Note: Since creating this Review post, we can no longer recommend Prima and will be changing out the links below to a different CBD brand below.
CBD products have been making the rounds in wellness circles. There’s a lot of hype around the issue, but there’s also evidence to support many of the benefits. I tried Prima Hemp Products and now I’m sharing my honest thoughts about how they affected me.
But first, if you’re not familiar with hemp CBD products, let’s go over why they’ve been getting so much buzz lately.
What Are CBD Hemp Products?
CBD wellness products are becoming increasingly popular, particularly as more research is done to explore benefits and understand how it works in the body.
As most of us probably understand by now, CBD, which is short for cannabidiol, is not the same as marijuana.
CBD can come from the marijuana plant, but it can also come from hemp. Hemp is a plant in the cannabis family that is related to marijuana but contains less THC (the component of marijuana that leads to being “high”).
Unlike marijuana, CBD is used for medicinal or therapeutic purposes, not recreationally. According to a cross-sectional study from 2018, the main reasons that CBD users rely on it are for relief from pain, depression, anxiety, and/or sleep problems.
Health Benefits of CBD Hemp Products
Many studies and trials looking at CBD benefits have been done in animals, which can give some insights into potential benefits but are not definitive. Humans are dramatically different from mice or rats, so results can only translate conceptually.
There are currently more than 300 CBD clinical trials taking place. In the next few years, there will be an influx of research that can look specifically at how CBD interacts with human health conditions and we’ll know a lot more. What we know already, though, is promising.
When it comes to benefits, here’s what we know from both human and high-quality animal model research:
- CBD can be effective at reducing seizures in humans in certain types of epilepsy and is well-tolerated with little to no side effects.
- It has an anti-anxiety and anti-depressive effect in animal studies by decreasing the overstimulation of neuroreceptors in the brain.
- When it comes to sleep, the benefits of CBD may primarily be in people who struggle to rest well because of anxiety. It does not, in and of itself, lead to drowsiness and would not be considered a sleep aid. (Try these sleep tips instead.)
- CBD has been studied for potential anti-cancer benefits due to its ability to promote apoptosis, or the normal process in the body of cleaning up damaged cells. When this safeguard is in place, problematic cells that have the potential to cause cancer may be eliminated before they replicate.
- For osteoarthritis, rat studies find that it can alleviate the pain associated with the condition but may also prevent it from developing by controlling the inflammatory processes that trigger it in the first place.
So, as you can see, CBD has a lot of potential for helping people to calm down. Whether it’s related to brain conditions or pain-related disorders, these can place an increased burden of stress on the brain.
Science-Driven Hemp-Based CBD Products… That Really Work!
With all of those great benefits, I knew that I wanted to bring more of that support into my life. Because brand standards and quality among products can differ, it’s important to choose the right ones. I like Prima because it is a science-led, purpose-driven holistic wellness brand. They have strong values and that’s important when I choose products for myself or my family.
Prima CBD is derived from hemp and they are a Certified B Corp wellness brand based in Santa Monica, California. Their products all serve the mission of rising up against the modern-day stress epidemic. Prima believes, as I do, that balance in life is a critical part of health, healing, and happiness.
Prima was founded by experts in the clean beauty industry—including the co-founder of The Honest Company. They are 100% clean and were the first CBD brand to be EWG verified. Their hemp is sourced from family farms in Oregon.
So what Prima products did I try? Here’s the rundown…
My Prima Review: CBD Wellness Products
Prima makes body and skin care products, as well as supplements that are designed to be effectively absorbed by the body. You only get results from products if your body can actually put them to use, so absorption really does matter.
Therapeutic Body and Skin Care
Life can be overwhelming, even when things are going well! It can also be challenging to find your calm when you’re dealing with some not-so-great things.
I’m all about finding ways to naturally address the stress that can happen in life—homeschooling, parenting, the pandemic, working from home, managing chronic illness, taking care of aging parents, and so much more. CBD products can help take the burden off in many ways.
R+R Cream
I put my body through a lot with intense workouts. Even though it’s amazing that I’m healthy enough to do that now after such a long battle with Hashimoto’s, the effects of such an active lifestyle can still get to me sometimes.
This R+R Cream felt like my body was just taking a deep, restorative breath.
This extra-strength CBD recovery and relief cream is exactly what you need after a tough workout or an extra-long, physically active day. It also provides soothing comfort for chronic pain, too, or just to massage away the tension of a stressful day.
It provides 750 mg of broad-spectrum hemp CBD along with other botanicals that ease pain away: menthol, peppermint, tea tree, lavender, and eucalyptus. Not only does it have that spa-day smell that is both invigorating and relaxing, but the marula oil and shea butter are like magic for the skin. It provides intense hydration without greasing the skin.
