal extracts, designed to permeate the skin quickly and into the joints and muscles. Its cream sells for $41 per bottle.

The Nourish Formula contains a total of 22 ingredients and is priced at $55 per bottle. The company markets it as a blend of cannabinoids and herbs meant to create a nourishing skincare product.

CBDistillery CBDefine Skin Cream

CBDistellery has a long line of CBD products that include gummies and oils. It’s most popular product is the CBDefine Skin Cream, whose formula provides the user with 500mg of hemp sourced from CBD.

Apart from CBD, the other active ingredients in this cream include:

• Organic Sunflower oil
• Extra virgin
• Organic olive oil
• Organic coconut oil

Its formula is scented with rosemary, tea tree, lavender, and frankincense essential oils. Consider applying a liberal amount of this cream to the targeted area for the best results.

Kats Botanicals CBD Cream

Kats Botanicals manufacturers several products that include lotions, roll-on products, and CBD creams. Its renowned topicals include:

• The CBD Salve
• CHILL Relief CBD Roll-on
• The RENEW CBD Lotion

A single jar of CBD Salve contains between 500mg to 1,000mg of CBD, butter, beeswax, essential oils, among other ingredients. All in all, it’s intended for use as a moisturizing salve that can restore and rejuvenate the skin.

Its other product, the RENEW CBD lotion, comes with 150mg of CBD per bottle, with the lotion having an amber scent. CHILL Relief CBD Roll-on is the third product from this company and comes in 100mg and 1,000mg doses.

Medterra Relief + Recovery Cream

The Medterra Relief and Recovery Cream blend are organic products, e.g., arnica and menthol, with CBD. Topical application to the body provides a rapid cooling effect while offering much-needed support to the muscles and joints.

The cream comes in several dosages: 250mg, 500mg, and 750mg. The primary ingredients used to make the cream include:

• Lemon peel
• Sunflower seed oil
• Safflower seed oil
• Aloe Vera leaf juice

All the batches are tested in independent labs to confirm they are THC-free.

Elixinol CBD Cream

The company manufactures numerous CBD gels, balms, and topicals. Elixinol products are 100% plant-based, made from organic hemp, vegan, and non-GMO. Apart from containing CBD, other active ingredients in the cream include:

• Essential oils
• Copaiba
• Capsaicin

The company has three flagship products: the Hemp Balm containing 500mg of CBD, Sports Gel with 1,000mg of CBD, and Lip Balm.

Endoca CBD Cream

Endoca produces a long list of skincare products that include balms, salves, and CBD creams. Each product contains full-spectrum hemp extracts. The company recommends applying the creams daily for the best results.

Its main ingredients include:

• Coconut oil
• CBD
• Vanilla extracts
• Vitamin C
• Shea Butter
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E

Presently, the company has five flagship products that include:

• A CBD face and body oil that contains 30mg of CBD per ml and 300mg of CBD per bottle
• Hemp whipped body butter containing between 450mg to 1,500mg of CBD
• Hemp salve containing between 250mg to 750mg of CBD
• Hemp deodorant containing 100mg of CBD
• Hemp lip and skin balm with 20mg of CBD

Mana Artisan Botanics

Based in Hawaii, Mana Artisan Botanics manufactures various CBD oils and products, with its most popular product being skin creams. The creams are produced using hemp extracts. The company’s flagship products include the Hawaiian Hemp Balm and the Hemp Massage Oil.

A single jar retails for between $35 to $80 and can provide rapid relief to sore muscles and joints.

RE Botanicals Relief Body Oils

Re Botanicals is a renowned manufacturer of CBD products based in the United States. It relies on a high-quality manufacturing process to produce a broad range of CBD creams and balms in the market.

Its body oil products include body oils and muscle rubs that come in varying dosages. Every bottle contains between 200mg to 500mg of Hemp obtained from CBD. It retails for $10 per bottle.

Green Roads CBD Skin Creams

Green Roads is among the largest CBD companies operating in the United States. It manufactures a wide variety of ointments, roll-ons, and joint and muscle creams. A single bottle contains between 50 to 750mg of CBD.

