From CBD shampoo and chocolate to skincare and even lubricants, you've no doubt seen CBD in just about every form imaginable over the past decade. But CBD oil – the original oral supplement taken as drops – is where it all began. Today, millions of people around the world use CBD oil as part of their daily routine to help maintain balance in both mind and body.
Its popularity exceeded vitamin C at one point, and many avid fans swear by the broad, sometimes transformational effects, ranging from improving sleep, boosting mood, soothing physical and emotional discomfort and even enhancing skin health. But how can one supplement apparently have such far reaching benefits? Although it’s not a panacea, there is well understood science behind the mechanisms that make this possible.
CBD oil is extracted from the cannabis sativa (hemp) plant, from the cannabinoid rich flowers, leaves and stem, not the seeds, which is where it differs from hemp seed oil.
These flowers contain cannabinoids and terpenes that interact with your body via your Endocannabinoid System (ECS) - a complex network of receptors which makes up one of the most important physiological systems in the human body. This system works alongside other systems, such as your immune system and nervous system, and internally produced endocannabinoids (Anandamide and 2-AG) to keep everything in balance. You’ll find it just about everywhere in the human body – from the surface layers of your skin right down into your muscles, bones and even cell walls.
For best results, take CBD oil twice a day for a least a month. Hold the oil under your tongue for one minute to allow the oil to absorb directly into the bloodstream for the highest bioavailability (and best value for money!).
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The best CBD oils for 2026 are:
- Best overall – CBD Brothers pure black oil: £44.99, Cbdbrothers.com
- Best budget buy – Sweet Pink whole plant CBD oil: £31, Sweetpinkcbd.co.uk
- Best for relaxation – 3CBD Activist purple punch: £65, Theactivistcbd.co.uk
- Best for anxiety – Unspun broad spectrum CBD oil: £68, Beunspun.co.uk
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CBD Brothers pure black oil
Best: overall CBD oil
Why we love it
- Trial bottles available
- The company has a wide range of CBD prodcuts to choose from, including some for pets
- Organic hemp
Family-owned CBD businesses often seem to produce the best quality oils – perhaps because the people behind many of these have a genuine passion for the hemp or cannabis plant and a story to tell. The CBD Brothers is one of these brands. As well as being one of the longest-standing in the UK CBD industry, with many years of experience crafting extremely high-quality CBD oils grown outdoors in sunlight (which is very unusual in the UK), it has also been at the forefront of cannabis legislation changes, which has helped many patients access medical cannabis across Britain.
Today the CBD Brothers has a pretty wide range of oils, gummies, patches, balms and vapes which a newbie might find tricky to decipher, but don’t be put off – contact the brand for assistance if you need help choosing, as these really are some of the best full and broad-spectrum CBD products you can get in this country. We tested a variety of the CBD oils available, including the white, black, blue and purple editions (all of which are made with organic hemp seed oil as the carrier).
When testing this one I noticed huge improvements in sleep, anxiety, depression, migraines – all of which I’m used to occurring monthly due to PMS. A second tester also found hormonal balance with CBD Brothers, for menopause symptoms and, when a few drops were applied topically it helped ease a multitude of discomforts, from bee stings to haemorrhoids.
Key specifications
Buy now £44.99, Cbdbrothers.com
Sweet Pink whole plant CBD oil
Best: budget CBD oil
Why we love it
- High quality yet relatively affordable
- Whole plant oil
All testers who tried Sweet Pink raved about the benefits, with repeated emphasis on reduced stress and anxiety. One tester has even managed to come off their anti-depressants since switching to this CBD oil, and another tester who struggles with PTSD symptoms says they find the cascade of symptoms occurring less frequently, and less intensely. Overall, we found that this product excelled in all areas, boosting feelings of positivity and making ordinarily stressful situations much easier to handle. The lemongrass and turmeric CBD balm also went down a storm with testers for use on arthritic hands and eczema.
Sweet Pink CBD oil has been created by the mother of Indie Rose – one of the children in the UK who relies on a prescribed cannabis oil as treatment for a rare and debilitating epilepsy condition. As someone who has had her life changed by the power of cannabis, brand founder, Tannine, has developed a CBD oil range that does the plant justice, while still sticking to legal Food Standards Agency restrictions.
