We Tested and Found the Best CBD Creams for Pain

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Sometimes, it can seem like every time you get out of bed, a new body part decides to make itself heard with a creak or a whine. Your shoulder aches, or your feet hurt. You tried a new move in your Zumba class and now your knee is twinging with every step you take. It goes without saying that with any new physical symptoms, you should always check in with your doctor and start an appropriate treatment plan. But can CBD creams — which are part of the estimated $5 billion CBD business that has swept across America like a tornado in the past five years — help you feel better, too? Apparently so.

“I recommend CBD creams for pain control along with other therapies,” says Alopi M. Patel, an anesthesiologist and pain medicine physician in New York and cofounder of The Female Pain Docs. “If we’re doing physical therapy, oral medications and injections, and it’s still not enough, then I will sometimes suggest CBD as an adjunct — in most cases, patients ask me about it first, and we discuss whether it’s a good idea to try it,” she explains.

CBD stands for cannabidiol, a compound found in cannabis plants (but unlike THC, another compound, it does NOT make you high). CBD is generally derived from hemp, a cannabis plant with high levels of CBD that is also used to make products like ropes and rugs. THC, on the other hand, is harvested from a different type of cannabis, called marijuana. CBD has been legal in almost all states across the U.S. since the passage of the Farm Bill, in 2018, while THC has been legalized in many states in the last few years, but is still illegal in a some, and permitted only for medical used in others.

Another reason why CBD products are gaining popularity is because they are associated with very little risk, and if they work for you, great. “If you’re interested in incorporating CBD into your healthcare routine, it’s always best to check in with your healthcare provider,” says Stacia Woodcock, Pharm.D., of GoodRx. “They may be able to make a recommendation for a specific product or dosage, based on your medical background. They can also ensure whatever you choose won’t interact with any medications you may be taking or your other health conditions.”

One thing to keep in mind, is that even though you might find some relief, don’t expect a miracle cure. “CBD cream doesn’t resolve pain completely, but if it can take away 5 or 10% of their pain after a long day, in conjunction with some heat and stretching, then I think we’re on to something,” Dr. Alopi says.

How we chose the best CBD creams

When testing the CBD products, we looked for the following criteria. You should also consider this list when looking for a CBD cream or balm.

• Third-party testing: Experts strongly urge anyone who wants to try a CBD cream to buy it only from a company that does third-party testing for safety and potency, and includes a link to a Certificate of Analysis (COA) on its website to show what the product contains and how it functions. The brand should also not make any medical claims or answer medical questions.

• Ingredients: You should only use products that have organic American hemp. Kevin Boehnke, Ph.D., a research assistant professor at the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center at University of Michigan Medicine, points out that the cannabis plant is a bio-accumulator, meaning that it pulls contaminants out of the soil, so you want to be sure the hemp is being farmed safely and cleanly. "The ingredients of companies that have a great reputation are often organic, responsibly sourced and transparent," adds Laura Purdy, M.D., a family medicine physician in Nashville, TN.

• Spectrum: There are three different formulas you may see listed on a CBD product: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum and CBD isolate. “Full-spectrum CBD will contain other parts of the cannabis plant, meaning there may be small amounts of THC in the product,” points out Woodcock. Broad-spectrum includes everything except THC, and isolate means just CBD — which may be created in a lab, Woodcock explains. The addition of THC to CBD could provide added benefits, and the percentage is usually so small, you shouldn't feel any side effects from the THC.

• Reviews: Dr. Purdy adds that it's important to check out customer reviews to learn more about the brand. After ensuring third-party testing and organic American hemp, we picked products that had good reviews and put them to the test.

• Texture: Finally, we made sure to take note of consistency and feeling on different parts of the body.

CBD Lotion Menthol Formula

While most U.S.-based CBD products are produced in cannabis-friendly Colorado, Cornbread products come from Kentucky — the Bluegrass state has been home to hemp-farming for 250 years. The cooling menthol in this light, and the soothing full-spectrum CBD cream is mixed with argan oil, rosemary oil, peppermint, lemongrass and more. Again, it's important to note that because it's full-spectrum it does contain 20mg of THC.