Other ingredients used to make the creams include:

• Menthol
• Rosemary oil
• Avocado oil

The ingredients help to soothe joints and sore muscles. Some favorite topical CBD products include Cool Relief CBD Roll-on, Skin Relief CBD Cream, and Heat Relief CBD Roll-on.

Bloom Hemp Topicals

Bloom Hemp provides five different types of body lotions, namely:

• Zero THC Restorative Lotion
• Essential Morning Roll-on
• Full Spectrum Restorative Lotion
• Zero THC Relief Balm
• Essential Evening Roll-on

A single bottle of the Zero THC Relief Balm offers between 100 to 500mg of CBD per bottle. Additional ingredients in the balm include:

• Argan oil
• Jojoba oil
• Sesame oil
• Emu oil
• Evening primrose

Given that it’s a broad spectrum oil, the users enjoy many other benefits associated with terpenes and cannabinoids. For example, the manufacturer claims that one can use the formula to help restore their skin.

CBDPure Muscle & Joint Formula

The Muscle and Joint Formula from CBDPure contains 250mg of CBD in each tube. Ingredients that have been added to help enhance its efficiency include white willow bark and menthol. The product helps to soothe joints, muscles, and other sores in the body.

According to the company, users only need to apply a small amount to the targeted area. Then, it provides instant relief allowing you to resume your regular duties. A single tube retails for $40. Other ingredients used in its manufacture include:

• Apricot extract
• Eucalyptus
• Jojoba seed oil

Our Ranking Criteria for Best CBD Pain Creams

All CBD pain creams claim to help soothe joint pains and muscle aches using CBD. Our editorial team individually tested all the creams we have mentioned above before, including them in this review.

The following is a look at the criteria we used when determining the best and worst pain creams.

Scent

Some of the creams on sale today have a terrible smell and come loaded with a menthol scent. The scent is used to trick users into believing that the product is highly potent.

We tested the scent of each of the products mentioned above.

Pain Relief

People don’t apply CBD-infused creams to smell great. The reason for using them is to obtain pain relief. Pain relief was among our most important considerations when reviewing the products above.

CBD and Hemp Sources

Where does the CBD manufacturer obtain its CBD and hemp? The source of the CBD used to make the products were among the factors we considered. We prioritized the products that had transparent sources.

Muscle Relaxation

The best CBD creams can loosen tight muscles and relax sore muscles. Most people apply these creams after engaging in intense workout sessions.

We focused on creams that had proven relaxation effects.

Transparency and Company Reputation

Some of the companies mentioned here have a long history of producing high-quality CBD products.

These are companies that value transparency and have pharmaceutical and medical advisory divisions.

Inflammation, Hydration, and Other Effects

CBD has many benefits for the skin. Some users apply the creams to gain pain relief and hydrate and rejuvenate their skin.

The creams can be used to target inflammation.

Price and Value

Individuals have different budgets, so some can only afford to spend $10 per bottle while others can spend as much as $150.

We made it a point to include creams having different price points to make sure no one would feel left out. The creams above also come with varying dosages.

Natural Ingredients

Some manufacturers use natural ingredients to help them hold the formula together. However, those interested in making a quick profit will cut corners and use artificial chemicals or synthetic ingredients.

We prioritized products that had safe, natural ingredients.

Ease of Application

Different formulas are used to produce CBD creams. For this reason, some will be greasy, making it difficult for a user to apply them on their skin.

Other creams are easy to apply and are easily absorbed by the skin. Some manufacturers have spent years perfecting the absorbance and viscosity of their formulas.

Lab Testing and Certificates of Analysis

Close to a third of all the CBD products on sale today don’t have the advertised CBD levels. Our editors preferred the products with a certificate of analysis and whose lab testing results were transparent.

The lab test result indicates the levels of THC and CBD present in each product.

CBD Dosage

Different creams will have different CBD dosage levels. Some people prefer products having a high CBD dosage.

Others would instead use those that have a low CBD dosage. Therefore, we focused on creams that provided varying dosage levels.

These are the factors we relied on when preparing this list of the best CBD creams for 2021.

CBD Creams—Who Should Use Them?

CBD creams come in handy for people suffering from sore muscles and joint pains. However, it’s not uncommon to find people who swear by their efficiency. A majority of these are people who have tried other products and have not experienced any relief.

