We get it, choosing a CBD oil can be very confusing. There is an abundance of information floating around on the internet. There is also a lot of variation between the CBD oil products available on the market. Therefore, when buying CBD oil, it’s extremely important to choose a brand that does its due diligence: you have to make sure that they are providing you with a trustworthy product.
In other words, you have to ensure you are getting what you pay for. Give yourself the peace of mind of not getting unwanted components, like THC. In some cases, people even start thinking that CBD oil does not work for them. What they ignore is that this could be due to many reasons: too low of a concentration, ineffective product that does not deliver on its promise (or price).
At ICARIA, we pride ourselves on providing a superior product that we firmly believe in. We also put at your disposal the test results proving that you get what we claim on the label. Being holistic nutritionists behind the brand, we are particularly concerned with what we put into our bodies. So, you can rest easy that we take that extra care!
Below, we mention another few key things you want to consider before buying CBD oil. These will greatly impact the effectiveness of the product you get and the results you experience from taking it.
1. Isolate vs. Full Spectrum vs. Broad Spectrum
CBD isolate is a crystalline solid or powder that contains only CBD in its pure form. It is extracted from the plant then further distilled. In other words, this process removes all other cannabinoids, like THC, flavonoids, terpenes, and plant impurities. Using an isolate is the only way to be able to guarantee 0.00% THC content for those sensitive to it. At ICARIA we use CBD isolate in MCT oil for all of our products.
On the other hand, full-spectrum CBD oil contains full-plant extract. It also includes small amounts of THC, other cannabinoids, and other beneficial compounds like flavonoids, and terpenes. In some cases, using a full-spectrum product is preferable since the additional cannabinoids work together positively promotes a synergistic effect and increased properties that could improve some health conditions.
In addition, broad-spectrum CBD oil falls somewhere in the middle between full-spectrum and isolate. Like full-spectrum, this form contains multiple cannabinoids and other compounds, but with THC levels closer to an isolate. Therefore, using a broad-spectrum product can also deliver the benefits of the formula mentioned before. However, there is still a risk of some THC being present.
Which one you choose depends on what your goal is. At ICARIA, we currently only offer CBD isolate because many of our clients prefer to avoid THC or are hesitant to try a cannabis product. This way, CBD oil can be taken in higher dosages, which can be particularly useful for a variety of health conditions. Containing no THC will also ensure that nothing comes up on drug screening tests.
2. Third-Party Testing
Impartial testing is a key component if you want to ensure that you are buying a high-quality CBD oil product. The two main reasons for this are:
- You have to trust that the concentration of CBD listed on the label is what you are paying for.
- You need to be sure that you are not getting any of the compounds that you don’t want, like THC.
If a brand offers their tests reports for you to go through, it shows great levels of transparency which can help you build trust with them. It would be even better if the tests came from a local and reliable lab facility you can call yourself to verify the product in question is not the result of any fraudulent activity.
Taking into account these aspects makes you more confident about the products that you purchase since they show the brand stands behind its value proposition.
If several of the options on the market seem too good to be true, they usually are. If you are paying a low price for CBD oil, this is also generally an indicator that the concentration of CBD is very low or the product’s quality is not guaranteed.
Bonus fact: on every product page of our website, you can find a link to our most recent batch of test results.
3. Product Concentration
You want to look at the concentration of the product you are considering purchasing. There are significant variations in the amount of CBD in the oil which can change its effectiveness and the results you will get. Some of the cheaper CBD oil products range anywhere from 50 mg to 500 mg CBD. Truth is, such a low dosage of CBD will not do much for you. When it comes to CBD oil, you get what you pay for. This can also explain why while one product will do nothing for you, something else will seem to work much better. That being said, since the difference in the effects depends on the concentration, you can simply take more drops of product. Therefore, for a product lower in concentration, like 750 mg of CBD, you should take twice the number of drops as you would for a product with a higher concentration of 1500 mg.
At ICARIA, we offer a few different concentrations adjusting to your needs and budget, with the highest concentration being the best choice in terms of value and bang for your buck. Therefore, if you are planning on taking CBD oil for a chronic health condition and an extended period, you will save more money, and see greater results, by investing in a product like HARMONIA that comes with 3000 mg of CBD. However, each of our product lines offers the same health benefits regardless of the concentration you select; the results will only change based on your dosage requirements.
4. Local Brand and Minimal Organic Ingredients
We love supporting local businesses for obvious reasons, but there is a functional reason for this, too. Several CBD oil products are cheaply produced in China, among other countries. Questionable standards and extraction methods open the door to the use of synthetic CBD which results in a poor formula. Of course, with any product, you want to be careful about what you are buying but even more so with what you ingest. Remember the case with the lead found in the paint of toys intended for children?
This leads us to a conversation about reviewing the ingredients of the products you are buying. Generally, less is more when it comes to food and supplements, which allows for the least amount of preservatives and contaminants, etc.
At ICARIA, the CBD oil in our THEIA or HARMONIA product lines only contains two ingredients: MCT oil and CBD isolate. There are no fillers, no additives, and we also strive for organic origins to limit pesticide exposure as well. If you purchase APHRODITE, you should know that it has an additional ingredient: hemp oil, simply for taste.
BONUS: Exceptional Customer Support
Does the brand you buy from seems to have a good reputation and genuinely good customer reviews? Anyone can buy Instagram followers these days. So, it comes down to the people behind the brand and their level of integrity and honesty. Is customer support quick to answer your questions? Do the representatives have a good understanding of the products that they sell? Are there additional resources for you on the website to guide you through the process of using CBD oil? These things matter when you are trying a new supplement or buying CBD oil for the first time. They can also make a huge difference in your experience.
At ICARIA, we pride ourselves on being certified holistic nutritionists. We hold an extensive background of research on CBD and a strong understanding of how the human body works. We care about every one of our customers and their well-being. That is why we love answering any questions for our customers. We want them to get the most out of our products and integrate them into a healthy lifestyle. In addition, we spend a lot of extra time and effort providing useful content in the form of educational blog posts, newsletters, webinars, live events, a CBD 101 Guide, and even a Facebook group community.
There, you have the three top things to consider before buying CBD oil. We also included an extra few aspects you might want to look into before you commit to your purchase. CBD oil is certainly a larger investment in your health and, if done properly, it can deliver a lot of great health benefits. We want your CBD oil experience to be the best possible. We don’t want you to get discouraged if you previously tried a product that didn’t work for you.
Join our free, 7-day CBD oil webinar to learn everything you need to know about this miracle oil and discover how you can implement it into your routine.