Pain Relief Cream

Powered up with extra menthol and arnica as well as CBD, the cream offers a cooling sensation that feels particularly good for aching joints and muscles. It also features jojoba oil and aloe. Reviewers note that it's easy to apply and doesn't leave any residue. If you really like it, the brand also offers a subscription.

Relief Balm

This soothing balm is made from hand-harvested organic hemp grown in Colorado, and includes an entire cornucopia of feel-good ingredients, including shea butter, coconut oil, menthol, arnica, rosemary and lavender oil. Since the balm is thicker than a cream, just a small amount can sooth a large area. One thing to note: It is a full-spectrum CBD, so it contains 0.3% or less THC.

Foot Cream

With coconut oil, peppermint oil, aloe and arnica, as well as CBD sourced from an organic Colorado farm, this creamy lotion is designed to soothe your tired feet (and ankles) at the end of a long day. One reviewer, who uses it to help with her plantar fasciitis, remarked, “even my husband, who thinks all these things are a hoax, found some relief and was shocked.”

CBD Soothing Peppermint Rub

With a super-creamy texture, a little dab on an achy muscle is all you need of this full-spectrum rub (at less than 0.3% THC). That's because it contains 4,000 mg of CBD. The peppermint and lavender essential oils offer a cooling and soothing effect.

Relief Cream

You can really use any cream on this list post workout, but this one has some highlights that might make using it after a tough day at the gym ideal. For starters, this full-spectrum CBD cream (it contains 0.3% THC) comes with an easy-to-dispense pump and is compact enough to take anywhere. It has a unique blend of essential oils, including bergamot, pear and peppermint essential oils (one reviewer said it tingled in a good way). Another bonus is that it doesn't leave any residue and smells amazing.

Relief Full Spectrum CBD Cooling Cream

This company claims that Colorado is to CBD as Napa is to wine—and their full-spectrum CBD (contains less than 0.3% THC) comes from organic hemp harvested in the Rocky Mountains. All that careful cultivation comes at a price, but if you try it and love it, there is a substantial discount for subscribing. This water-based cream enhanced with menthol and tea tree oil feels extra smooth—it cools up gradually as it melts into your skin.

Do CBD creams really work?

The question about whether CBD can work topically— as opposed to ingested in gummies or inhaled through a vape pen — is still very much in debate. “CBD contains anti-inflammatory properties, making it helpful for treating aches or pains stemming from conditions like arthritis," says Woodcock. "But most topical CBD products don’t absorb into the bloodstream, so their effects are limited.”

Dr. Boehnke adds that "research on topical CBD cream is unfortunately pretty limited. However, from other studies, we know that CBD is remarkably well-tolerated and very safe."

Dr. Purdy agrees. "In spite of some research suggesting CBD might have anti-inflammatory effects, clinical studies are still needed to verify its overall effectiveness," she says. One thing we do know is that most topical CBD creams include other ingredients that are typically found in OTC pain creams, such as menthol, lavender and arnica. "Menthol has a cooling effect that can temporarily help reduce pain locally, and lavender and arnica have anti-inflammatory and soothing properties as well," she explains.

So while the jury is out about whether the CBD is adding anything special to the mix, it may work, it probably feels pretty good and is very low-risk to try.

How much CBD cream should I use?

Because there are no standard recommendations yet for dosages of topical CBD, it’s best to start out with a small dab to see how your skin tolerates the cream and then increase it gradually to see what works for you, says Woodcock, who also cautions users not to rub any lotion onto broken skin.

Who shouldn't use CBD lotion?

CBD has different effects on everyone and differs person to person. What is effective for one person might not work for the next as each individual is different and bodies react differently. It's important to check with your doctor before trying anything with CBD as it could interfere with some medicines.

The FDA strongly advises against the use of CBD in any form for pregnant women and those who are nursing.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Marisa Cohen, the author of this article, has covered health and wellness for more than 20 years. For this article, she interviewed four medical experts and read several studies and papers about the research behind CBD creams. To choose the products, she looked for creams that do third-party testing, post COAs on their websites, and use American-grown hemp. She also read reviews and tested all of the products herself.

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