Ever since the sale of CBD products was legalized by the 2018 Farm Bill, would-be moguls have rushed into the new and quickly-growing CBD market. Almost all of them had the same goal: establishing a foothold and brand name in a very crowded field where there was lots of money to be made.
Most of those companies had to start from scratch. They needed to learn the ins-and-outs of creating and marketing CBD (also known as cannabidiol), while at the same time searching for distribution methods and a way to stand out from the competition.
But one early entrant in the CBD market, Elixinol, had a unique advantage. Its founder and staff were hemps and CBD experts – having built up several decades of experience even before the sale of cannabidiol products became legal.
That expertise is the primary reason why Elixinol has quickly become a go-to choice among hundreds of mostly-similar CBD producers and vendors. And it’s also allowed the company to create some of the very best CBD oil, capsules, and topicals available.
Elixinol CBD: The Background
One of the co-founders of Elixinol was a man named Paul Benhaim. He was intrigued throughout his life by the hemp plant and its possible uses and first made a name for himself manufacturing hemp nutritional bars and foods in Australia and the U.K. He was also a prolific author on the subject, writing nearly a dozen books on subjects ranging from proper hemp farming techniques to the use of hemp to produce paper, clothing, and even homes.
Benhaim quickly realized both the nutritional and medicinal benefits of cannabidiol, and he eventually joined with other hemp advocates, devotees, and experts to create Elixinol. So when the sale of CBD became legal in America, Elixinol was uniquely positioned to jump into the market with some of the highest-quality CBD products available. The company received widespread publicity and consumer acclaim as the market grew.
Benhaim has since left Elixinol, but it continues to create high-end CBD products revered for its quality and effectiveness.
Elixinol CBD: The Company’s Approach
Producing the very best CBD products requires paying strict attention to every detail of the manufacturing process. That’s an area where Elixinol’s experience allows the company to shine.
CBD oil is usually manufactured according to the same basic formula. Cannabidiol extracted from hemp is blended with a carrier oil, and a flavoring agent is sometimes added as well. Since there’s no “mystery” to the formula, the devil really is in the details.
The quality of CBD oil depends on crucial factors like the source of the hemp, how cannabidiol is removed from it, and what other ingredients are added to the formula. When a producer properly uses high-end sources and techniques, they’re going to create high-quality CBD. The same is true for products like CBD capsules and topicals.
From the very start, Elixinol’s founders agreed they would use the best-available hemp sources and manufacturing techniques, so they could produce the highest-quality CBD products on the market for medical use and overall wellness.
That means Elixinol takes all of the steps necessary to guarantee quality and effectiveness:
- CBD is sourced from organic hemp grown in America, to ensure the absence of pesticides and hazardous chemicals.
- Cannabidiol is extracted from the hemp with the method that guarantees maximum potency, supercritical CO2
- The cannabidiol is combined with the best possible choice of carrier oil, MCT coconut oil.
- No artificial ingredients are added to the formulations.
To be honest, all top-notch CBD producers follow the same rules. But Elixinol goes even further.
- The company grows much of its own hemp so it can control every element of the process.
- Elixinol has a staff of research experts and has built a large supporting team of consulting doctors and scientists, to oversee design, production, and improvements to their products.
- All products are tested for quality in the company’s own state-of-the-art labs before being packaged and shipped.
That last one gives us a slight pause because Elixinol relies on their own labs to produce certificates of analysis (COAs) instead of submitting their products for third-party testing. We haven’t seen any evidence, however, that the company’s in-house testing shouldn’t be trusted.
Elixinol’s attention to detail and quality shines through in all of its product lines.
Elixinol CBD Oil
The company produces one of the largest lines of high-quality CBD oil you’ll find anywhere.
Daily Balance Full-Spectrum CBD Tincture
Elixinol’s flagship product is manufactured with all of the best-possible processes we’ve already mentioned: organic hemp, supercritical CO2 extraction, MCT coconut oil as a carrier, no artificial ingredients. And since it’s full-spectrum oil, the cannabidiol retains all of the hemp’s other components (like terpenes, flavonoids, cannabinoids, and a minuscule amount of THC) that provide an entourage effect to boost the CBD’s effectiveness.
There’s one additional – and unusual – twist to the company’s Daily Balance tincture: BCP. Elixinol adds extra beta-caryophyllene, a terpene that’s naturally present in hemp, to increase absorption of the CBD; that’s an example of how Elixinol’s experience and research pay off in creating a more effective product.
There are four “strengths” of this CBD oil: 133 milligrams, 500mg, 1000mg, and 4000mg. However, that only tells you how much CBD is in the entire bottle. Since the bottles increase in size as you move up the “strength” ladder, the first three choices actually have the exact same potency, 8mg/ml. Only the 4000mg oil is more potent, at 16mg/ml. Even 16mg/ml is quite low for a “high dosage” oil, though, and that’s one of the only drawbacks we found in Elixinol’s product. It’s available in two flavors, natural hemp, and cinnamint.
