From creams and facial cleansers to sunscreen, serums, and gels, an array of hemp-infused topical products have been popping up as of late on the market. One of the cheapest yet most functional of these products is CBD lip balm.
An increasing number of satisfied customers are swearing by the benefits of CBD chapstick, so if your lips need a little extra care this season, a CBD-infused formula could be just what you need. Read on to find out how our editors ranked the best CBD lip balms currently available.
WAYOFLEAF’S CHOICE – ENDOCA
In a rush and want to know who we rated as the top brand? All three are great, but we opted for Endoca. Its CBD lip balm may not have a substantial amount of cannabidiol, but it does a great job of keeping your lips moisturized.
What Is CBD Lip Balm?
Lip balm is a wax-like substance that’s mostly used to protect the lips and prevent chapping. It does this by creating a protective shield on the surface of the lips, which helps to keep moisture in and prevents them from becoming dry and cracked, especially in cold and/or dry weather.
As you can probably guess, CBD lip balm takes regular balms and chapsticks to another level. They contain a combination of CBD oil and a soothing balm, allowing users to experience the beneficial effects of CBD in the form of a balm.
CBD has anti-inflammatory qualities that may help soothe chapped skin. Much like beeswax – the dermatologist-recommended ingredient to heal chapped lips – CBD is another great option for hydration. Well-made CBD oil lip balm will seal moisture in the lips, thus preventing them from becoming flaky or dry.
Pros and Cons of Using CBD Lip Balm
- Helps alleviate inflammation and tenderness associated with dry, flaky, cracked lips
- Leaves lips feeling smooth and shiny without making them greasy
- Can help those suffering from sun-damaged lips
- CBD lip balm can work even in freezing temperatures or excessively dry conditions
- Far pricier than traditional/generic lip balms and chapsticks
- May experience a tingling sensation on the lips after application
- Flavored versions may leave an after-taste in your mouth
What Causes Chapped and Dry Lips?
Chapped and dry lips are common and usually harmless, but it’s important you protect and hydrate them when long-term chapping is an issue. Lips do not contain oil glands, which means they are more susceptible to drying out and becoming cracked. Lack of moisture can worsen the problem, whether it’s lack of self-care or weather-induced.
Here are some of the most common causes of chapped, dry lips:
- Weather: Typically, chapped lips are caused by environmental exposures that cause irritation. When winter comes around, many of us get chapped lips, which are dry, irritated, and peeling – caused by inflammation and the disruption of the outer skin layer. Sun damage can also cause chapped lips.
- Health Conditions: Chapped lips can also be caused by underlying medical conditions, such as vitamin deficiencies, thyroid disease, and inflammatory bowel disease. B-complex vitamin deficiencies or low iron or zinc levels have been reported to cause chapped lips, while low thyroid function may result in dryness of the lips and mouth.
- Habitual Licking: Constantly licking your lips can also cause chapped lips because saliva from the tongue may further strip the lips of moisture, thus causing more dryness.
- Dehydration: Dry lips are a sign that hydration levels are low. Dehydration unsettles the natural balance of minerals in the body and wreaks havoc on the skin. Staying hydrated can really help your lips.
How Could CBD Lip Balm Help?
CBD has natural antibacterial properties, which makes it an obvious ingredient for lip balms since it will help the lips stay clean and germ-free. They also have anti-inflammatory properties, which may be beneficial for lip irritations – including cold sores. All in all, the best CBD lip balm will help alleviate tenderness and reduce inflammation associated with flaky, dry, cracked lips.
Numerous users also report that using CBD lip balm on superficial cuts helped them heal faster. Some products are even packed with natural oils that may help combat infections that occur in breaks or cuts in the skin.
The CBD in an infused lip balm works by targeting endocannabinoid receptors in the skin. Researchers are still looking at how exactly this interaction works – and what causes it – but the majority of users experience positive effects when using CBD chapstick.
CBD is also a natural antioxidant, which means it could help prevent or reduce the development of deleterious compounds known as free radicals. Cannabidiol is also a pain-relieving compound, so CBD lip balm may also help to reduce pain and discomfort caused by chapped lips.
Are CBD Chapstick and CBD Lip Balm the Same Thing?
