The 7 Best CBD Creams & Lotions Of 2023 For Aches & Pain Relief

This cream from CBDfx is one of the stronger (and, as a result, more expensive) options on our list. The CBDfx Muscle & Joint Cream is a water-based formula that uses white willow bark and caffeine, cooling menthol, and either 1,000 or 3,000 mg of CBD—if you’re new to CBD, we recommend starting with the 1,000 mg option. 

Reviewers have great things to say about this cream, especially people looking to relieve aches. And although it includes menthol, many reviewers say this lightweight cream doesn’t have much of a smell.

Sustainability & packaging: CBDfx farms organically-grown hemp and uses an energy-efficient CO2 extraction process to draw out CBD. The packaging is made from curbside-recyclable plastics and glass. 

Transparency: The COA for this cream was easy to find on the product description page. CBDfx also uses a team of medical advisors to review all of the product information on their pages.

With 1,000 mg of broad-spectrum hemp CBD, Joy Organics’ Sports Cream combines soothing lavender and olive oil with menthol and camphor for a warming and cooling sensation. This cream is scented, as most mentholated creams are—if that “icy-hot” scent is a hard “no” for you, this cream might not be your pick. 

Still, customers seem to like the smell, with one reviewer saying, “This topical offers the fastest relief compared to others I have used. The cooling sensation helps ease muscles, and the scent is more pleasant than other brands I have tried.” 

Sustainability & packaging: We love Joy Organics’ effort toward sustainability. All of the brand’s packaging is recyclable and it offers carbon-neutral shipping through a partnership with Carbon Fund. Joy Organic’s CBD is also harvested from USDA certified organic hemp farms. Also worth noting: It’s a family-run and woman-led out of Colorado and Texas.   

Transparency: Joy Organics has a page dedicated to its process, which includes everything from farming to third-party testing to shipping. As with all of the company’s products, the Sports Cream’s COA is readily available on the product page.

Prima’s R+R cream combines organic, broad-spectrum hemp with a handful of antioxidant-packed ingredients, such as eucalyptus, rosemary, and tea tree oil. Additions like peppermint and menthol give the cream an instant cooling sensation, while lavender oil calms irritated skin. 

Although there’s an initial menthol scent when applied, it wears off relatively quickly, leaving behind pleasant traces of eucalyptus and lavender (which linger for a while). One reviewer says, “The scent and texture is amazing, and it doesn’t make your skin feel sticky at all. I use a small amount on my wrists (I use a mouse & keyboard all day) and the aches go away. Also perfect for a pulled/tweaked muscle from sleeping weird or just being old!” 

Sustainability & packaging: Prima has a bunch of certifications for its sustainability efforts. Both a plastic and carbon neutral company, it offset use of both by removing twice as much plastic waste from the environment as used across the brand’s packaging and operations (and investing in projects that combat the climate crisis). Prima also has a “Recycle for Real” program that encourages customers to send back five empty containers at a time to ensure they’re properly recycled (shipping is covered!).

Transparency: You can find each Prima product’s COA from the product pages. Prima is also a Certified B Corporation, which means it meets the highest standards of public transparency, environmental performance, and legal accountability. Plus, the company has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

FABCBD’s Topical Cream gets rave reviews from folks with joint discomfort. It combines moisturizing aloe vera, coconut oil, cocoa butter, and olive oil with organic full-spectrum hemp to create a non-greasy formula that quickly absorbs into skin. What’s more, additions like blood orange oil and cinnamon deliver a bright citrus scent that’s popular with reviewers, who agree that it’s not too overpowering.

One reviewer writes, “I've used other topicals, and they don't compare to this wonderful cream. Smells great and works fast!.” FABCBD says a little goes a long way with this cream and that you only need to use a fingertip-full. That will hopefully make your jar last for a while, as it’s not cheap for a 2-ounce package. 

Sustainability & packaging: FABCBD sources hemp from an organic farm in Colorado. The brand’s CBD cream also comes in a small recyclable jar, but the company doesn’t have any other sustainability initiatives as of now. 

Transparency: FABCBD uses ProVerde Laboratories for third-party testing (you can view the COAs here). The business itself doesn’t have any certifications yet.

This rich moisturizing body butter from Prima is a luxurious addition to any nighttime routine. It’s super thick (so a little goes a long way) and uses cloves, citrus, geranium, and ylang ylang for a soothing scent. Despite being packed with hydrating shea butter, coconut oil, olive oil, and cocoa butter, it’s not a greasy formula—you can trust me, I’m typing this with it on my hands as we speak!

However, take the name “body butter” seriously, because it is thick and best for use at night before bed. Reviewers tend to agree with me, with one person saying, “It’s my sleep routine. I love the smell and the richness.” Another important note: This body butter is the most expensive option when broken down by cost per mg of CBD.

Sustainability, packaging & transparency: As we mentioned earlier in this list, Prima makes a great effort toward sustainability by using recycled materials in its packaging, staying both plastic and carbon neutral. The company also has several certifications for its sustainability efforts, is a Certified B Corporation, and has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. You can find the COA for this body butter on the product page.

You don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for quality hemp CBD, and Lazarus Naturals is here to prove it. The brand’s unscented body lotion packs full-spectrum hemp and comes in two sizes, with the larger 8.5-ounce bottle delivering the best bangs for your buck. It’s made with organic ingredients, including moisturizing mango seed butter, jojoba oil, and sweet almond oil. Despite a lineup of stellar ingredients and a Leaping Bunny certification, the lotion costs less than $0.1 per mg of CBD.

Only available in an unscented formula, the lotion earns rave reviews from users who say it leaves their skin silky smooth without lasting residue or stickiness. One reviewer says, “This fragrance-free is perfect! Love that it absorbs quickly and is not greasy! Works extremely well for discomfort." 

Beyond the brand’s budget-friendly prices, Lazarus Naturals offers 60% off to veterans, people on long-term disability, and households that qualify as low-income. A ton of reviewers say they’re grateful for the cost-savings without compromise on quality. 

Sustainability & packaging: Lazarus Naturals farms hemp on its own property in central Oregon. It’s also a Certified B Corp, which means the company is held to high business standards for social and environmental impact. The brand also aims to be carbon neutral by 2030, and currently uses recycled materials in its packaging. 

Transparency: You can access the COA for this lotion on the product page, or via QR code on the product’s packaging.

This cream from R&R Medicinals is a great unscented pick with generous potency. With 1,000 mg of organic, full-spectrum hemp in a 2.5-ounce tube, a little goes a long way. The vegan formula includes calendula flower and jojoba for everyday moisture, as well as soothing arnica for relief from aches. 

One reviewer says, “We ordered the 1000mg CBD Cream and have been absolutely loving it. No greasy feeling, works very well and quickly with little to no odor.” Several other folks mention that this lotion is a good value for the price. And, if it ends up not being a winner for you, R&R offers a 60-day money back guarantee. 

Sustainability & packaging: R&R Medicinals uses USDA certified organic hemp in many of its CBD products, but this particular topical does not utilize organic hemp. However, all hemp sourced by R&R undergoes an energy-efficient supercritical CO2 extraction process. Packaging should be curbside recyclable, but R&R doesn’t offer any additional instructions. 

Transparency: All of R&R’s lab testing results are available on a designated page of the website. R&R creates products in an FDA-registered facility and is registered with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.