If you are like me, I have always been curious about these 100% full-spectrum, whole hemp-based products and the effects of CBD in things like face creams and wellness shots. CBD is a naturally occurring substance in hemp, but it is not psychoactive and does not produce any type of “high sensation.”
As a result, I was drawn to the B Great range of products since I was assured they do not have any mind-altering effects, but come with a wide range of positive benefits from their primary ingredient—hemp.
Without getting into too much detail, the “phytocannibinoids” of CBD can help the internal balance of your body’s daily functioning thanks to the naturally occurring nutrients it contains. B Great explains that our bodies can fall out of balance due to the medications we take or recent injury or illness. There’s a lot of science to understand, but for me, I was most interested in trying something new that was safe and not mind-altering.
Wellness Shots
These small bottles come in attractive packaging that is easy to take in a carry-on bag when flying. I tried both the Focus and Relax shots; the former is a small caffeine-like boost that is meant to give you more energy and the ability to stay focused on what you’re doing. Luckily (or unluckily), a bad storm knocked out the power in my office while I had this product on the shelf to try. So instead of making coffee, I tried this one morning. It was really great. Within about 20 minutes, I felt a calming rush of energy (nothing wild, it was similar to what you might get after a cup of coffee) that kept me concentrated on my work.
I admit that I was worried about sleeping that evening after trying it, but there were no problems. Perhaps it would be different if I had tried it in the afternoon rather than the morning.
For those that have some trouble sleeping in general, there is also a Relax shot. I tried this on a completely different day, and while I didn’t notice any tiring feeling after drinking it, I did sleep well that night. I was worried about any lingering effects of drowsiness or headache the next day. Neither of those were an issue.
Each bottle contains a small amount CBD (15mg for the Focus shot and 20mg for the Relax shot), which is not enough to cause any mind-changing effects, but the full benefits of hemp are still realized. They come in TSA-approved bottles that are small enough for you to travel with in your carry-on bag. That was an important point for me; I often travel with melatonin when going overseas, and this provides a small dose of melatonin as well as other ingredients like gingko biloba.
For maximum effect, you can drink the whole bottle or just half of it if you only want a smaller boost.
Face Creams
There are numerous skincare creams that contain this high-quality, U.S.-grown hemp, and its effects on your skin can be really positive. I tried the Hemp Aftershave Cream and the Hemp Antioxidant Cream, which is an anti-aging, hydration cream.
The citrus-scented relief and recovery cream contains 250mg of full-spectrum CBD, but this does not translate into any mind-altering sensation. Its effects are focused instead on calming and relieving the skin, which is especially important after shaving. It contains vitamin E and aloe vera, and in addition to using it as an aftershave, it works well after a day at the beach or a workout.
The antioxidant cream has 100mg of full-spectrum CBD to reduce inflammation and balance out the skin on your face and neck. It is pesticide free and non-GMO, and I liked that it came in a bottle that was ideal for travel because it fits into the TSA-approved category for carry-on liquids and creams.
It contains vitamin C, amino acids, and botanical oils although none leaves behind a greasy residue, which is one of my biggest pet peeves with face creams. After I applied it on my skin, it seemed to soak in and left my face moisturized without being sticky.
The skincare line ranges in price depending on the size of the bottle. For example, a 2oz bottle of the Hemp Antioxidant Cream is $38 while a 4oz bottle of Hemp Lotion costs $49.
The wellness shots come bundled in packs of individual bottles; a dozen small bottles of the Focus Shot, for example, is $55. Or you can buy “day and night” bundles with a mix of both; three bottles costs $12 for two night shots and one day shot. There are numerous package options on the B Great website, and for those looking to try something, I was pleasantly surprised by the health benefits from hemp and small amounts of CBD that I had previously misunderstood.