The term ‘CBD topical’ refers to any CBD infused product which is designed to be applied to the skin. Our current SVC topicals range includes: body butter, salve, lip balm, roll-on, cooling gel, and massage oil. Unlike with CBD oils or edibles which are ingested orally, the CBD from topicals does not infiltrate the bloodstream. This means the products can have pretty different effects, and very different reasons for use. 

 

How Do CBD Topicals Work?

The Endocannabinoid System

The reason that other CBD products have an effect on the human body is because we all have an ‘endocannabinoid’ system. Much like the nervous system or the digestive system, the endocannabinoid system plays a vital role in regulating healthy functioning of the body. Endocannabinoids are the ‘messengers’ of this system; much like how serotonin is a messenger of the nervous system. When a person takes CBD, it interacts with the cannabinoid receptors within this system; these are called CB1 and CB2 receptors. These receptors are essential for regulating healthy brain function and a healthy immune system. Ingesting CBD products orally enhances a person’s natural levels of endocannabinoids, and increases the rate at which the cannabinoid receptors bind to these endocannabinoids.

 

Using CBD On The Skin

Using CBD topically (on the skin) is very different to ingesting CBD oils/ edibles or inhaling CBD vapour. Unlike with these traditional CBD products, the CBD from topicals or cosmetics does not enter the bloodstream. Instead, the skin absorbs the CBD deeply, where there are many cannabinoid receptors. So not only are cannabinoid receptors located in the endocannabinoid system inside the body, additionally they are located in the skin all over the body. As the body’s largest organ, the skin has the highest amount and concentration of these cannabinoid receptors.

CBD topicals interact with these sensory receptors, which can effectively diminish pain sensation. Therefore, CBD topicals may offer some benefit to alleviating localized pain when applied to specific areas. For example, if there is focused pain in one area of the back, one could apply a CBD topical directly to that one area. This targets those specific cannabinoid receptors, and may help to promote anti-inflammation which can relieve pain. 

 

CBD as an Anti-Inflammatory

When a person experiences pain, it’s often the result of inflammation. This can arise from tension or overuse of the muscles, joints, and other body parts. But where does this inflammation come from? Essentially, the immune system responds to damage within the body by sending chemicals from the white blood cells to the afflicted area. This helps protect against infection from foreign substances. When this occurs, the chemical release may cause swelling and nerve stimulation that causes us to feel pain.⁠ Cannabinoids like CBD may be able to offer relief from these issues due to its anti-inflammatory properties. 

 

In addition to this, we also know CBD to be a potential antioxidant. Some studies have indicated that it may therefore be effective in calming irritated skin, reducing redness, and lessening signs of aging when applied topically.

 

 

 Why Choose CBD Cosmetics Over Other CBD Products?

As mentioned previously, CBD cosmetics are perfect for helping to alleviate localised pain or tension. This is due to the fact that we can apply them to specific areas of the body. If somebody is looking to relieve specific muscle or joint pain, or protect and soothe the skin, then CBD topicals would be ideal. 

 

Bioavailability 

When we ingest CBD through oils or edibles, we can guarantee it will reach the bloodstream. However due to the fact that the CBD is passing through the body in different ways (through glands under the tongue, through the digestive system, or through the respiratory system), it can reduce the bioavailability of the CBD. Bioavailability refers to how much of a substance is absorbed into the bloodstream. With all drugs and supplements, only a certain percentage of the compound actually reaches the bloodstream and therefore has an effect – we want the bioavailability to be as high as possible to ensure that the body is absorbing as much of the compound as it can.

With CBD cosmetics, the CBD does not necessarily reach the bloodstream at all. This means that we could say the bioavailability is fairly low. However, due to the nature of the product and the fact that we typically use them for site-specific discomfort, it is unfair to compare them to other methods in this way. Because the cannabinoid receptors in the skin absorb the CBD immediately, it can work very quickly to treat that area. Unlike with CBD oils or edibles, we will not ‘lose’ CBD from it passing through different areas of the body. 