Key specifications
Buy now £31, Sweetpinkcbd.co.uk
CBD Activist purple punch
Best: relaxation-boosting CBD oil
Why we love it
- Utilises plant terpenes for enhanced effects
- Great for sleep
If you take a look at a photo of the founder of CBD Activist, you might well recognise her, as for quite some time she made appearances on TV and in newspapers sharing the miraculous story of her son, who recovered from a ‘one in a billion’ disease against all odds, with the help of cannabis. Since then, Callie has dedicated her life to education the world on cannabis and natural health and as part of that mission, she has created CBD Activist. This range differs to most others on our list, as these oils have been developed to utilise the power of terpenes (aromatic compounds) just as much as the CBD itself. There are thousands of terpenes found in all plant life, including cannabis, and research exploring their potential use and benefit is extensive and quite astounding.
We particularly loved CBD purple punch for sleep and relaxation. This oil helped me and other testers relax in the evenings, drift off much faster than usual and sleep through the night too. It seemed to help calm racing thoughts both day and night. Presumably this impressive impact on sleep partly comes down to the fact that this CBD oil has been enhanced with added myrcene – a natural plant terpene (aromatic compound) known for its sleep-inducing effects.
Key specifications
Buy now £65, Theactivistcbd.co.uk
Hempen organic cold pressed CBD oil
Best: wellbeing-focused CBD oil
Why we love it
- Large bottle (and a little goes a long way)
- Raw, cold pressed oil
If you’re looking for an incredible all-rounder CBD oil to boost your wellbeing in every sense, Hempen is a great pick. Even testers without any major complaints noticed their lives improving after taking this consistently for a month, with increased energy, more patience with kids, better quality sleep and even curbed sugar cravings all highlighted. Although the changes can be subtle, we all found them very noticeable once we stopped taking the oil every day.
For me, this is a favourite daily product for enhancing overall wellbeing because it’s a cold pressed, raw CBD oil. When you take an oil like this, you’re getting so much more than just CBD – as well as cannabinoids, you’re also getting a dose of cannabidiolic acids, the precursor the cannabinoids before they’re heated. These include CBDa, which one study found to be 1,000 times more effective at combatting nausea and anxiety than CBD.
As this one is pure hemp oil with no added flavourings or essential oils, it can also be used topically and, technically, for pets – however CBD oils is not regulated for use in animals.
Key specifications
Buy now £32.4, Hempen.co.uk
Kynd raw CBD oil
Best: PMS support CBD oil
Why we love it
- Choose between raw, full and broad-spectrum oils
- UK grown and manufactured
Since its inception in 2014 Kynd has poured heart and soul into creating some of the best CBD oils out there, but for other brands. Now, it’s launched its own range. The raw, full spectrum and broad-spectrum offerings were highly rated by our testers, who felt they helped a lot with sleep, anxiety and chronic pain issues. Our testers loved using this brand’s oils on the run up to and during a period, finding that regular doses helped keep cramps and low mood at bay. The coffee is great too, providing that caffeine fix without anxiety or jitters (endocannabinoids help to balance that out).
As the only Scottish Manufacturer of Licenced CBD Products, this brand is one of very few in the UK that actually makes its own products (most brands work with a manufacturer to produce it for them). This means it knows every detail about every step of the growing, processing and production of its oils, and it’s very transparent about it all too. So, you can buy these products with confidence in their quality, safety and adherence to FSA guidelines.
Key specifications
Buy now £49.99, Kyndmedical.com
Ardoa CBD oil amber42
Best: chronic pain-easing CBD oil
Why we love it
- Uniquely formulated to target specific needs
- Effective for sleep, anxiety, depression, PTSD, arthritis and menopausal symptoms
- Large bottle available
The oils made by Ardoa are of such exceptional quality it’s hard to choose a favourite. Indigo was by far one of the best oils we tried for sleep, while Emerald worked wonders for Endometriosis, and Amber for other chronic pain conditions. Unlike most CBD brands, Ardoa has thoughtfully developed very targeted, unique oils, using a blend of isolated cannabinoids and terpenes to formulate a range to meet specific needs.
