Pain Relief in a Tube or Just Another Gimmick?

*I received this free for reviewing purposes. All opinions are 100% my own*

As anybody who either works out on a regular basis or suffers from chronic pain knows, being sore or in pain all the time is exhausting on a scale most people don't understand. There are lots of options out there ranging from creams, gels, patches, and pills to help deal with your everyday aches and pains, and today I'll be reviewing OxyRub, a pain relief cream, to see if it does what it claims to do or if it will be tossed straight into the junk pile. I have tried just about every "pain relief" cream on the market, ranging from Icy Hot to some Chinese mystery stuff that I thought was going to burn my skin off, so I know what to expect from most creams and when one is all fluff and no punch.

First, this is a what I call a gel cream. It isn't a gel but it isn't a cream like a lotion would be. Icy Hot is what I would call a gel cream if you need a comparison. I've noticed that most products with that consistency tend to be on the lower one of the pain relieving scale, with oils and patches being on the upper end of the scale. I don't mind the gel/cream ones, they're a little easier to put on yourself and they absorb without leaving anything behind like a greasy film. The OxyRub absorbs well and doesn't leave any sort of residue, which I definitely appreciate. That also allows you to put on several layers if you need too, which can be a nice bonus.

As far as the actual pain relieving properties, OxyRub relies on menthol to help with muscle and joint pain, which is....not ideal. Menthol in combination with other things can totally help with a knotted up back, but just by itself and in the level present (1.25%) in OxyRub you really aren't going to get anything out of it. I might find use for it next flu season as a non-greasy chest rub, but for what it is intended as it is a total bust. I applied it to my knees, calves, shoulders, and hands during my testing and I did not feel any sort of relief. Not even a little big of tingle. I was super disappointed in it and can't give it my stamp of approval. I'm so bummed this didn't live up to my expectations, but there isn't anything I can do about it. I won't lie and say a product is better than it is, I always stand by my word. So this gets two thumbs down and a toss into the junk pile. If you want to try it for yourself you can order a tube here, and use the code SAVEOXY2 to save 20% off your order.