Extensive research has indicated that CBD can assist with the following:

• Skin hydration and moisturization
• Pain relief
• Inflammation
• Body recovery
• Joint pain and inflammation
• Muscle soreness

Some individuals believe that CBD products contain anti-aging properties. A section of users relies on them to help ease pain in different parts of their bodies. Most CBD products are today being advertised as a solution for a specific area of the body.

A good example is the lip balm used to rejuvenate the cracked skin around the lips.

Recommended Dosage for CBD Pain Cream

As seen in our list of CBD creams, the creams can contain between 100mg to 3,000mg of CBD per bottle. It means that there’s no correct or incorrect dosage of CBD pain cream. It all comes down to what you believe.

Some users believe that high dosages offer the best pain relief. However, the CBD dosage doesn’t matter as much as that of camphor, menthol, and the other ingredients. Therefore, it’s best to test various dosages to find the one that works best for you.

Note that the more CBD a pain cream has, the more CBD that the body will absorb. This is because scientists have uncovered evidence indicating that CBD directly impacts your endocannabinoid system.

Once absorbed, the CBD travels through the bloodstream and begins interacting with the numerous receptors in your ECS. In short, the system will be impacted by the amounts of CBD present in the creams.

Potential Side Effects of Using the CBD Pain Creams

Presently, there are no known side effects associated with the use of CBD pain creams. Therefore, any person can use CBD creams without having to worry about experiencing an adverse reaction.

In rare cases, a user may experience:

• Allergic reactions
• Irritation
• Redness of the skin

The side effects mentioned above may be due to some of the other ingredients used in the pain cream. For example, it could be that a person is allergic to a specific essential oil or fruit oil used to make the pain cream.

If you are worried about the pain cream’s effects on your skin, consider applying a small portion to your arm. Then, wait for a few hours to see whether it will affect you negatively.

Many studies have shown no direct link between its application and the emergence of unwanted side effects when it comes to its safety. Similar studies have also shown that adults can easily consume high dosages without experiencing adverse reactions.

What Does Science Have to Say About the Benefits of CBD?

Various scientific studies have validated the pain relief benefits offered by pain relief creams and CBD. In addition, results from several studies have shown that jojoba, menthol, and CBD can provide targeted benefits, even when used with other ingredients.

Examples of CBD studies showing its benefits include:

In a 2018 study, researchers sought to look into the effects cannabinoids had on inflammation and pain. The researchers investigated various studies on the two topics and concluded that CBD could ease pain and inflammation in several ways.

Another 2018 study on dogs suffering from osteoarthritis established that CBD could enhance mobility and boost comfort in dogs experiencing inflammation.

Northwestern Medicine has proven that CBD oil and other CBD-related products can assist with arthritis, inflammation, and joint pain. In addition, numerous experiments have indicated that both oral and topical products can help enhance comfort and mobility.

The first study on topical products was conducted in 2016 and published in the European Journal of Pain. Researchers undertaking the study established that CBD gels could significantly boost limb mobility, reduce inflammation and joint swelling.

Last year, Discover Magazine explained that humans know that CBD creams work, but they don’t know how they do what they do. However, scientists have proven that the products work against inflammation and body pain.

Many CBD pain creams rely on much more than CBD to relieve pain, as shown by this study conducted in 2014. Menthol is among the top ingredients used in pain creams and has reduced pain intensity among users.

A study conducted in 2012 sought to compare the effects that menthol had on pain reduction. At the end of the study, the researchers proved that using a menthol gel can reduce discomfort in a given area.

Although there are tons of studies that show that CBD pain creams can assist in pain reduction, some scientists are hesitant to approve these claims. A study conducted in 2020 highlighted some of the researchers’ doubts about cannabinoids to offer pain relief.

Many researchers have acknowledged that various experiments show that CBD positively impacts different skin and inflammatory conditions. The researchers have also accepted that endocannabinoid receptors are present on the skin.

All in all, several studies prove the efficacy of CBD when it comes to pain management. As researchers continue to look into how CBD creams work to relieve pain, it should be noted that a combination of CBD and menthol is effective in pain management.

Frequently Asked Questions About CBD Pain Creams

Q: What are CBD Pain Creams?