If your skin is sensitive, you won’t have to worry, because it’s free from synthetic fragrance, phthalates, mineral oil, silicones, and other chemicals of concern. It is cruelty-free, vegan, and Leaping Bunny certified. It’s also made in California.
Bath Gem
Baths are a great way to relax muscles or to soothe stress, and this Epsom salt and CBD-infused bath bomb is like a day at the spa from the comfort of your own home. At just $16, it feels like an indulgence I can justify far more often than an actual spa day!
These Bath Gems are made with aromatherapy in mind, using lavender, eucalyptus, and camphor. They’re designed to soothe the body and mind while easing muscle tension away and providing a nourishing soak to soothe and soften the skin. Prima says this is one of their best-sellers and that it’s often hard to keep in stock, and I can see why!
Skin Therapy
It doesn’t seem to matter how hydrated I stay, my skin always ends up dry and rough during the winter months. Who wouldn’t love a little extra skin therapy that goes a little deeper, helping soothe muscles and mood, too?
Skin Therapy is a luxurious body butter made with 5 organic oils and butters, infused with 275 mg of hemp CBD. It’s made to draw moisture into the skin and absorb fast, which is perfect for those tough-to-soften spots like heels, knees, elbows, and hands. It uses bright and fresh aromatherapy oils like citrus, geranium, ylang ylang, and clove. It’s the perfect follow-up to the Bath Gem.
I liked that this product used shea butter and cocoa butter together, along with hemp seed oil and jojoba, because the result wasn’t something that was too thick or too greasy. It all worked well together to provide what felt like actual therapeutic relief for my skin.
Hemp-Based Supplements
With as much as I love Prima’s body care, I was excited to try some of their hemp CBD supplements.
The Daily
Life can be overwhelming and stressful, and sometimes it’s easy to handle, but other times you just need a little pick-me-up. The Daily is a softgel designed to be an everyday stress remedy, supporting the body and mind. It contains 25 mg of hemp CBD per softgel.
The Daily was doctor-formulated to help activate and align the body’s natural rhythms that regulate stress, sleep, recovery, mood, and immunity. When we’re functioning synergistically, we can be at our best. But if even one of those areas is overtaxed, it can be hard to feel the best.
I love that this softgel is designed for optimal absorption and pairs the CBD with curcumin, black pepper, and clove bud. It is a take-as-needed support supplement, which can be really beneficial if you’re just having a rough day or need to feel like someone’s in your corner.
Sleep Tight
Who among us doesn’t want more consistent, reliable, excellent sleep? Melatonin doesn’t always work for everyone, but the good news is that it’s not the only help there is. Sleep Tight is doctor-formulated using research-backed amino acid compounds like 5-HTP and GABA, which help to provide soothing balance to neurotransmitters that are involved in the wake-sleep cycle.
Sleep Tight also contains calming passionflower, which is a non-habit-forming natural herbal sleep aid. Sleep Tight is designed to help promote restful sleep without leaving you feel drugged the next morning (which is a common downside with over-the-counter sleep aids).
Along with hemp CBD and passionflower, Sleep Tight also contains California Poppy and lavender. I also love this because you can take it as needed. It doesn’t depend on taking it regularly to work, although it’s safe to take every day if you want to.
Brain Fuel
I generally feel pretty good about my brain function, even in spite of having to expend a lot of mental energy to stay on top of parenting, homeschooling, my health, and so much more. But who doesn’t want to sometimes get that extra boost of really feeling like they have optimized focus and mood?
Brain Fuel comes in single-serving stick packs that can be added to any kind of drink, warm or cold, to be used whenever you need that sharpened focus. It contains 15 mg of hemp CBD and other botanical extracts that help to support energy and focus. Ashwagandha, Rhodiola, Lion’s Mane, and Gingko are well-known for their abilities to support calm and focused minds, but they’re also excellent a broader spectrum of addressing stress and even anxiety.
Brain Fuel is designed to support better clarity, cognition, and concentration—perfect whether you’re working on a big project, helping your kids with a school project, writing a blog post, or reading a really great book.
What does Brain Fuel taste like? It’s a warm, earthly flavor that has a slight taste of cacao. It could easily be added to coffee for a CBD latte or paired with some cold almond or flax milk.
Final Note
Since the original posting of this review, it appears that Prima has closed their doors. While we loved their products when they were a reputable brand, we can no longer recommend them. If you are searching for an oral CBD brand, check out Ojai Energetics and our podcast with them here.
Have you tried CBD products before? What has been your experience with them?
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