 

So, in conclusion, CBD topicals have very different uses to other CBD products. We make our topicals at SVC labs with a number of essential oils and skin-nourishing ingredients. In other words, we have designed them more so to be luxury CBD cosmetic products rather than a simple CBD supplement. 

 

 

Our Current CBD Topicals Range

CBD Cooling Gel

We have designed our CBD cooling gels to help provide excellent relief from stiffness, tension, or muscle pain. Much like using a cold pack, the cooling effect can help to relieve pain and inflammation by soothing sore, aching muscles or joints. We have infused the SVC Labs CBD cooling gel with peppermint and eucalyptus. This powerful synergy helps to stimulate blood circulation and provide a deeply invigorating cooling sensation. Secondly, the CBD extract interacts with the skin to help promote anti-inflammatory effects and offer a deep topical absorption of CBD. 

 

CBD Massage Oil

We have designed our CBD massage oil to provide another beneficial element to a regular massage. A massage can help to improve joint flexibility, improve blood circulation, and relieve tired or aching muscles. By adding the CBD element to a traditional massage, one can gain a deep topical absorption of the compound. This can promote anti-inflammatory effects and relieve the pain even further. Additionally, you can use our massage oil as a general body oil, and you can apply it to any area of the body without necessarily involving a massage. We have infused the SVC Labs CBD massage oil with a silky smooth blend of ylang-ylang, frankincense, lavender, and chamomile. These are all deeply opulent essential oils which not only provide a delicious gentle scent, but also deliver relaxing and healing properties which can help to further soothe and soften the skin. 

 

CBD Roll-On

We have designed our CBD roll-on to apply to pressure and pulse points across the body. This can help to provide immediate relief from pain and inflammation which affects the muscles, nerves, or joints. They can also help to provide relief from headaches if applied to the temples. Again, the CBD infusion provides a deep topical absorption which can promote anti-inflammatory and pain relieving effects. Additionally, we have infused the SVC Labs CBD roll-on with essential oils that offer relaxing and healing properties to help soothe and soften the skin. Plus, the roller-ball makes it very convenient to apply, whilst feeling really good!

 

CBD Salve

We have designed our CBD salve to apply to damaged, cracked, irritated, or sensitive skin. Our expert team have made these to provide soothing relief and protect the skin from further damage from environmental stressors. We have gently scented the SVC Labs CBD salve with lavender and chamomile. This offers relaxing and healing properties, and help to soften the skin. We have made it with a shea butter and candelilla wax base which helps to deeply moisturise and nourish the skin. And, of course, the CBD provides a deep topical absorption of the compound into the skin’s receptors to promote anti-inflammatory effects. This product creates a barrier between the skin and the external environment to protect and preserve the skin’s softness.

 

CBD Lip Balm

CBD lip balms are very similar to salves, except we have designed them for application to the lips. We have made the SVC Labs CBD lip balm with the same shea butter and candelilla wax base as the CBD salve, however it does not contain the same essential oils. This ensures that it remains extra gentle and fragrance free. Instead, we have infused it with sweet almond oil which helps to lock in moisture and protect and soothe the lips. We have designed this nourishing formula to help shield the lips from the elements whilst obtaining a deep, topical absorption of CBD. This helps to preserve softness and provide relief from cracking and dryness. 

 

CBD Body Butter

We have designed the CBD body butter to deeply moisturise and nourish the skin all over the body. We have infused the SVC Labs CBD body butter with shea butter and coconut oil. These ingredients provide a richly moisturising base. The CBD interacts with the skin to promote anti-inflammatory effects. This can help to soothe the skin, calm redness, and increase softness. Finally, we have gently scented the body butter with the extract and oils of mandarin and grapefruit to leave the skin delicately perfumed with a fresh, chemical free fragrance.  

All SVC Labs CBD topicals are infused with all natural ingredients and essential oils. Additionally, they are made using 99.7% pure CBD crystals and, most importantly, they contain 0% THC.