CBD oil is becoming an incredibly popular natural remedy. It’s taking the world by storm. And for good reason.
Scientists have recently discovered that CBD oil has a ton of benefits. Specifically, studies suggest that CBD oil can help reduce pain, fight inflammation, combat anxiety, reduce nausea, and even help you sleep (1, 2, 3).
Some doctors even use CBD oil in place of opioid painkillers. It’s that effective.
The Best CBD Oils On The Market
click the product to jump to the description
| Rank | Brand | Price |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Calm | Learn More |
| #2 | SOL CBD | Learn More |
| #3 | NuLeaf | Learn More |
| #4 | Bluebird | Learn More |
| #5 | Hemplucid | Learn More |
Looking for CBD vape or balm? Click the corresponding links.
Here’s The Problem…
You can’t just buy any CBD oil. I strongly advise against it.
That’s because most CBD oils out there are either weak, low quality, or filled with toxic contaminants (e.g., heavy metals and pesticides). So what you have is a supplement that will cause you harm while providing no benefit.
Talk about a waste of money.
So how do you know which CBD oil supplements are both safe and effective?
In all honesty, it takes a great deal of research. I spent over 4 weeks researching to find the absolute best CBD oils on the market.
Since this research was so much work, I figured I would share my findings with the world. To save you the hassle. The result was this list of the 5 absolute best CBD oil supplements available in 2018—all of which are high-quality, safe, and effective.
In case you’re not the reading type, use the list above to quickly help you find your ideal CBD oil. Otherwise, read on...
The 5 Best CBD Oils On The Market
Calm by Touchstone Essentials is, hands-down, the best CBD oil on the market. Their product quality is unmatched by any other.
Why?
Like the other CBD oils mentioned here, Calm is made with the absolute best manufacturing processes. This results in a high-quality product that is both safe and considerably powerful (especially if you pick up their advanced formula).
As any trustworthy brand should, they also visibly display their lab results on the product page ensuring you that the products are free of harmful contaminants like heavy metals and pesticides.
But what separates Calm from the top CBD oils out there is its nano-emulsified formula. This simply means that the CBD oil is processed into tiny microscopic particles. The small particle size ensures your body absorbs as much of the CBD as possible.
Other CBD oils don't use nano-emulsification, which means the CBD will have less of an effect.
Ultimately, if you're looking for the most powerful CBD oil out there, Calm is the way to go. Their advanced formula is my personal go-to for CBD oil since it has a whopping 50 mg of CBD per serving.
Potency: Premium Bottle: 25 mg CBD / mL | High-Potency: 50 mg CBD / mL
Bioavailability rating: Full spectrum; CO2 extraction; nano-emulsified for improved absorption
Processing Quality:
Value: Buying the high-potency tincture is the most cost efficient = $0.08 / mg CBD
Safety: No pesticides, organic, safe from heavy metal contamination
Lab Results: Viewed on every product page.
Total Score:
2. SOL CBD
SOL CBD is another top-dog in the CBD oil market.
It’s clear SOL CBD truly cares about their customers. They only use the most effective and safe processing methods. SOL CBD also clearly displays the independent lab analyses on every one of their products. All tests indicate that their products are free from pesticides, heavy metals, and microbes.
If you’re looking for a CBD tincture, SOL CBD offers two different potencies. So if you are on a tight budget, or you want to try CBD oil before buying the more expensive stuff, you have the option to do so.
Their products are also potent and bioavailable. This means that you will get real results with their CBD oil. But the results may be slightly dulled in comparison to a nano-emulsified CBD oil like Calm.
Potency: Budget Bottle: 10 mg CBD / mL | High-Potency: 30 mg CBD / mL
Bioavailability rating: Broad spectrum; CO2 extraction; offers a water-soluble product
Processing Quality:
Value: Buying the high-potency tincture is the most cost efficient = $0.09 / mg CBD
Safety: No pesticides, safe from heavy metal contamination
Lab Results: Viewed on every product page.
Total Score:
NuLeaf Naturals stands among America’s best CBD oil companies on the market. They put great care into developing high-quality products that are both safe and effective.
NuLeaf Naturals uses natural genetic strains of hemp that are high in CBD to ensure their products are consistently potent. This is incredibly important because some low-quality CBD oils out there really vary when it comes to potency. So you never know what you’re going to get with the low-quality brands.
NuLeaf Naturals hemp is grown on licensed farms in Colorado, USA. This means the hemp isn’t sourced from anywhere sketchy. NuLeaf Naturals also supports organic and sustainable farming practices. In my opinion, this says a lot about a company. It means they truly care—about the environment and their customers.
And when a company cares, their products are usually outstanding. Such is the case with NuLeaf Naturals.
