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Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.

Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:
  • Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
  • Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
  • Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?
We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness.
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Our team tested and chose the best CBD oils based on potency, effects, flavor, and price.

Alongside CBD gummies, CBD oils and tinctures are some of the most common forms of CBD you’ll find as you shop. When taken sublingually (let to sit under the tongue), CBD oils may also be more effective.

“If sublinguals are applied and absorbed correctly, then the bioavailability can be greater,” explains Dominique Fontaine, BSN, RN, HNB-BC, HWNC-BC, integrative nurse specialist.

She explains that this is because the oral mucosa absorbs the CBD and it avoids traveling through the stomach and liver. Your gastrointestinal system will break down capsules and gummies before they hit your bloodstream, and depending on your unique digestive system, this can decrease bioavailability from a range of roughly 20% to 30% to 6% to 30%.

So, CBD oils show more promise if you’re not having luck with gummies. But not all brands are reliable.

Our medical standards team has evaluated more than 450 CBD oils and tinctures, making sure lab testing results are current, heavy metals and pesticides are not detected, and THC does not exceed allowable limits. Our team also fact-checks health claims against the most current research.

Now for the fun part: Once the brands pass this initial vetting, we try the CBD oils to provide feedback on taste, experience, and effects. To date, we’ve tested almost 30 CBD oils.

Here are the best CBD oils our team recommends after vetting and testing.

Product
CBD type
Potency
(per 30-mL bottle)
Flavors
available
COA
full-spectrum
375 mg to 1,500 mg
Unflavored
isolate
500 mg to 6,000 mg
Unflavored
full-spectrum
1,000 mg
Natural
available on product page
full-spectrum
1,000 mg to 3,000 mg
Original, Citrus, Mint
full-spectrum
450 mg to 2,250 mg
Tropical, Fresh Lime, Tranquil Mint, Orange Bliss, Unflavored, Summer Lemon
broad-spectrum
300 mg to 7,500 mg
Natural, Berry, Orange
full-spectrum
1,500 mg
Classic, Chocolate Mint, Strawberry Lemonade
available on product page
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Our editor testing one of our favorite CBD oils

We selected these CBD oils based on criteria we think are good indicators of safety, quality, and transparency.

Why Trust Healthline
460+
CBD oils & tinctures evaluated
85+
CBD oil & tincture brands evaluated
25
CBD oils & tinctures personally tested
How we evaluate CBD oils and tinctures

Our Medical Standards and Insights team has carefully researched and vetted over 11,000 products and services. We fact-check health claims, evaluate ingredients, and look into each brand’s reputation before sharing products and services on Healthline.

To choose the products on this page, we considered all the CBD oils that passed our vetting process. Then, we personally tested some of them to narrow down our list even further. Read more about how we test CBD products.

Manufacturers need to use some sort of liquid to create CBD oil. This base liquid will dictate whether the product is an oil or a tincture.

  • CBD oil: made by infusing cannabis in a carrier oil
  • CBD tincture: made by soaking cannabis in alcohol and water

CBD oil is not the same as hempseed oil, which is sometimes labeled as hemp oil.

CBD oil is made from the flower, bud, stems, and leaves of the cannabis plant. Hempseed oil is made from hemp seeds and doesn’t contain any CBD.

Hempseed oil can be used topically for skin health and taken orally as a supplement or food additive.

CBD oil may be taken orally, or it can be added to balms and moisturizers and applied topically.

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Healthline tester using CBD oil dropper during product testing

Shake the bottle before use to ensure proper consistency. For maximum absorption, hold it under your tongue for 30 seconds to a few minutes before swallowing.

To determine how many drops to take, follow the recommended dosage provided by the manufacturer or your healthcare professional.

Start with a small dose. Over time, you can increase the dose and frequency until you achieve your desired results. But be sure to talk with a healthcare professional before making changes to the recommended dosage.

Appropriate serving sizes for CBD vary greatly depending on individual factors, such as:

  • intended use
  • body weight
  • metabolism
  • body chemistry

Doses should be taken at least 4 to 6 hours apart. You can take CBD at any time of day. If you’re using it to improve sleep, take it before bed.

The immediate effects of CBD usually take effect within 30 to 90 minutes, but long-term results may take several weeks to achieve.

You can also mix CBD oil into drinks and food, but this may affect absorption.

Store CBD oils and tinctures in a dry, cool place away from direct heat and sunlight. Make sure the cap is closed tightly after each use. It’s not necessary to refrigerate the product, but it may help prolong its shelf life.

Avoid touching your mouth with the dropper to prevent bacterial contamination and preserve the quality of the oil.

Yes, most CBD oils are safe to use orally and topically. Always check the manufacturer’s guidelines to be sure, though.

Some people find that applying CBD directly to the hands and wrists with arthritis helps reduce pain.

No, you don’t need to take CBD oil with foods. But if you don’t like the taste, you may find that ingesting CBD oil by mixing it with a beverage gives it a better taste.

Yes, you can use CBD oil daily. But if you’re thinking of increasing the dose, just make sure to do so slowly. Some people may also prefer to take it only as needed for aches and pains.

While research into the benefits of CBD is still ongoing, there’s promising evidence that it may help with:

  • sleep
  • chronic pain
  • PTSD and other mental health conditions
  • stress and anxiety

Most people are unlikely to experience issues when taking CBD, but minor side effects can occur, such as:

  • diarrhea
  • fatigue
  • weight and appetite changes

If you’re trying CBD for the first time, it’s best to err on the side of caution and start with a small dose. Most people find that 20 mg is a good starting point. You can try increasing the dose by 5 mg until you start to feel the effects.

Wait several hours before taking more CBD or increasing the dose. CBD can take some time to produce noticeable effects.

Evidence suggests that CBD is pretty safe to use, though it may cause mild side effects in some people. If you’re taking any prescription medications, it’s a good idea to talk with your healthcare professional before mixing CBD with your current medications.

Because CBD isn’t rigorously regulated, it’s important to buy only from reputable sources. This helps ensure that you’re consuming the safest version of the product available.

CBD oil is generally well tolerated and safe to use, though negative reactions, such as fatigue and digestive issues, are possible.

Talk with your healthcare professional before taking CBD if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, have any medical conditions, or take any OTC or prescription medications or supplements.

CBD is legal in many parts of the United States, but most manufacturers require you to be at least age 18 years old to purchase their product. It may not be legal in all countries.

Check your local laws before buying CBD. When buying online, confirm with the manufacturer that it’ll ship to your area, but also check local laws.

Since CBD products can contain trace amounts of THC, it’s still possible for them to show up on a drug test. Avoid taking CBD products if this is a concern.

Healthline has sole editorial control over this article. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. The information in this article is intended to be general in nature. It’s not intended to be a substitute for medical advice from a healthcare professional. Healthline encourages you to make any treatment decisions with your healthcare professional.

Is CBD legal? The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the legal definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. This made some hemp-derived CBD products with less than 0.3% THC legal at the federal level. However, CBD products containing more than 0.3% THC still fall under the legal definition of marijuana, making them illegal at the federal level. Some states have legalized CBD, so be sure to check state laws, especially when traveling. Also, keep in mind that the FDA has not approved nonprescription CBD products, and some products may be inaccurately labeled.