Evaluating CBD Products
Full Spectrum CBD vs. CBD Isolate
Full spectrum CBD contains CBD as well as other molecules of the cannabis plant, like terpenes and less recognized cannabinoids such as CBC, CBN, CBC, etc. Consuming full spectrum CBD allows for the terpenes and cannabinoids to work together synergistically, creating what is known as the entourage effect. Full spectrum CBD contains 0.3% or less THC.
CBD isolate is usually labeled as being 99% or more pure CBD. CBD isolate, as the name would suggest, has been isolated to just the CBD molecule with no other active components. The isolate itself will look like a white powder and can be used in various ways. It can be mixed with a carrier oil and placed in capsules or made into a tincture, added into topical salves, or even added to consumable products like beverages or candy.
Color Up has products available containing either CBD isolate or full spectrum CBD, so you can choose which one best suits your needs. Color Up Pure products are available for those who want CBD isolate and Full Spectrum products for those who are looking for additional cannabinoids.
How Is The CBD Extracted?
The way CBD is extracted does matter when discussing the quality of the product. There are a few ways CBD can be extracted from the plant.
Solvent Extraction
This type of extraction method uses a solvent such as ethanol, propane, or butane to extract the CBD from the plant. This is one of the cheapest ways to do it; however, it is not always the safest. Using these highly flammable liquids can spell disaster if not done correctly. This process is also dangerous for consumption due to the solvent residue that can be left in the final product. Some studies have found that when tested, many of the cheaper CBD products on the market contain unsafe amounts of solvents.
CO2 Extraction
CO2 extraction uses CO2 as the solvent which is safer because it is easier to remove from the extract. At Color Up, all of our phytocannabinoids are pulled through CO2 extraction, which is the most advanced, healthiest, and cleanest means of extracting cannabinoids. It is a process that uses pressurized carbon dioxide to pull the desired chemicals from a plant and acts like a solvent, without any danger of harmful contamination. Many CBD companies do not use this method because it requires a large investment in equipment upfront to be able to produce the highest-quality, safest, and cleanest CBD extract.
This process is a solvent-free way to obtain a pharmaceutical grade CBD product free of THC. The primary goal of fractional distillation is to separate the chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant so that THC can be removed, leaving CBD that does not produce a “high” effect. Color Up uses this process for our Pure CBD products.
Does Your CBD Product Have a COA?
At Color Up, we not only send our products out to a 3rd party to be tested, but we take it one step further and send samples of each batch to be tested ourselves (4th party) to verify against the 3rd party tests. Guaranteeing a highly concentrated, pure, and pesticide-free product is at the foundation of our company. Click here to see our product COAs.