Can You Put Oral CBD Oil on Your Skin and Does It Work

Written by Lorien Strydom

December 2nd, 2025

Yes, you can apply oral CBD oil to your skin, but it typically underperforms because tinctures are formulated for ingestion or sublingual absorption, not dermal penetration.

Oral CBD oils lack the emulsifiers and penetration enhancers found in dedicated topical products, which means they don't cross your skin barrier efficiently. If you insist on trying, mix a few drops into a leave-on lotion and patch test first.

This article explains why oral formulations work differently on skin and provides practical guidance if you're determined to try it anyway.

Table of Contents

• Can You Use Oral CBD Oil on Skin

• Why Oral CBD Tinctures Don't Absorb Well Through Skin

• Oral CBD vs Topical CBD

• How to Use Oral CBD Oil on Skin If You Really Want To

• Checking for Quality and Staying Safe

• What Topical CBD Products May Help With

• CBD Basics You Should Know

• Finding Quality Products for Your Needs

• Your Next Step

Can You Use Oral CBD Oil on Skin

Oral CBD oil is hemp extract combined with carrier oil designed for sublingual or digestive absorption.

Most tinctures use MCT oil (medium-chain triglyceride oil from coconuts) as their base because it stays in place under your tongue and facilitates absorption through mucous membranes.

You can technically apply these tinctures to your skin. The CBD won't harm you, and the carrier oil might even moisturize temporarily.

The problem is efficiency. MCT oil contains large fat molecules that struggle to penetrate your skin barrier. Your skin evolved specifically to keep things out, and oral formulations weren't designed to overcome that defense.

Alcohol-based tinctures fare even worse topically.

They evaporate quickly and can irritate skin, especially with repeated use. The alcohol carries CBD into your bloodstream beautifully when held under your tongue, but on skin it mostly just dries out before doing much of anything.

Purpose-designed topical CBD products solve these problems with emulsifiers that help oil and water mix, penetration enhancers that help ingredients cross skin layers, and skin-compatible bases like jojoba or hemp seed oil instead of MCT.

That formulation engineering makes a massive difference in whether CBD actually reaches the receptors in your skin.

Why Oral CBD Tinctures Don't Absorb Well Through Skin

The formulation gap between oral and topical CBD products comes down to how each product needs to behave.

Oral tinctures prioritize stability in the bottle and absorption through mucous membranes or your digestive system. Topical products prioritize penetrating the tough, protective barrier your skin maintains.

Topicals typically include emulsifiers that allow CBD oil to disperse evenly throughout water-based ingredients, creating a smooth texture that spreads easily and absorbs better.

Oral tinctures skip this because you're not spreading them across a large surface—you're holding a dropper's worth under your tongue.

Penetration enhancers like certain alcohols, fatty acids, or specialized compounds help CBD molecules navigate through skin layers.

These ingredients would be unnecessary and potentially unpleasant in an oral product but become essential for topical effectiveness.

The carrier oil choice matters more than most people realize. Topical products often use hemp seed oil, jojoba oil, or other carriers that match your skin's natural oils and absorb readily.

MCT oil works brilliantly for sublingual use but doesn't have the right molecular profile for efficient skin penetration.

Quality topical formulations also include complementary ingredients like shea butter for moisture, aloe vera for soothing properties, vitamin E as an antioxidant, and sometimes essential oils for scent and additional effects.

These extras aren't just marketing—they genuinely enhance how well the CBD penetrates and how your skin responds to the product.

Oral tinctures keep their formulations simple because complexity isn't necessary for their intended use. That simplicity becomes a liability when you try to repurpose them for skin application.

Explore our categories

Shop All

Gummies

Flower

Edibles

Beverages

Vapes

Pre-Rolls

Concentrates

Bestsellers

Merch

Shop All

Oral CBD vs Topical CBD

Oral CBD and topical CBD serve fundamentally different purposes, which is why their formulations diverge so dramatically. Understanding these differences helps you choose the right format for your specific goal.

How They Enter Your Body

Oral CBD enters your bloodstream and circulates throughout your entire body. Whether you hold a tincture under your tongue or swallow a gummy, the CBD eventually reaches your bloodstream and affects your whole system.

Topical CBD stays localized at the application site with minimal bloodstream entry. It interacts with cannabinoid receptors in your skin layers but doesn't produce the body-wide effects that oral consumption delivers.

Timing and Duration

Oral CBD typically takes 30 to 120 minutes to produce noticeable effects, depending on whether you use sublingual absorption (faster) or digestive absorption (slower). Effects generally last 2 to 4 hours.