Those familiar with regular Chapstick will know that it is a brand name of lip balm by GlaxoSmithKline. Many people use the terms CBD Chapstick and CBD lip balm interchangeably, which can lead to confusion. Thankfully, most CBD brands list these product types simply as CBD lip balms, making the purchasing process a bit more straightforward for consumers.
In the next section, we will discuss CBD lip balm’s effects, CBD lip balm’s benefits, and what these niche products have to offer consumers.
Discovering CBD Lip Balm’s Effects
Studies show that CBD has antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore, research shows that the phytocannabinoids found in CBD demonstrate antibacterial properties. One empirical example of this comes from a structure-activity study by Appendino and colleagues.
The researchers looked at the antibacterial properties of Cannabis sativa cannabinoids, including CBD, THC, CBC, CBG, and CBN. Appendino et al. state that all five of these cannabinoids “show potent activity against a variety of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains.”
Another potential benefit of CBD comes from its antioxidant properties. Consequently, CBD may help the skin stabilize free radicals, which are a type of unstable molecule formed during cell metabolism. Over time, these free radicals can build up in cells and damage other molecules such as proteins, lipids, or even DNA.
However, the quantity of cannabidiol, or the mg of CBD it contains, will determine the extent of any potential benefit of a CBD lip balm. Some leading CBD brands’ CBD lip balms contain more cannabidiol than other companies products.
What Does CBD Lip Balm Do?
CBD Chapstick offers potentially more benefits than plain old, regular Chapstick. Due to its antioxidant properties, CBD lip balm may offer greater protection against sun damage or, conversely, exposure to extremely cold weather. Additionally, CBD lip balm may also help reduce skin irritation and redness around the lips.
Furthermore, the combination of CBD and the other natural ingredients found in CBD lip balm can help deeply moisturize and soothe cracked lips.
Can Hemp Lip Balm Get You High?
Under the Farm Bill of 2018, hemp must contain no more than 0.3% THC by dry weight when harvested. This minimal THC content means that users of any CBD product derived from hemp will not experience any intoxicating effects.
CBD consumers should opt for leading CBD brands that provide independently verified third-party laboratory reports. When you view these lab reports on the CBD company’s website, you can see exactly how many mg of CBD they contain.
Furthermore, by clicking on the CBD lip balm product page, you will see if the product is made from full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or a CBD isolate.
Full-Spectrum CBD Lip Balm
Full-spectrum CBD oil is derived from hemp through full-plant extraction. In addition to cannabidiol, full-spectrum CBD oils contain trace amounts of THC (0.3% or less), as well as various terpenes, flavonoids, vitamins, minerals, and plant proteins. These hemp plant compounds work synergistically together in a process known as the entourage effect.
Broad-Spectrum CBD Lip Balm
A broad-spectrum CBD oil is basically a full-spectrum CBD oil that has been further processed to remove any trace amounts of THC from it. Therefore, it contains the same hemp plant compounds, vitamins, minerals, and proteins as a full-spectrum CBD oil, minus the THC.
CBD Isolate Lip Balm
Finally, a CBD isolate is a CBD oil that has been processed so that all other hemp plant compounds have been completely removed. When the process is complete, all that remains is a fine, white powder that contains 99% CBD and 0% THC.
This is good news for CBD lip balm consumers, as they can choose between full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or CBD isolate products, depending on their own particular needs.
As well as CBD, good-quality lip balms will contain other natural ingredients like avocado oil or beeswax.
If you want a pure CBD product, you can opt for a CBD lip balm made from CBD isolate. Conversely, if you would prefer to purchase a product containing whole hemp plant compounds to benefit from the entourage effect, you can opt for a full (0.3% THC) or a broad-spectrum (0% THC) CBD lip balm.
Also, be sure to check out what additional natural ingredients the CBD lip balm contains on the product page. Many CBD lip balms contain similar ingredients, including avocado oil, olive oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, and beeswax, in addition to CBD.
However, bear in mind that the more mg of CBD a CBD lip balm contains, the more likely you are to benefit from the CBD lip balm’s effects.
Is CBD Lip Balm Worth It?
To be honest, if you’re just looking for something to keep your lips looking hydrated and feeling good, you’re probably best sticking to regular lip balm since it’s more cost-effective. However, if you’re someone who struggles chronically with dry, chapped, sore lips, then CBD chapstick is probably well worth the extra money.