(Elixinol also sells a natural-flavor “organic CBD oil,” for twice the price; it’s really the same as the company’s regular product except that all of the ingredients have been certified as organic by a third party.)
Daily Balance Broad-Spectrum Tincture
There are only two differences between this CBD oil and the one we’ve just discussed. First, this one is only available in one flavor, winter mint. More importantly, this is a broad-spectrum oil, meaning that the minimal amount of THC (<0.3%) that’s normally present in cannabidiol has been removed.
That lessens the entourage effect a little, producing oil that’s slightly less effective. But the hemp’s other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids remain in the CBD, so broad-spectrum oil is a good “second choice.” (Why would you want a broad-spectrum oil? Some people think the elimination of THC lowers their chance of flunking a drug test.)
Daily Balance CBD Liposomes
Here’s a product you won’t see sold by most CBD producers: CBD liposomes in a spray bottle. The quick explanation: cannabidiol is infused into naturally-occurring, fatty phospholipid molecules and then mixed with a carrier oil. The combination allows the body to absorb the CBD more quickly than standard oil after the solution is sprayed under the tongue.
There’s one milligram of CBD per spray, and the best use of this product is as a quick “booster” for those who suffer from stress or chronic pain. The flavor is the citrus twist, and the price is high.
Elixinol CBD Capsules
CBD in capsule form isn’t as effective as CBD oil dropped under the tongue, where it’s absorbed by the sublingual glands and immediately sent into the bloodstream. When you take a capsule it must first be broken down by the digestive system, and that causes the cannabidiol to lose some of its potency.
However, capsules are obviously a much more convenient method of administration and don’t taste of hemp. You also don’t have to calculate the amount of liquid to take; the nominal amount of cannabidiol contained in each capsule is right on the label.
There’s one more good argument for capsules – at least when they’re manufactured by Elixinol. In addition to “straightforward” cannabidiol/carrier oil capsules, the company offers four other versions aimed more specifically at treating sleep issues, joint problems, stress, and inflammation.
- Good Night Capsules also include the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin.
- Body Comfort Capsules also contain Boswellia, a botanical used for centuries to treat pain and chronic inflammatory conditions.
- Stress Less Capsules are made with CBD and ashwagandha, another botanical commonly used by herbalists to treat depression, anxiety, and stress.
- Omega Turmeric Capsules also contain algae-based DHA and, of course, turmeric. The blend provides omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants to battle inflammation throughout the body.
All of the capsules contain 15mg of full-spectrum CBD, they’re vegan and gluten-free, and naturally, the products are designed and manufactured with the same care used to make Elixinol’s CBD oils.
Elixinol CBD Topicals
The final category of Elixinol’s CBD offerings features three products designed to be applied topically. It’s important to realize that cannabidiol can’t penetrate the epidermis, so it won’t reach the bloodstream and isn’t able to provide whole-body medicinal relief or health benefits.
But topical CBD has shown great promise as a treatment for muscle and joint aches and pains, as well as bruises, acne, and possibly even signs of aging.
Elixinol takes those properties a step further, by adding extra ingredients into their CBD topical to enhance their effectiveness.
- Elixinol CBD Hemp Balm contains not only full-spectrum CBD, but a wealth of ingredients to soothe, nourish and replenish the skin; they include rosemary, eucalyptus, calendula and copaiba essential oils, and Ucuuba butter. There are three levels of CBD content to choose from, and the balm is soothing with a pleasant aroma.
- Elixinol CBD Sports Gel contains broad-spectrum CBD (with no THC), as well as capsaicin, camphor, arnica, and a mix of essential oils to ease tired or aching muscles after a workout or just a long day at work. It’s a gel that’s absorbed quickly and works effectively.
- Elixinol CBD lip balm is designed to keep lips smooth, hydrated, and protected, with full-spectrum CBD bolstered with omega-3 oils and vitamin E. The balm has a neutral taste and feels refreshing on the lips.
All of these topical products are completely organic, natural, vegan, and can be applied as often as needed. They’re less expensive than Elixinol’s CBD oil and capsules, too.
Elixinol CBD Review: The Verdict
Elixinol has established itself as a leader in the American CBD industry, thanks to its careful attention to detail, its high-quality products, and its diverse product lines. The company’s combinations of cannabidiol, botanicals, and essential oils (in capsules and topicals) are innovative and effective, as is its liposomes offering. And while Elixinol’s prices aren’t cheap, they’re not out of line for the quality products the company provides.
We can’t say that this is “the best” CBD on the market, largely because of the relatively low potency of most Elixinol products. It’s not the optimal choice for severe pain or conditions like hypertension which ordinarily require high doses of CBD. Additionally, it’s not sold in retail outlets; you have to buy it online.
But Elixinol’s CBD offerings are extremely good choices for those who need low-to-moderate doses of cannabidiol, and the company’s comprehensive and impressive product lines put Elixinol high on the list of CBD providers to consider.