Most CBD oils are either CBD isolate without other cannabinoids present, or an oil that is simply extracted from the plant and delivers whatever that plant naturally had to give. Ardoa has tapped into the fact that the 140+ cannabinoids in the cannabis plant come with unique properties, and the knowledge that most cannabis-based medicines that have been developed (or are being developed) contain a range of isolated cannabinoids blended together for the most powerful, targeted effect. By blending isolated cannabinoids, Ardoa has been able to create oils containing cannabinoids that are usually found in much lower quantities (if at all) in other CBD oils, which makes an enormous difference to their effects.
Because of these elevated levels of other cannabinoids, testers with chronic pain were astounded by the results after taking the Amber oil twice a day for a month. Discomfort was greatly reduced, mood was boosted and sleep was improved. A family member also tried this one out for me to see if it could alleviate some of her more uncomfortable menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes, and she found it made an enormous difference.
Key specifications
Buy now £69.99, Ardoamarket.co.uk
Unspun broad spectrum CBD oil
Best: anxiety CBD oil
Why we love it
- Mild taste
- Great for anxiety
- Organic
Hailing from America, where CBD and cannabis is even more commonly used and better understood than in the UK, Unspun brings more than a decade of expertise to the table and a premium broad-spectrum oil. Some CBD oils labelled broad spectrum get away with it by having miniscule amounts of other cannabinoids besides CBD in the oil, but Unspun delivers what broad spectrum is supposed to be, with a range of cannabinoids (all with unique benefits) present in notable amounts.
For a natural flavoured CBD oil – which can sometimes be a little harsh – this one has a pleasant earthy flavour that goes down easily. They also have great tasting gummies containing the same oil, if that’s more your thing. Our testers found this one to be really helpful for daily anxiety, with one even saying they found public speaking much easier than usual after taking this every day for a month.
Key specifications
Buy now £68, Beunspun.co.uk
iCBD Global iChill
Best: arthritis CBD oil
Why we love it
- Made with added ayurvedic ingredients
- MCT oil base available for mild taste
This brand goes the extra mile with their CBD oil formulations, weaving in ancient Ayurvedic plants (for those unfamiliar, Ayurveda is a traditional Indian system of medicine) and essential oils and nutraceuticals with full spectrum, cold pressed hemp extract.
Additions such as turmeric, black pepper and moringa in the iChill full spectrum oil no doubt add to the anti-inflammatory benefits felt most profoundly by one tester with body-wide arthritis and fibromyalgia. Testers who struggle with the sometimes harsh taste of hemp seed oil bases appreciated the MCT base options available from this brand, which is extremely mild and easy to take.
As with all CBD oils, she found this product to be most effective when used at least once a day for an extended period of time.
Key specifications
Buy now £29, Icbdglobal.com
Dreem Distillery night drops
Best: sleep-boosting CBD oil
Why we love it
- Delicate minty flavour
- Powerful sleep-inducing effects
The broad spectrum Dreem Distillery night drops are one of the best CBD products I’ve ever tried for sleep issues – they’re very effective, a delight to take and the bottle looks lovely on your bedside table too. The night cream and mask is also a top skincare pick of mine. This brand has everything you need for the ultimate beauty sleep.
Ever since my son was born nine years ago, and I was woken up every hour for years as we struggled along with colic and reflux for a very, very long time, my sleep has been terrible. Now he sleeps through the night, but I don’t. I’m still in the habit of waking every few hours and sometimes I can’t drop off at all. Dreem Distillery night drops changed all that – a few drops half an hour before bed and I’m out like a light for the whole night. It’s been a total game-changer.
Key specifications
Buy now £60, Dreemdistillery.co.uk
Karma Coast CBD oil
Best: CBD oil for gut health
Why we love it
- Small batch, organic CBD oil
- Water soluble option available (to add to drinks)
One of the few CBD brands with a bricks and mortar shop, in Tynemouth, where you can visit and pick up free samples of all products if you’re keen to try before you buy. But even if you’re not local, you can rest assured that the CBD oil produced by this small team is exceptional, and has proven time and again to be very effective for a wide range of needs.