Like normal chapstick, CBD lip balm contains other naturally moisturizing ingredients like cocoa butter, coconut oil, shea butter, and more. When coupled with hemp extracts, these additional nourishing agents make for the perfect combination to give you soft, healthy lips.
Anecdotal evidence also suggests that CBD oil lip balm can heal damaged lips quicker than other balms, requiring only a few applications before you see results. It’s difficult to say whether a CBD oil balm will work for everyone, but in our opinion, it’s worth giving it a try.
Additionally, some of the hemp extract oil that is used to produce CBD products contains vitamins A, C, and E, all of which are known to promote a healthy glow and offer positive benefits for the skin – including the lips.
Which Brand Offers the Best CBD Lip Balm?
Picking the best CBD lip balm brands on the market was rather challenging. However, we eventually narrowed our list down to three brands and evaluated several different products across five different categories. Here are the results our team came up with.
Best for CBD Content
When shopping for the best CBD lip balm, it’s important to ensure that the product has the proper ingredients in its formula. The benefits of CBD products depend on how much of the composition contains CBD. Most CBD lip balms contain in the region of 5–25 mg of CBD per tube, and few fall outside this range.
Elixinol CBD lip balm contains just 5 mg of CBD in a 5.3-gram tube, which is quite low but normal for lip balm. CBDistillery lip balm, on the other hand, takes it up a notch. With 25 mg of CBD per tube, you get a good amount of the cannabinoid—and for a good price.
Endoca offers 20mg of CBD, narrowly behind CBDistillery in terms of cannabidiol concentration. With this in mind, CBDistillery is the best option in terms of CBD content since it offers the best combination of milligram dose and price.
WINNER BY CBD CONTENT – THE CBDISTILLERY
Best for Natural Ingredients
Natural and organic CBD lip balm has greater benefits because it contains no pesticides, chemicals, additives, or synthetic ingredients that may harm your body. They also often include antioxidants and vitamins.
All three brands were extremely high-quality and contained only natural ingredients. It was difficult to decide which one was the “best,” because they were all quite similar when it came to ingredients. Each one contained Vitamin E, beeswax, and coconut oil, among other ingredients.
We’re inclined to give Endoca the slight edge here since it clearly states that its lip balm is organically produced. It contains a variety of natural ingredients, including CBD, vanilla extract, honey, and hemp seed oil.
WINNER FOR BEST INGREDIENTS – ENDOCA
Best Tasting CBD Lip Balm
Anyone who uses lip balm knows how easy it is to get the taste in your mouth. All you need to do is lick your lips, and it’s on your taste buds. That’s why it’s important to have a great-tasting CBD lip balm – or one that’s entirely flavorless.
If you’re looking for a neutral-flavored CBD oil balm, Elixinol is a good option. Endoca’s lip balm has a mild taste that should appeal to most palates.
CBDistillery offers its CBD lip balm in a spearmint flavor, which, in our opinion, is one of the most refreshing and leaves the lips feeling extra moisturized. For this reason, it takes this category.
WINNER BY TASTE – THE CBDISTILLERY
Best for Severely Chapped, Painful Lips
Dry, cracked lips are downright uncomfortable – and they’re distracting. While a few regular chapsticks are designed to help improve lip health, most offer only temporary relief without healing the issue at the source.
CBD lip balm can be more effective for those seeking the relief that antioxidant and nutrient-rich CBD can offer. Elixinol’s lip balm offers the moisture and protection your lips need, while the CBDistillery option is great for restoring and protecting the lips from drying elements. However, Endoca was our favorite for painful lips, and was the best option for helping cells regenerate after they have become excessively sore and dry.
WINNER FOR SORE LIPS – ENDOCA
Best Budget Pick
None of these products are excessively expensive. Certainly, if you value having moisturized and healthy lips, you won’t mind paying what each brand asks. However, CBDistillery’s lip balm is exceptional value no matter what way you look at it.
WINNER BY BUDGET – THE CBDISTILLERY
Conclusion
At the end of the day, you need to decide whether CBD lip balm is worth the money. It costs significantly more than regular lip balm, so it comes down to whether the added benefits of CBD are really worth it for you personally. Based on our research, we found that Endoca offered the best CBD lip balm. It contains a reasonable dosage of CBD and is also a good value for the price. In addition, it offers a mild taste, which is good for those with a sensitive palate.