A: It refers to a topical ointment containing CBD (cannabidiol) and a host of other ingredients used to soothe joints and sore muscles.

Q: How Do These Creams Work?

A: They seem to offer pain relief by explicitly targeting the endocannabinoid system, which includes various receptors found on your skin.

The CB1 and CB2 receptors play an essential role in managing pain and inflammation in the body. It will become possible to determine how CBD affects the body as more research is conducted on CBD pain creams.

Q: What’s Included in the CBD Pain Creams?

A: Many CBDs, including all those we have listed above, contain a broad or full-spectrum hemp extract.

The extract is combined with essential oils, plant extracts, and botanicals.

Q: Which is the Best CBD Pain Cream?

A: All the CBD pain creams we have mentioned in our review will provide you with instant pain relief.

The most renowned CBD pain creams are Joy Organics and Charlotte’s Web.

Q: How Do these Creams Help?

A: Many studies have shown that creams help to ease inflammation, relieve soreness, and enhance mobility.

Q: Will Taking the Creams Cause Me to Fail a Drug Test?

A; Certain creams contain small amounts of THC. But the portions are too small to cause you to fail a drug test.

Q: Will Taking CBD Creams or Salves Get Me High?

A: CBD doesn’t contain any psychoactive properties and will therefore not cause you to become high.

Presently, there is no scientific proof to show that the topical application of CBD can cause a person to become high.

Q: What Differentiates Broad-Spectrum CBD Creams from Full-Spectrum Creams?

A: The latter contains the entire hemp plant and all the chemicals that are associated with it. The product you are using will contain THC.

Broad-spectrum hemp comes with many CBD ingredients but lacks THC. If you want to avoid interacting with THC, stick to broad-spectrum pain creams.

Q: Is It Possible to Take CBD Pain Creams Past Airport Security?

A: Airport security today treats the CBD pain relief creams as they would treat ordinary gels. Therefore, you shouldn’t encounter any issues when going through airport security.

The same cannot be said for customs, as some countries are yet to legalize CBD products.

Q: Is It Legal to Use CBD Pain Creams?

A: The creams are legal in the entire country. For a cream to be categorized as a CBD pain cream, it should have less than 0.3% THC.

Q: How Much THC is Contained in the CBD Pain Cream?

A: The law states that CBD creams should have less than 0.3% THC. However, there are those whose THC content is 0.0%.

Q: What’s the Difference Between Hemp Cream and CBD Cream?

A: CBD hemp salves and CBD salves are used interchangeably. Hemp seed oil is made using the seeds obtained from the cannabis plant.

CBD is made from the leaves, flowers, stems, and buds of the plant. However, CBD and hemp creams tend to be identical.

Q: Is It Safe to Use CBD Creams?

A: Studies show that it’s safe to ingest up to 1,500mg of CBD in a day. All the creams we have mentioned above have a much lower CBD content.

Q: How to Use CBD Salves

A: Read the instructions printed on the label before you begin using the CBD pain cream. Ideally, you should apply a small amount(pea-size) to the targeted area.

Q: What are The Known Side Effects?

A: Scientists are yet to find any significant side effects that come with the topical use of CBD pain creams.

On the other hand, there’s a possibility that a person could be allergic to one of the compounds used to make the creams.

The Best CBD Pain Creams in 2021 Summary

All the CBD pain creams reviewed in this article can assist in targeting and provide relief to painful muscles and joints.

Some companies producing CBD pain creams claim that their products can reduce pain, soreness, and inflammation.

The market has become saturated with a broad range of CBD pain creams. However, it’s important to note that not all will help you to achieve the desired results.

The best CBD pain creams featured in this list should enable you to enjoy the many benefits associated with the use of CBD products.

Affiliate Disclosure:

The links contained in this product review may result in a small commission if you opt to purchase the product recommended at no additional cost to you. This goes towards supporting our research and editorial team and please know we only recommend high quality products.

Disclaimer:

Please understand that any advice or guidelines revealed here are not even remotely a substitute for sound medical advice from a licensed healthcare provider. Make sure to consult with a professional physician before making any purchasing decision if you use medications or have concerns following the review details shared above. Individual results may vary as the statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.