Oils and topicals and gummies–oh my! Learn their different benefits so you can choose the best options for you.

Curious about CBD, but stumped as to which form is best for you? You’re far from alone–with new CBD products and formats entering the market all the time, the process of understanding their respective pros and cons can feel overwhelming.

Luckily, you’re in the right place. Keep reading to uncover the advantages of CBD’s different forms, so you can choose the right products for you.

The Different Ways to Take CBD

These days, it seems like everywhere you look, there’s a new way to take CBD. While this certainly speaks to the power of cannabidiol, it also makes it harder to know you’ve picked the right product for your specific needs.

You deserve to feel fully informed in your CBD purchasing journey. Let’s take a look at the benefits, pros and cons of four of the more popular types of CBD so you feel confident in your choices.

Oils

What are they?

CBD oils are typically a blend of CBD combined with MCT coconut oil, with essential oils added for flavor.

There are many ways to extract CBD from hemp, but cold ethanol extraction produces the purest and most energy efficient results. The multi-step purification process starts with winterization, which involves removing lipids and waxes. The cold ethanol used in this process increases the purification speed compared to warm ethanol. The manufacturer later removes this ethanol from the extract for reuse.

At the end of the process, the manufacturer now has a full-spectrum extract containing CBD and terpenes (aromatic compounds) of high purity. But this extract still only contains about 60% CBD. Manufacturers go on to use the molecular distillation method to separate the terpenes and CBD. It leaves them with a honey-colored extract containing the purest form of CBD possible.

How do you take them?

Use the dropper to place some of the liquid under your tongue.

Pros:

CBD oils kick in quickly, especially if they’re held under the tongue rather than swallowed. They’re also popular forms of CBD, so they’re easy to find.

Cons:

Due to the consistency, some people don’t like the taste of oils.

We recommend:

Our best-selling oil comes in both peppermint and lemon flavors; it combines all of the benefits of PURAURA’s natural ingredients with pure, effective CBD into a simple, focused product that promotes a healthy lifestyle and encourages balance.

Topicals

What are they?

CBD topicals are products like creams, lotions, patches, or ointments.

How do you take them?

Topicals are applied to the skin. They are not ingested.

Pros:

Topicals provide direct relief to a specific spot on the body, for issues ranging from arthritis symptoms, to skin conditions and aging.

A 2019 report from the Arthritis Foundation found that 79% of the 2,600 arthritis patients surveyed had considered using CBD or had already used it. Twenty-nine percent said they currently used it for arthritis symptoms; among those using CBD, 55% used a topical product applied to the joints.

Topical CBD products can also help ease the discomfort that comes with irritated skin, and its anti-inflammatory qualities are causing the cosmetics and skincare industries to take notice.

Cons:

CBD lotions and creams can be difficult to dose. In addition, because CBD is still an unregulated industry, it’s important to be aware of outrageous benefits. If CBD makers claim to treat or cure a health problem, run the other way!

We recommend:

Our natural topicals come in a body lotion and a cooling cream; they contain only the purest effective ingredients and cannabinoids designed for relief, recovery, and easing swelling.

Capsules

What are they?

CBD capsules are CBD-containing pills or softgels.

How do you take them?

Capsules are taken by mouth.

Pros:

They’re the easiest to dose, because it’s pre-packaged for you. No guesswork needed!

Cons:

When you take CBD in the form of a capsule, it can take longer to set in. Some people may also find them difficult to swallow, and they can have a poor aftertaste.

We recommend:

PURAURA capsules combine simple, natural ingredients and potent CBD with our most efficient and convenient delivery system–for more restful sleep and peace of mind.

Gummies

What are they?

CBD gummies are flavored gummy candies that contain cannabidiols.

How do you take them?

Chew them up and swallow–just like a regular fruit snack!

Pros:

It’s safe to say that gummies are, by far, the most fun of the CBD formats. They come in a wide array of flavors, colors, shapes, and concentrations. They’re a discreet and easy way to ingest CBD, and may help with relieving stress and discomfort, and improving sleep.

Cons:

Research into the effectiveness of CBD only tested pure CBD oil, not gummies. Thus, there is only anecdotal evidence that gummies work.

Also, because raw CBD is quite bitter, most gummies contain large amounts of added sugar to mask the taste.

We recommend:

Our tasty Auraberry gummies are a perfect treat for enhanced focus and stress relief–whether it’s another day at the office or you’re unwinding on a camping trip.

Pick a Credible CBD Source

Whichever CBD format you go with, it’s important to read up on who you’re purchasing from. One way to identify a reliable CBD product is by asking the company for its certificate of authenticity. This document verifies the product has been tested in a lab and will give a breakdown of how much CBD the product contains, as well as other ingredients. The report should be done by an independent, third-party lab. You can find PURAURA’s Certificates of Analysis here.

If you have any more questions on choosing the right form of CBD for you, don’t hesitate to reach out. We love talking about all things CBD!