CBD Care is Now Officially Proudly South African
A Milestone After Seven Years of Local Product Development
Sedgefield-based CBD Care has become a Proudly South African member, marking an important milestone for a wellness brand that has spent seven years developing locally made CBD products with South African ingredients.
Founded by Megan Steyn in 2019, CBD Care began as a small store in Sedgefield at a time when many South Africans were still finding their feet with CBD.
Customers had questions.
- What is CBD?
- Will it make you high?
- How does it interact with the body?
- And, perhaps most importantly, how do you know whether a product has been responsibly made?
Those conversations helped shape the business that followed.
Today, CBD Care develops a range of CBD oils, balms, roller remedies, bath products and pet products, with an emphasis on natural ingredients, local sourcing and product testing.
Becoming a Proudly South African member now gives that journey a fairly fitting stamp of approval.
Building a South African CBD Brand From the Ground Up
For Steyn, local production was not something to bolt onto the brand later.
It was part of the plan from the beginning.
One of the biggest challenges in developing the CBD Care balm range was finding a full-spectrum CBD ingredient she was genuinely comfortable using.
It also mattered to her that it was not imported.
“I want to support our own farmers, our local economy and build something that is proudly South African from the ground up,” says Steyn.
That philosophy extends beyond the CBD itself.
Steyn made a conscious decision to formulate using natural ingredients rather than petroleum-based ingredients, synthetic fillers or isolated chemistry.
Her background in therapeutic aromatherapy, naturopathy, Ayurveda, traditional healing and medical cannabis has also influenced the way CBD Care approaches product development.
“I didn’t want to create products filled with petroleum-based ingredients, unnecessary fillers or harsh synthetics,” she says. “I wanted products that reflected the way I believe wellness should be approached: naturally, responsibly and with respect for both traditional knowledge and modern science.”
Seven Years Behind the Balm Range
CBD Care describes the development of its balm range as a seven-year labour of love.
The current range includes the Essential Balm, Sensitive Balm, Relief Balm and Afra Balm.
Each has been developed with a different purpose in mind, but all form part of the same wider approach to locally made plant-based wellness.
The Afra Balm is perhaps the clearest expression of that South African identity.
It combines CBD with Artemisia afra, an indigenous Southern African plant with a long history of traditional use.
For CBD Care, the product also represents its interest in bringing Indigenous Knowledge Systems into contemporary product development while supporting that process with documentation, testing and more structured manufacturing systems.
Local Does Not Mean Cutting Corners
The Proudly South African milestone also comes after years of work behind the scenes.
CBD Care says its four core balms have completed independent three-year stability testing.
They have also undergone microbial testing, packaging compatibility testing and chemical analysis intended to verify that the ingredients and contents match what is stated on the label.
The company has continued to develop its quality management, manufacturing and traceability systems as the range has grown.
Some of this work has received support through organisations and programmes including the Technology Innovation Agency, ABioSA, SEDFA and GIZ.
“People often only see the finished jar on the shelf,” says Steyn. “They don’t see the years of testing, paperwork, regulatory learning, formulation changes and financial sacrifices behind it.”
For a small South African business, those processes matter.
They also help explain why the Proudly South African membership means more than simply adding another logo to the packaging.
When Customers Become Part of the Story
Over the years, CBD Care has also collected feedback from customers who have incorporated its products into their own wellness routines.
In May 2025, customer Sharlene shared her experience with the Essential Balm:
“The Essential Balm is unbelievably amazing. Burn was healing so slowly and after using the balm it totally healed in 1 week! I highly highly recommend it.”
*Please Note: This is an individual customer testimonial and should not be interpreted as medical evidence that CBD Care Essential Balm can treat or heal burns or any other medical condition.
However, it reflects the kind of customer relationship that has been part of CBD Care’s development since those early days in Sedgefield.
Keeping More of the Value Chain in South Africa
For Steyn, the bigger opportunity lies beyond a single range of products.
Locally grown CBD means supporting South African cultivation.
Local formulation and manufacturing create further opportunities.
Laboratory testing, packaging, retail and distribution add more links to that chain.
Put together, it is a model that keeps more of the product journey inside South Africa.
CBD Care believes the country already has many of the ingredients needed to build a strong cannabis and botanical wellness sector, from Indigenous Knowledge Systems and local plant resources to researchers, farmers and manufacturers.
Steyn has also participated in broader industry discussions around cannabis wellness, complementary medicines, Indigenous Knowledge Systems and international standards, including involvement with ASTM International’s D37 Committee on Cannabis.
Her position is that responsible local businesses should have a realistic pathway to participate in the sector while still meeting meaningful standards around quality and consumer protection.
The Next Chapter for CBD Care
With Proudly South African membership now added to the story, CBD Care is looking to expand its retail and distribution network.
The company is inviting health shops, pharmacies, wellness practitioners, dispensaries, cannabis clubs and independent retailers to stock the range.
If you’re interested in becoming a CBD Care stockist, the starter pack includes a complimentary countertop display stand for participating retailers.
CBD Care is additionally strengthening its online presence and exploring future export opportunities.
Despite those wider ambitions, its roots remain firmly in Sedgefield.
What began as a small store and a steady stream of customer questions has grown into a South African wellness brand with locally sourced CBD, tested products and an increasingly formal manufacturing approach.
“CBD Care has grown one customer, one conversation and one carefully made product at a time,” says Steyn. “We are still growing, still learning and still believing in the incredible potential of South African plant-based wellness.”
Seven years into that journey, becoming Proudly South African feels less like a new direction and more like the official recognition of where CBD Care has been heading all along.
CBD Care products are available from the CBD Care store in Sedgefield and online at www.cbdcare.co.za.