Potency: All tinctures 50 mg CBD / mL
Bioavailability rating: Broad spectrum; CO2 extraction; offers a water-soluble product
Processing Quality:
Value: Mid-sized tincture costs $0.13 per mg of CBD
Safety: No pesticides, safe from heavy metal contamination
Lab Results: View test results here.
Total Score:
Bluebird Botanicals is another fantastic company that offers a wide range of CBD products. They offer CBD extracts, CBD isolates, CBD vape oil, capsules, and even CBD oil for your pets. What really sets Bluebird Botanicals apart from other brands is their transparency with quality control. In other words, they have one of the best systems for ensuring their product is high-quality stuff.
Right on their online menu, you can find a massive list of their lab results. Most companies only provide one test on their website. But things can change over time (e.g., soil quality, crop quality, etc.). This can introduce new contaminants or change the CBD extract potency. So it’s important to constantly monitor and test the products to ensure they remain consistent.
And that’s exactly what Bluebird Botanicals does. They continuously test their products for quality. This means that you can confidently purchase their products knowing it will be free of harmful contaminants and that it contains acceptable levels of CBD extract. Ultimately, if you’re looking to support a company that is diligent about their product quality, Bluebird Botanicals is the way to go.
Potency: 1500mg Bottle averages 50+ mg CBD / mL
Bioavailability rating: Broad spectrum; CO2 extraction; alcohol extraction
Processing Quality:
Value: Mid-sized tincture costs $0.13 per mg of CBD
Safety: No pesticides, safe from heavy metal contamination
Lab Results: View test results here.
Total Score:
Hemplucid is another great option for CBD oil. They only ranked below Bluebird botanicals because their products tend to be more expensive in comparison.
Like the other brands mentioned here, Hemplucid offers a superior quality CBD oil that’s both safe and effective—two criteria that are an absolute must.
They clearly display the test results for all their products on the website. This kind of transparency is exactly what you want to see with a CBD oil brand. It shows that they have nothing to hide and that their CBD oil is high-quality. And like the other brands mentioned above, all Hemplucid’s products are free of pesticides, heavy metals, and microbial contaminants.
Hemplucid also uses a strain of hemp that they have developed for over a decade. This ensures their CBD oils are effective and potent.
Potency: ranges... 500mg Bottle: 16.6 mg CBD / mL | 1500 mg bottle: 50 mg CBD / mL
Bioavailability rating: Broad spectrum; CO2 extraction; alcohol extraction
Processing Quality:
Value: Mid-sized 500 mg bottle costs $0.17 per mg of CBD | Larger 1500 mg bottle costs $0.13 per mg of CBD
Safety: No pesticides, safe from heavy metal contamination
Lab Results: View test results here.
Total Score:
Criteria of a High-Quality CBD Oil
Behind the scenes, there was a lot to consider when I put this list together. It took several weeks of research to discover what factors made a CBD oil brand the best.
But if you're on a tight budget, you can check out this list of the most affordable CBD oil products here.
That being said, here’s a complete list of all the criteria I took into consideration in case you were curious. Or maybe you want to learn how to select a high-quality brand on your own.
1. Free of Contaminants
Whenever you’re considering a supplement of any kind, one of the most important things to look for is contaminants.
This means you check to see if a supplement is contaminated with harmful substances such as pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, unwanted organic compounds, and anything else that might be a concern.
This is important because you don’t want to take a supplement that’s going to cause significant harm to your health.
To ensure each recommendation I made was free of harmful contaminants, I carefully analyzed their lab results. And then I posted them under each product description so you could even look at the lab results yourself.
Every CBD oil I recommended was free of contaminants. The only exception was CBD Drip doesn’t seem to test for heavy metals—which is why they ranked last.
So, when selecting a CBD oil, you should always check their lab results for contaminants. If a brand won’t provide their lab results, then RUN. They are likely hiding something.
2. Potency & Bioavailability
When using a CBD oil, you obviously want it to work, right?
The two biggest factors that affect how well a supplement works is its potency and bioavailability. In other words, how strong is the CBD extract and will your body absorb it?
As you could imagine, if a CBD oil supplement contains a weak extract, it won’t do much. That’s why I calculated how many milligrams of CBD was in 1 ml of each supplement. You can easily do this on your own by dividing the total amount of CBD in the supplement by the total volume in milliliters.
Okay… now onto bioavailability.
If a CBD oil is formulated in such a way that your body can’t absorb it, then it will also do nothing for you.
This one can be a bit complex as it takes a general understanding of physiology, chemistry, and several other disciplines. To save you the headache, I will sum it up for you.
- CBD oil should be derived via supercritical CO2 extraction or alcohol extraction—more on this later.
