A Muscle Gel is ultimately a formula, and that formula is made up of specific active ingredients that each have their own role. In this article we go through them ingredient by ingredient: what it is, where it features in our range, and what it does. No marketing talk, no mysterious "special extracts", just the plant extracts that have earned their place.
We've been refining our formulas since 2003. Over that time, some ingredients have stayed because they work, and others have been dropped because they didn't. What's in them now is the result of twenty years of refinement, not of a marketing meeting last quarter.
How do active ingredients work through the skin?
Topical ingredients work through absorption by the skin. The skin isn't an impenetrable layer (if it were, a Muscle Gel would be useless), but it is a selective barrier. Small molecules with the right properties are absorbed and have their effect locally. Cooling, warming or recovery ingredients work this way, provided they're formulated in the right concentration.
The rest of this article goes through each ingredient: what it does and which product it's in.
Arnica
Arnica (Arnica montana) is a plant extract with a long history in muscle and joint care. It has been used for centuries for stiffness, tired muscles and that heavy feeling after exercise.
In our range, arnica features in the Recovery Muscle Gel and the Arnica Cream. What arnica does in our formulas: it stimulates circulation and supports the joint and the skin.
Camphor
Camphor is an organic compound found naturally in the camphor tree, with a characteristic fresh, light tingle when applied to the skin.
In our range, camphor features in the Ice Muscle Gel and the Recovery Muscle Gel. What it does: pain-relieving, stimulating, promotes circulation. That typical "this gel is doing something" sensation you feel as you massage it in is largely camphor at work.
Horse chestnut
Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) is a traditional ingredient in products for circulation. The fruit and seeds have been used for centuries in care products for legs and muscles.
In our range, horse chestnut features in the Hot Muscle Gel and the Recovery Muscle Gel. What it does: stimulates circulation and helps inhibit inflammation. In the Hot, horse chestnut works together with red vine leaves for the circulation boost; in the Recovery, it works together with arnica and rosemary.
Mint oil and corn mint
Two related ingredients from the mint family, both responsible for the instant cooling sensation you'll recognise from cooling products.
In our range, mint oil and corn mint feature in the Ice Muscle Gel, and mint oil also in the Recovery Muscle Gel. What they do: mint oil provides the cooling effect, and corn mint also has a pain-relieving effect. In the Ice they work together for maximum cooling; in the Recovery, mint oil balances the warming sensation of camphor.
Rosemary
Rosemary is a classic in natural care products, with a long tradition in Mediterranean medicine for supporting circulation.
In our range, rosemary features in the Recovery Muscle Gel and the Foot Muscle Gel. What it does: stimulates circulation. In the Foot Muscle Gel, rosemary works together with other foot-specific ingredients such as chamomile and eucalyptus.
Red vine leaves
Red vine leaves are a lesser-known ingredient outside cosmetics circles, but they have a firm place in products aimed at circulation.
In our range, red vine leaves feature specifically in the Hot Muscle Gel. What they do: support the blood vessels and stimulate circulation. Combined with horse chestnut, this creates the circulation boost that gives the Hot its name.
Melissa officinalis and valerian
Two plant-based ingredients with a traditionally calming effect, used in formulas where muscle relaxation is the focus.
Both are in our Hot Muscle Gel. What they do: melissa officinalis is calming, valerian helps muscles relax. This combination is what sets the Hot Muscle Gel apart from purely warming products: there's a relaxing layer beneath the circulation boost.
The plant blend in the Foot Muscle Gel
The Foot Muscle Gel has its own ingredient profile, tailored to feet and lower legs:
- Chamomile: disinfects and inhibits inflammation
- Eucalyptus: antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties
- Sage: antioxidant effect
- Marshmallow: soothing for the skin
- Horsetail: pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory and styptic
- Rosemary: stimulates circulation (as discussed above)
This combination is formulated specifically for the demands placed on feet: an area that takes a load every day and regularly spends time in moisture and warmth.
What's NOT in it?
A few commonly mentioned ingredients you'll come across in other Muscle Gels, but not at Nordal:
- MSM (methylsulfonylmethane). Added by some brands, but not in our formulas. Our focus is on plant extracts with a proven place in our range.
- Capsaicin. Used for an intense warming effect, but too irritating for the everyday situations we design our formulas for.
- Unnecessary preservatives or fillers that contribute nothing to how the product works.
Why the combinations work
No single ingredient is a miracle cure on its own. The strength lies in the combination:
- Hot: circulation (horse chestnut, red vine leaves) plus muscle relaxation (melissa, valerian)
- Ice: instant cooling (mint oil, corn mint) plus pain relief and circulation (camphor)
- Recovery: recovery (arnica) plus circulation (horse chestnut, rosemary, camphor) plus cooling (mint oil)
- Foot: inhibiting inflammation (chamomile, horsetail) plus antibacterial (eucalyptus) plus soothing (marshmallow) plus circulation (rosemary) plus antioxidant (sage)
It's the right plant extracts in the right concentrations, not one main ingredient with a list of fillers around it.
Frequently asked questions
Are all Nordal ingredients natural?
The active ingredients are natural plant extracts. A Muscle Gel is always a complete formula, so it also contains emulsifiers, preservatives and stabilisers to make the product usable and give it a proper shelf life. That's why we don't claim the whole product is "100% natural".
Why isn't MSM in your formulas?
We choose to work with plant extracts that have earned their place in the Nordal range since 2003. MSM may work perfectly well elsewhere, it just doesn't fit our specific formulas.
How do I know exactly what's in a Nordal product?
The full INCI ingredient list is on the jar of every product. We're transparent about what we use.
What's the difference between "natural" and "organic"?
Natural refers to the origin (from nature, not synthetically made). Organic refers to how the raw materials are grown. Our active ingredients are natural, but we don't claim our entire range is organic.
Which ingredients provide the cooling, and which the warmth?
Cooling: mint oil, corn mint, camphor. Warmth and circulation: horse chestnut, red vine leaves. Both types of ingredient can be in the same formula (as in Recovery), where cooling and circulation work together.
Finally
A Muscle Gel is no mystery. It's a combination of plant extracts in carefully chosen concentrations, each with a role you can read up on the label. Our entire range is 100% vegan, we don't test on animals, and all products are made in the EU.
Browse the full Muscle Gel collection, or read on: what is a Muscle Gel?, Hot, Ice or Recovery: which do you choose when?, or the story behind vegan and Made in EU.
