Ology Essentials: CBD Product Review
When Ology Essentials contacted me and asked if they could send over a few of their newly (and beautifully!) rebranded products, I was slightly hesitant because I wasn’t the most informed on CBD and its role and effectiveness as an ingredient. And I’ll admit it — there’s a bit of a stigma, and I didn’t know if I was the best arbiter of hemp-based products. But as CBD products are trending more and more popular and some of you have even requested that I post about them on here, I ultimately decided to give them a shot and write about my experience in detail so you could get some insight as to whether or not these products might be a fit for you, too.
In short:
believe
the
hype.
Disclaimer: I have tested these products for a few months, and this is my honest and personal experience.
Yours may vary. As always, it’s best to do your own research before adding any health and wellness products to your routine!
I thought this post would be perfect as we’re rounding out the month of intention because something I’ve become incredibly intentional about are the wellness and beauty products that I use and consume. The reason I ultimately decided to test these products out is because they ticked a lot of boxes for me.
Ology Essentials products are:
— organically grown
— female-owned
— research-driven
— third party tested (meaning their products are certified to contain the ingredients in the amount specified on the label!)
— local! (they’re based right here in Nashville)
They don’t produce these products because they’re trendy or hip — they do it because they’re highly passionate about premium ingredients, ethical harvesting practices, and putting the highest quality product out to market that they possibly can. There is a lot of intent behind what they do, and as someone who has represented several cosmetic and beauty brands and has seen what goes on behind the scenes, I can assure you that is unfortunately not always the case. Their products and the people behind them have a lot of integrity, and I really respect that.
People tend to use CBD products for a variety of reasons, but most commonly — to assist in relaxation, to aid in sleep, and to help reduce anxiety, arthritis (even for pets!), or inflammation. Also, I think the most commonly recognized or utilized method of consumption is via tincture, but CBD products come in many other forms including face masks, facial cleansers, soaps, bath bombs, bath salts, massage candles, deodorant, honey, gummies, mints, coffee beans, teas, etc!
If you’re new to CBD products, check out the Ology Essentials FAQ page and blog which are valuable resources with a wealth of information on all things CBD!
As it was my first experience with CBD products, I deferred to their recommendations and expertise.
The first product they suggested was their Muscle Gel because I told them I’m renovating a house and my body was experiencing all of the random aches and pains that one might associate with such an undertaking. You guys. This stuff is fire! And I mean that literally because it’s warming. But in a soothing way! This is an instant gratification product because you can immediately feel it tingling and warming as you apply it. In my opinion, this is the perfect starter product for anyone interested in CBD. I think the word “gel” can be a little off-putting to some because they immediately think of L.A. Looks (and if you don’t get that reference you probably aren’t even old enough to be using CBD products LOL). It honestly feels like a light lotion consistency. It’s in an amber glass bottle and delivers in a pump which isn’t messy at all. It comes with a cap so it travels well. And the product itself isn’t sticky or tacky, so applying and wearing it is pretty easy and convenient. It absorbs quickly and isn’t drying. It also has a nice scent!
I’ve used this product several different ways:
— To help soothe aching muscles after a tough workout or marathon house project
— To stretch out a tight tendon (a fun occurrence in my older age, ha!)
— To ease a sore joint
— To mitigate period cramps
— To help relieve neck pain as I just got into my 9th car wreck last week (my body may need to be duct-taped back together but I’m fine)
I really, really love this product and have requested that it comes in a larger size, but honestly, I feel like I use it all the time, and it’s stretched farther than I anticipated for a 1oz product.
And in the spirit of transparency and managing your expectations —
CBD products aren’t a cure-all. If you have arthritis, eczema, insomnia, or any other affliction, taking or topically applying CBD products won’t necessarily mean you can abandon your prescription medications or all of a sudden waltz through life pain-free. But they can definitely offer relief in a more natural manner. Supplementing with these products has given me peace of mind because I can trust that they’re effective but also non-toxic.
The next product I tested was the Full Spectrum Oil in Cocoa Mint. Okay, you know that crystal candy dish your grandma had on the coffee table that was always full of Andes Mints? Because this tincture tastes like that, and WHOA. So yum. I didn’t know they made CBD in such a flavor — I was so pleased! When you take a tincture, you want to let it sit under your tongue for 30 seconds and then swallow it. I know, I know — it seems a little strange at first, but you’ll get the hang of it!
Initially, I tried taking this at night time because I was worried it would make me tired. But I’m typically a pretty good sleeper and never woke up with a “hangover,” so I began taking it throughout the day during the most stressful time of the year — CHRISTMAS. It took me a little while to figure out what dosage was best for me personally (and what works for me might not work for you, so keep that in mind as you experiment!). I started out with a quarter of a dropper periodically throughout the day, and it kept me calm and collected during a very busy holiday schedule. I never felt more tired than normal, just kind of a little more leveled out emotionally, if that makes sense.
Most recently, I’ve been using it to help me sleep. Normally, I can fall asleep pretty much anywhere. I’ve literally fallen asleep on a table at a restaurant in downtown Atlanta. I’m very fun to hang out with in case you were wondering. But after trying to work through some really difficult and uncomfortable topics with my therapist (that I may or may not get into in further detail in a future post — not entirely sure yet), I was experiencing a lot of stress and nervousness, particularly in the evenings. I could keep myself occupied throughout the day, but at night I had (and am still having) a bit of nervousness because I’ve been experiencing flashbacks through dreams, and I can’t really control how or when they happen. Taking this tincture at night has helped me relax so I can sleep more soundly and restfully when I need it, and I cannot fully put words to how comforting and soothing it is to feel like I have a way to manage that. After a few particularly rough nights of sleep I took a full dropper, and while I slightly resembled a bear coming out of hibernation the following morning, I slept well and was functioning just fine after a little coffee!
As someone who has really prioritized her physical, mental, and emotional health over the past year, supplementing with CBD has proven to be a really natural addition to my wellness routine, and Ology Essentials products are high-performing and sustainably and ethically focused. I would never recommend a product I didn’t believe in (which is why I don’t often do product reviews), and while I’ve only tried a few items, they have a full range of products for various lifestyles and needs. If you’re looking to start or further your journey with CBD, I hope you check them out. And bonus! You can use the code BRATALIE15 for 15% off your order!