Topical CBD may be felt within 10 to 90 minutes, with massive variation depending on the base formulation, how much you apply, and your individual skin characteristics. Duration varies more widely than oral products.

Typical Amounts Used

Oral CBD regimens often involve 50 to 200mg daily, split across one or more servings. People dial in their preferred amount over time based on how they feel.

Topical CBD uses much smaller amounts per application since you're only treating a specific area. The amount that covers your shoulder or knee is a fraction of what you'd consume orally for body-wide effects.

When to Choose Which Format

Choose oral CBD when you're seeking effects throughout your body.

This format makes sense for general wellness routines or when you want something that affects your whole system.

Choose topical CBD when targeting a specific area—a sore muscle, a dry patch, a particular spot that needs attention. The localized approach means you're not consuming CBD systemically when you only need targeted application.

These formats aren't mutually exclusive. Many people use both complementarily, taking oral CBD as part of their routine while applying topicals to specific areas as needed.

How to Use Oral CBD Oil on Skin If You Really Want To

If you're determined to try applying your oral CBD oil topically despite its limitations, here's how to do it with fewer downsides. This approach won't match a proper topical's effectiveness, but it's better than applying straight tincture.

Mix It Properly

Add 2 to 3 drops of CBD oil to a dollop of your regular leave-on moisturizer or a non-comedogenic carrier oil like jojoba or grapeseed oil. Mix thoroughly before applying.

The lotion or carrier oil provides a better base for spreading and helps the CBD disperse more evenly across your skin. Straight CBD tincture often beads up or sits on the surface rather than absorbing.

Patch Test First

Apply your CBD-lotion mixture to your inner forearm and wait 24 hours before using it more broadly. Watch for redness, itching, or irritation.

Individual reactions to terpenes, fragrances, or even the carrier oil can surprise you. Better to discover sensitivity on a small test area than after covering your back.

Apply to Clean, Dry Skin

Wash and dry the target area before application. Dirt, sweat, or residual products create an additional barrier that further reduces already-limited absorption.

Massage the mixture thoroughly into your skin using circular motions.

Work it in completely rather than leaving it sitting on the surface.

Avoid Your Face

If your tincture uses MCT oil (most do), keep it off your face. MCT oil is comedogenic for many people, meaning it can clog pores and contribute to breakouts.

If you insist on facial application, mix your CBD oil with a non-comedogenic carrier like jojoba, argan, or rosehip oil instead of using your regular face lotion.

Never Add to Wash-Off Products

Adding CBD oil to cleansers, shampoos, or anything else you immediately rinse away provides zero benefit. The product washes down the drain before any meaningful absorption can occur.

Stick to leave-on applications where the CBD has time to potentially penetrate your skin.

Manage Your Expectations

Even with these steps, you're using a product designed for a different purpose.

Results will be inconsistent and less effective than a purpose-built topical.

If you find yourself regularly applying oral CBD to your skin, that's a signal you'd benefit from an actual topical formulation.

Checking for Quality and Staying Safe

Whether you're buying oral CBD oil or topical products, certain quality and safety standards matter. We can't provide medical advice, but we can point you toward factors that indicate a well-made product.

Third-Party Testing Is Non-Negotiable

Every CBD product should come with a Certificate of Analysis (COA) from an independent lab.

This document confirms the product contains the amount of CBD advertised and screens for contaminants like pesticides, heavy metals, and residual solvents.

Companies that hide their COAs or make them difficult to access raise red flags. Quality brands like Mood make testing results easily accessible because transparency builds trust.

Understanding how third-party testing works helps you evaluate any cannabis or CBD product.

Watch for Skin Reactions

CBD itself has a strong safety record, but other ingredients in tinctures or topicals can cause irritation or allergic reactions. Terpenes add beneficial properties but can irritate sensitive skin. Fragrances and essential oils create similar concerns.

If you experience redness, itching, or discomfort after applying CBD topically, discontinue use. This goes double for any oral product you're repurposing for skin application, since the formulation wasn't optimized to be gentle on skin.

Drug Interactions Exist

CBD may interact with medications that carry grapefruit warnings. The cannabinoid affects some of the same liver enzymes that metabolize certain drugs.

If you take prescription medications, talk to your healthcare provider before using CBD orally. Topical application produces minimal bloodstream absorption, so interactions are less likely but not impossible.

FDA Regulation Is Limited

The FDA doesn't approve or regulate most non-prescription CBD products. This means you're relying on manufacturers to self-regulate through practices like third-party testing and quality control.

Look for US-made products from companies that follow good manufacturing practices and maintain transparent operations. Understanding what quality cannabis products look like helps you make informed decisions.

