Our CBD oils are cosmetics made for the skin. Shake the bottle, patch-test a small area first, then apply the drops to clean, dry skin and massage them in. On our classic oils, the label says two to three drops, two to three times a day. Keep the bottle closed, cool and away from light.
Key facts
- How to use
- Apply the drops directly to the skin. Our human oils are notified as cosmetics for use on the skin (CPNP in the EU, SCPN in the UK).
- Classic 10 ml oils
- Two to three drops on the skin, two to three times a day. About 250 drops per bottle; the pipette has a dosing scale.
- 30 ml oils
- Use as directed on the label. Our 30 ml dropper gives 20–30 drops per ml (Formula Swiss measurement).
- Patch test
- Twice a day on a small spot for 7–10 days before wider use, as dermatologists advise for any new skin product.
- Avoid
- Eyes, mucous membranes, and broken or irritated skin.
- Shelf life
- At least 36 months unopened and at least 6 months after opening, in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
This guide follows the directions printed on our own labels. Formulation, bottling, labelling and storage of our oils happen in Küssnacht am Rigi, so the steps below are the ones we write on every bottle, with the reasons behind them.
How do you use CBD oil? Step by step
- Read the label. Check the strength, the carrier oil and the directions. Our labels print the CBD and THC content to two decimal places, with the batch number and the expiry date.
- Prepare the bottle. Remove the protective film around the bottle and shake it well before each use, so the extract is evenly mixed in the carrier oil.
- Patch-test first. Put one drop on a small spot on the inside of your forearm or the bend of your elbow, twice a day for 7–10 days. If there is no redness, itching or swelling, you can use it more widely (see the patch test section below).
- Clean and dry the skin. Apply the oil to clean, dry, intact skin. Keep it away from the eyes, mucous membranes (such as the mouth and nose) and broken or irritated skin.
- Apply the drops directly to the skin. On our classic oils, use two to three drops. For an exact amount, draw the oil up to a mark on the pipette's dosing scale instead of counting drops.
- Massage it in. Spread the drops with your fingertips and massage gently until the oil is absorbed.
- Wash your hands. This stops you from carrying oil to your eyes.
- Close the bottle and put it away. Screw the cap on firmly and store the bottle in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, out of reach of children.
- Repeat and keep notes. Up to three times a day on our classic oils. Keep the same routine for about a week before you change anything, and stop if you notice irritation.
Where on the body can you apply CBD oil?
You can apply it to any area of healthy, intact skin where you would use a body oil, such as the hands, arms, shoulders, neck, back, legs or feet. Choose the area that fits your routine and use the same area each time, so you can see how your skin responds.
Leave out the places the label excludes: the eyes and the skin around them, the lips and the inside of the mouth or nose (mucous membranes), and any cut, graze, rash or irritated patch. If you have a skin condition, ask a doctor or dermatologist before you use a new product on it.
How many drops of CBD oil should you use?
Follow the label. On our classic 10 ml oils, it says to apply two to three drops to the skin, two to three times a day. Our 30 ml oils are used as directed on their label. Start at the low end, with two drops once or twice a day, and increase one step at a time within the label directions.
How much CBD each drop holds depends on the strength of the oil and the size of the drop:
| Oil | Drops per ml | CBD per drop |
|---|---|---|
| Classic 10 ml oils, 3% to 30% | About 25 (about 250 per bottle) | 1.2 mg (3%) to 12 mg (30%) |
| Lugano Clarity, 30 ml | 20–30 | 3.3–5 mg |
| Zermatt Balance, 30 ml | 20–30 | 5–7.5 mg |
| Lucerne Calm, 30 ml | 20–30 | 6.7–10 mg |
| St. Moritz Restore, 30 ml | 20–30 | 8.3–12.5 mg |
A lower strength gives smaller steps between drops, which makes it easier to start small. For every strength and the maths behind it, see our CBD oil dosage guide.
How many drops are in 1 ml of CBD oil?