One tester who suffers from chronic pain from long covid found Karma Coast CBD oil to be remarkably effective in easing joint discomfort, while two others with IBS, endometriosis and ulcerative colitis also found their symptoms, such as stomach cramps, significantly improved.
When taking CBD, it’s generally advised you hold the oil under your tongue for at least a minute for sublingual absorption and the best bioavailability (how much of the active molecules actually get to be active in your body). But, if you’re thinking of using CBD for gastrointestinal issues, consider swallowing a higher dose of oil (higher dose because bioavailability is reduced after going through the digestive system) or taking your oil in capsule before eating. This will help encourage the cannabinoids to attach directly to the endocannabinoid receptors in your gut, rather than entering directly into the bloodstream. We loved taking the 1000mg CBD Mylk in our morning coffee as a daily ritual.
Key specifications
Buy now £69.99, Karmacoastcbd.co.uk
Your questions about CBD oil answered
What is the best CBD oil?
Overall, we loved the CBD Brothers best and think it offers great value for money, especially as you can try the product out with a 1ml tester bottles before committing. We were also really impressed by the Ardoa oils for a wide variety of needs.
How I tested CBD oils
I’ve tested hundreds of CBD oil products over the past seven years both on myself and my family, and a large group of other willing testers. When one oil really excels for one person, I then test the same product on someone else with the same issues to compare results. The list you find here is made up of the CBD oils that have impressed at least two people with similar reasons for using. My testers have varying conditions and symptoms, including menopausal symptoms, insomnia, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, arthritis and chronic fatigue.
Testers kept a few key factors in mind during testing. These included:
What is CBD oil?
CBD oil is a natural remedy derived from the cannabis hemp plant. Supporting your body in regaining equilibrium, it can be bought as a food supplement to soothe a range of ailments.
What are the benefits of CBD oil?
Studies suggest CBD has a range of benefits, from offsetting anxiety and depression to treating PTSD symptoms, as well as easing sore muscles, inflammation and joint pain, and general pain relief.
Is CBD oil safe?
It is suggested to speak to your GP or healthcare professional to ensure CBD oil is safe for you to take, as it can interfere with other medication or pre-existing conditions. But, as it does not contain the THC part of the cannabis plant, the oil will not induce a “high”. It is worth mentioning that CBD oil should not be used by people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
How to choose the right CBD oil
With so many CBD products out there, it can be hard to know which is right for you. The first place to start is deciding whether you would like a full spectrum, broad spectrum or isolate product (you’ll see one of these terms printed on the label of most CBD products). Don’t worry, it may sound complicated but it’s really very simple:
Which strength CBD oil is best?
If you’re new to CBD or wanting to use it for general wellness purposes, a 500mg or 1,000mg oil is a good place to start. You can titrate your dose depending on what feels good to you. From there, you can think about investing in stronger oils, which are best suited to people using CBD for sleep or more pressing needs.
How to take CBD oil
Consistency is key – you can’t expect to take CBD oil once or twice and have your life transformed. This is a daily supplement, ideally taken two to three times a day, to support your body in regaining equilibrium. Start by taking a few drops each time. Hold the oil under your tongue for at least two minutes, to aid absorption.
To further enhance the effects, take directly after eating fatty food (as CBD oil is fat soluble) or after brushing your teeth (which boosts blood flow to the mouth). Gradually build up the amount you take, drop by drop, until you find a dose that works for you.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Ruby Deevoy is a cannabis and psychedelics expert. She has studied all things CBD, speaking to experts and analysing claims. Of course, the effectiveness of CBD oils will vary from person to person, but, for this review, our testing method was able to highlight the oils that had an effect on specific health and wellbeing concerns, as reported by our reviewers who used them. Ruby also has a personal interest in wellbeing, and has been on many silent meditation retreats, so she’s one to trust when it comes to holistic health.
The IndyBest team also test a range of health-related supplements, from the best multivitamins to the best general supplements to take according to experts, best probiotics, best way to get more B12 and even advice on how to manage menopause. We have a wide range of expert-led pieces, so you can trust all of our buying guides and explainers are backed by an extensive amount of testing and expertise.
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