The lack of FDA oversight means you need to do more homework as a consumer.

What Quality Looks Like

Quality CBD products share certain characteristics: accessible COAs, clear ingredient lists, US-sourced hemp, transparent company information, and responsive customer service.

Products designed for sublingual use, like those following proper sublingual guidelines, should clearly state their intended consumption method.

What Topical CBD Products May Help With

Research into topical CBD is ongoing, and we need to be clear about what's established versus what's still being studied. We can't make medical claims or position CBD as addressing specific conditions.

We're not a wellness resource, so consult licensed professionals for medical or health advice.

Current research suggests CBD possesses properties that research associates with supporting comfort in areas experiencing visible redness or dryness. The mechanism appears related to how CBD interacts with cannabinoid receptors present in skin tissue.

Some studies indicate CBD may help balance oil production in skin prone to breakouts, though the research remains preliminary. The proposed mechanism involves CBD's interaction with sebaceous glands.

CBD also demonstrates antioxidant properties in laboratory settings, which suggests it may help defend skin against environmental stressors. However, translating lab findings to real-world skin benefits requires more rigorous human studies.

Early research has examined CBD's potential role in supporting skin comfort associated with various concerns. These investigations remain in early stages, and more research is needed to confirm benefits and establish effective amounts for different applications.

The honest assessment is that while initial research appears promising, the evidence base for specific topical CBD benefits remains limited. The gap between "shows promise in studies" and "proven effective for specific uses" is substantial.

If you're considering topical CBD for a specific skin concern, consult a dermatologist or healthcare provider. They can provide guidance based on your individual situation and current medical evidence.

CBD Basics You Should Know

CBD (cannabidiol) is non-psychoactive, meaning it won't get you high.

THC causes the intoxicating effects associated with cannabis, not CBD. These are distinct cannabinoids with different effects.

Hemp-derived CBD with less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC content currently faces legal challenges.

Mood offers hemp-derived THC, which is 100% legal and fully compliant cannabis.

You may have heard that the legality of hemp-derived THC is currently under attack, which could threaten the wellness of so many.

Read here to learn how to join the fight, and help us keep hemp cannabis accessible to all for a long time to come.

State laws vary regarding CBD and hemp-derived products, and the FDA hasn't approved non-prescription CBD products for specific uses.

Your skin contains cannabinoid receptors as part of the endocannabinoid system, which is why topical CBD can potentially interact with skin tissue without entering your bloodstream.

Finding Quality Products for Your Needs

The CBD market offers countless products, and identifying quality options requires attention to specific factors. US-made products from companies following good manufacturing practices tend to offer better consistency and safety profiles.

Transparent third-party testing with easily accessible COAs should be your baseline requirement. Companies that make lab results difficult to find or skip testing entirely aren't worth your money or trust.

Clear ingredient lists help you identify potential allergens and understand what you're putting on or in your body. Products with long lists of unpronounceable chemicals or vague "proprietary blend" descriptions raise questions about what you're actually getting.

Match the product format to your actual goal.

For body-wide support, oral tinctures used sublingually are the appropriate choice. Products like Mood's 1:1 THC & CBD Tincture are formulated for sublingual use following proper sublingual administration techniques, not for topical application.

For targeted skin application, dedicated topical CBD products with verified testing are specifically formulated for dermal absorption.

These products include the emulsifiers, penetration enhancers, and skin-compatible ingredients that oral tinctures lack.

If you need substantial CBD amounts for body-wide effects, concentrated tinctures designed for that purpose make more sense than trying to repurpose lower-concentration products.

High-potency options exist for those who've determined they benefit from larger amounts.

The product type matters less than whether it's designed for your intended use case and manufactured to quality standards. Understanding different THC product formats helps you make informed decisions.

An excellent oral product won't substitute for a mediocre topical if skin application is what you actually need.

Your Next Step

The core message is straightforward: oral CBD oil can go on skin, but it underperforms compared to products engineered for topical use. If you're determined to try anyway, mix it with a leave-on lotion and patch test first.

Match your product format to your actual goal.

Oral consumption delivers body-wide effects through bloodstream absorption. Topical application provides targeted, localized effects without meaningful bloodstream entry.

You now understand why tinctures aren't optimal for skin application—they lack the formulation engineering that helps CBD penetrate your skin barrier effectively.

Explore more cannabis education on the Mood Blog to make informed decisions about which products serve your specific needs.

If you find yourself regularly applying oral CBD topically, that pattern suggests you'd genuinely benefit from a purpose-designed topical product. Don't force the wrong tool for the job when better options exist.