- For the best absorbability: the most efficient delivery method for CBD oil is to vape it. But that’s not ideal for many people. The two next best options are either liposomal CBD (water soluble) or a CBD tincture derived from one of the extraction methods mentioned above.
- The best CBD oils contain at the very least 5 mg of CBD per serving. Anything less than that is a weak product.
- Most CBD tinctures will have a “carrier oil.” This is the solvent that the CBD extract is placed into. The best CBD tinctures use MCT oil as the carrier oil. MCT oil is easily digested (compared to other fats) by your body. In theory, this increases the bioavailability of the CBD. As a result, your body gets more use out of a dose.
3. Extraction Method
Although I briefly covered it in the section above, it’s also essential to consider the extraction method a brand uses.
Typically, super critical CO2 extraction or alcohol extraction are the golden standard. I avoid supplements that use any other methods.
And here’s why…
Other extraction methods often involve harsh chemicals and heat. I avoid the harsh chemicals for obvious reasons. But heat extraction methods should also be avoided because heat can destroy important nutrients.
CO2 or alcohol extraction, on the other hand, preserve the integrity of the plant because heat isn’t involved. The full spectrum of nutrients remain which results in a more effective CBD extract.
4. Is it a Full Spectrum CBD Extract?
Most CBD extracts are either full spectrum or CBD isolates.
A full-spectrum extract includes other plant compounds in addition to the CBD. This includes other potentially beneficial cannabinoids such as CBN, CBL, CBCVA, and terpenes.
CBD isolate is exactly as it sounds: CBD without any other compounds. There still is some debate on whether a full spectrum extract or isolate is better. But most argue that full spectrum is better because it involves other beneficial compounds that synergize with one another.
Also, one study found that the additional compounds in full-spectrum extract increases the effectiveness of CBD. Simply put, this study suggests you will experience more benefits from a full-spectrum extract.
5. Value
Everyone wants the biggest bang for their buck.
That’s why I calculated the cost per mg of CBD for every brand mentioned here. You can calculate it on your own by dividing the total amount of CBD in the supplement by the cost. That way you can compare the costs and decide for yourself.
6. Legal THC Values
Any CBD oil you purchase must be below 0.3% THC. Anything above this amount is considered illegal in the United States.
Now, most brands meet these standards. Including the ones featured here. But it never hurts to check a brand’s lab results to make sure so you don’t run the risk of getting into trouble.
Note: This does not constitute as legal advice.
7. A Genuine Company Story
Learning the story of a company or its founders can speak volumes about how they truly do business.
Does the company or its founders appear to be passionate about what they do and the well-being of others?
Is their company location, team, and/or founders clearly displayed on the site? If not, they may have something to hide.
The Best CBD Vape Oil
Many people prefer to vape CBD oil because it is the most effective way to get CBD into your system. With vaping, the effects are felt nearly instantly. That’s because when you vaporize CBD oil, it quickly gets into your bloodstream through your lungs.
In fact, it’s estimated that up to 4x as much CBD enters your system when you vape it opposed to ingesting a supplement.
Other forms of CBD oil must get through your digestive system and then your liver before they can get into your system. This means it’s absorbed less efficiently and at a slower pace.
People find that CBD vape oils are fantastic for pain and sleeping at night.
That being said, if you’re here looking for the best CBD vape oil, the top brand I recommend is SOL CBD. But some of the other brands mentioned here offer CBD vape oils as well. The only brand I would NOT recommend is the CBD vape oil from Hemp Lucid since it contains polysorbate 80—a potentially dangerous chemical surfactant.
SOL CBD Vape Oil
Top-Rated CBD Vape Oil
Common Questions
What’s the Best way to take CBD Oil?
The best way to take CBD oil really depends on the person.
If you’re looking for the most effect, CBD vape oil may be your best bet. But some people don’t like to vape or they want to have more control over how much CBD they are taking. If this describes you, then you may want to consider a liposomal CBD or one of the CBD tinctures mentioned above.
Is CBD Oil Illegal?
The best way to find this out is to do your own research. Because I am not a lawyer, I cannot offer legal advice.
What I can say is that if you’re in the United States, any CBD oil that’s under 0.3% THC should be considered legal. Anything above that and you may run into issues. All the CBD oil brands mentioned here were lab tested and have lower than 0.3% THC.
Will CBD Oil Make Me High?
Absolutely not.
What you’re likely thinking of is the THC in marijuana. It’s the chemical that is associated with a high. CBD oil is derived from hemp and contains almost zero THC. Therefore, you will not get high from CBD oil. CBD and THC are completely different.
What’s the Best Time of Day to Take CBD Oil?
Again, it completely depends on the person. I personally like to experiment to determine what works best for me depending on my mood, situation, or what health problem I’m experiencing.