It depends on the dropper, not the oil. Our classic 10 ml bottles hold about 250 drops, which is about 25 drops per ml. We measured our 30 ml dropper at 20–30 drops per ml, so we give the CBD per drop in those oils as a range.
Many websites assume 20 drops per ml for every brand. Droppers differ, so a drop count from one brand doesn't transfer to another. When you need a precise amount, use the ml marks on the pipette.
How long does CBD oil take to work on the skin?
There is no fixed time. CBD applied to the skin moves into it gradually. In laboratory tests on human skin samples, CBD passed into and through the skin (Stinchcomb et al., 2004), and a 2022 study measured moderate skin permeability for CBD in creams and gels (Kirk et al., 2022). Human studies that time topical CBD are still developing.
That is why we suggest judging a routine by how your skin looks and feels over about a week, rather than minute by minute. Keep the strength, drops and times of day the same during that week, and write them down.
Where the "15 minutes" and "2 hours" figures come from
Most timings you read online come from studies in which CBD was taken by mouth. In those studies, blood levels peaked between 0 and 4 hours after the dose (Millar et al., 2018). They describe swallowing in a research setting, not an oil used on the skin, so they don't apply to our products.
How do you patch-test CBD oil?
The American Academy of Dermatology advises testing any new skin product before wider use (AAD):
- Choose a small spot where the product won't be rubbed or washed off, such as the inside of the forearm or the bend of the elbow.
- Apply the normal amount there (one drop of oil is enough) twice a day for 7–10 days.
- If the skin stays calm, with no redness, itching or swelling, you can use the product as directed.
- If it reacts, wash the oil off gently, stop using it, and see a doctor or dermatologist if the reaction doesn't settle.
In published patch tests on healthy volunteers, several topical CBD formulations caused no irritation or sensitisation (Maghfour et al., 2021). Everyone's skin is different, and a carrier oil or other ingredient can also cause a reaction, so the test is still worth doing.
CBD oil or CBD cream: which should you use?
Both are used on the skin. The choice comes down to texture and how precisely you want to measure.
| CBD oil | CBD balm (CBD Skin) | |
|---|---|---|
| Texture | Liquid oil in a carrier such as MCT, olive or hemp seed oil | Balm with mango and shea butter and plant oils |
| Measuring | Drops or the ml scale on the pipette | A small amount by eye |
| CBD content | By strength: 1.2–12 mg per drop in our classic oils | 300 mg per 30 ml jar |
| Label directions | Two to three drops, two to three times a day (classic oils) | A small amount, up to four times a day |
| THC | Full-spectrum (under 0.2% THC) or THC-free versions | No THC |
An oil suits you if you want to know exactly how much CBD you apply. A balm is easier to spread over a larger area and doesn't run. Whichever you choose, patch-test it first.
How should you store CBD oil?
Keep it in its original bottle with the cap screwed on, in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. A kitchen cupboard or drawer is ideal; a sunny windowsill or a steamy bathroom shelf is not. Our bottles are made of dark amber glass, which helps keep light away from the cannabinoids inside.
Light and air are what matter most. In a two-year storage study, exposure to light was the biggest single cause of cannabinoid loss, air also caused losses, and temperatures up to 20 °C made little difference. Extracts stored in the dark at room temperature stayed reasonably stable for one to two years (Fairbairn et al., 1976).
Source: Formula Swiss product pages. The expiry date is printed on every label.
A fridge isn't needed unless a label asks for it. Use the expiry date on the label, and if an oil looks or smells different from usual, check our storage guidance and contact us before you use it.
What are the most common mistakes?
- Using it in a way the label doesn't describe. Our human oils are made and labelled for the skin. Oral use does not correspond to their intended use.
- Skipping the shake. The extract should be evenly mixed before every use.
- Borrowing another brand's drop count. Droppers differ. Use the figures for your own bottle, or the ml scale.
- Changing several things at once. Change the strength, the number of drops or the times of day one at a time, and give each change about a week.
- Applying it to irritated or broken skin. Wait until the skin has healed, and keep the oil away from the eyes.
- Forgetting other CBD products. If you use an oil and a balm, add up the CBD from both.
- Leaving the bottle open or in the light. Close it straight after use and store it in a dark, cool place.
Who should check with a doctor first?
- If you take medication. See CBD and medication, and include any CBD product when you list what you use for your doctor or pharmacist.
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Our labels say the oils are not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- For children. Keep the bottles out of reach of children, and see Is CBD oil safe for children?
- If you have a skin condition. Ask a doctor or dermatologist before using a new product on affected skin.
- If you are drug-tested at work or in sport. Choose a THC-free oil, and see Will CBD show up on a drug test?
For possible reactions, see CBD side effects.
How do you know your oil is what the label says?
Every production batch is tested, and we publish the certificates of analysis. Find the batch number on your label and compare it with the certificates on our test results page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take CBD oil under the tongue?
Our human CBD oils are cosmetics notified for use on the skin, and oral ingestion does not correspond to their intended use, so we can't recommend it. Many research studies gave CBD by mouth, but those were other products in research settings. Apply our oils to the skin as the label directs.
How many drops of CBD oil should I use?
Follow your label. On our classic 10 ml oils, it says two to three drops on the skin, two to three times a day. Our 30 ml oils are used as directed on their label. Start at the low end and change one thing at a time.
Where should I apply CBD oil?
On clean, dry, intact skin, for example the hands, arms, shoulders, neck, back, legs or feet. Avoid the eyes, the lips and the inside of the mouth or nose, and broken or irritated skin.
How long does CBD oil take to work on the skin?
There is no fixed time. Laboratory studies show that CBD passes into the skin gradually, and human studies of topical CBD are still developing. Judge a routine over about a week. Timings such as "within 2 hours" come from studies in which CBD was taken by mouth.
Do I need to shake CBD oil?
Yes. Our labels say to shake the bottle well before use, so the extract is evenly mixed in the carrier oil.
Should I keep CBD oil in the fridge?
Not unless the label asks for it. Store the closed bottle in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Light and air affect cannabinoids more than normal room temperature does.
How long does CBD oil last once opened?
Our oils have a shelf life of at least 36 months unopened and at least 6 months after opening. The expiry date is printed on the label.
Can I use the same steps for my dog or cat?
Our Pet Routine oils are also for external use: the drops go on the animal's skin. Follow the pet label, and see our guides to CBD for dogs and CBD for cats. Don't use human oils on pets.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Our products are cosmetics, not medicines, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Talk to your doctor if you take medication or have a health condition.
Last reviewed:
Sources
- American Academy of Dermatology. How to test skin care products.
- Maghfour J, et al. Tolerability profile of topical cannabidiol and palmitoylethanolamide: a compilation of single-centre randomized evaluator-blinded clinical and in vitro studies in normal skin. Clin Exp Dermatol 2021;46(8):1518–1529. doi:10.1111/ced.14749
- Stinchcomb AL, et al. Human skin permeation of Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol and cannabinol. J Pharm Pharmacol 2004;56(3):291–297. doi:10.1211/0022357022791
- Kirk RD, et al. Evaluations of skin permeability of cannabidiol and its topical formulations by skin membrane-based parallel artificial membrane permeability assay and Franz cell diffusion assay. Med Cannabis Cannabinoids 2022;5(1):129–137. doi:10.1159/000526769
- Millar SA, et al. A systematic review on the pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol in humans. Front Pharmacol 2018;9:1365. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.01365
- Fairbairn JW, Liebmann JA, Rowan MG. The stability of cannabis and its preparations on storage. J Pharm Pharmacol 1976;28(1):1–7. doi:10.1111/j.2042-7158.1976.tb04014.x
- European Commission. Cosmetic product notification portal (CPNP), under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Article 13.
- UK Government. Making cosmetic products available to consumers in Great Britain (Submit cosmetic product notifications service).
- Formula Swiss. Product pages (directions for use, drops per bottle, storage and shelf life), CBD oil dosage guide and test results. Checked 26 September 2026.
