When we started in 2003, "vegan" was still something you explained in a health food shop, not something that belonged on a product label. Two decades later, things are different. But our choice not to use animal ingredients and not to test on animals has stayed exactly the same as it was then.
We're regularly asked what makes Nordal different. The short answer: vegan muscle care, made within the EU, with natural active ingredients. The slightly longer answer, including what we explicitly DON'T do, is below.
A family business since 2003
Nordal Care is a family business specialising in muscle care. We've stayed small, and that's a conscious choice. No anonymous production commissioned by a marketing department, no formulas updated every season to follow shelf prices. Our gels have been refined for more than twenty years, together with athletes who test them in practice.
A formula that worked in 2003 and still works in 2026 is no coincidence. It's the result of consistently sticking to what you believe in: active natural ingredients, in carefully chosen concentrations, without unnecessary additives.
100% vegan and not tested on animals
All our products are 100% vegan. That means: no animal ingredients in any form. No beeswax, no lanolin, no animal fats, no ingredients whose production harms animals.
And, explicitly: we don't test on animals. Not for our formulas and not for individual ingredients. As far as we're concerned, good care doesn't have to come at the expense of animals, full stop.
What EU regulations have banned for cosmetic products throughout the European Union since 2013 (see the official EU page on the animal testing ban in cosmetics) has been a given for us since 2003. We simply got there a bit earlier.
Active natural ingredients
We work with naturally active plant extracts in carefully chosen concentrations. Some of the ingredients you'll find in our formulas:
- Arnica (Recovery Muscle Gel, Arnica Cream): supports circulation, the joints and the skin.
- Horse chestnut (Hot Muscle Gel, Recovery Muscle Gel): stimulates circulation and inhibits inflammation.
- Mint oil and corn mint (Ice, Recovery): provide the instant cooling effect; corn mint also has a pain-relieving effect.
- Camphor (Ice, Recovery): pain-relieving, stimulating, promotes circulation.
- Rosemary (Recovery, Foot): stimulates circulation, a classic in natural care products.
- Red vine leaves (Hot): support the blood vessels and circulation.
- Chamomile, eucalyptus, sage, marshmallow, horsetail (Foot): each with its own role in foot care, from anti-inflammatory to softening.
- Melissa officinalis and valerian (Hot): calming, helps muscles relax.
For the full ingredient explanation per product, see the active ingredients in a Muscle Gel.
An important nuance about "natural"
We deliberately say "active natural ingredients" and not "100% natural product". That's not wordplay, it's honesty. A care product is always a formula: emulsifiers, preservatives and stabilisers make sure a gel doesn't separate, doesn't go mouldy, and doesn't turn nasty after two weeks on a bathroom shelf.
What we can say: our active ingredients are natural plant extracts, and we avoid unnecessary additives wherever possible. No unnecessary parabens, no superfluous preservatives, no fillers that add nothing.
"Organic", by the way, is something else again than "natural": it refers to how the raw materials are grown. We don't make that claim for our whole range.
Made within the EU
All Nordal products are produced within the European Union. That means:
- Production under strict quality standards (EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009).
- Full traceability from raw materials to finished product.
- No ingredient categories that are still allowed in other markets but banned in the EU.
- Short production chains, no transcontinental logistics for one jar of gel.
- Carefully tested and refined together with athletes and end users.
What we explicitly DON'T do
Sometimes it's more valuable to say what you don't do:
- No "100% natural" claim on the whole product. See above: that simply isn't true for a formulated care product, and we don't want to make claims that aren't strictly true.
- No extreme promises. Nobody who knows what they're talking about says "heals injuries within 24 hours". Our gels support and relieve, and that's what we promise.
- No animal testing, anywhere in the chain. Not just for ourselves: we ask the same of our suppliers for our raw materials.
- No packaging that takes up more space than the product itself. Our jars and tubes are small and functional.
- No marketing talk that only speaks to top athletes. You don't have to be a competitive athlete to use a Muscle Gel. In fact, most of our customers aren't.
Transparent about what's inside
Every product carries the full INCI ingredient list. Yes, those names often sound chemical; that's the international standard for cosmetic ingredients, not a sign of anything suspicious. A chemical name doesn't mean "artificial", it just means "precisely named in chemical terms".
What you WON'T see on our labels: secret ingredient blends, meaningless marketing names, or promises that don't follow from the formula.
Our products
Four Muscle Gels and a Body Care range, all built on the same principles:
- Hot Muscle Gel: warming up before exertion.
- Ice Muscle Gel: acute injuries and cooling.
- Recovery Muscle Gel: all-round muscle recovery.
- Foot Muscle Gel: feet and lower legs.
- Arnica Cream: bruises and swelling.
- No Friction Cream: anti-chafing for sensitive areas.
- Anti-Cellulite Balm: firming balm.
- Muscle Contouring Gel: for visible muscle definition.
Or browse the full Muscle Gel collection.
Frequently asked questions about Nordal
What exactly does 100% vegan mean?
100% vegan means our products contain no animal ingredients whatsoever and that we don't test on animals. No beeswax, no lanolin, no animal fats, and no ingredient raw materials for which animals are used.
Do you test on animals?
No. Not for our formulas, not for individual ingredients. We ask the same of our EU suppliers, and EU regulations have confirmed this for all cosmetics in the Union since 2013.
What does "made in EU" mean for product quality?
Production within the EU falls under the EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009, one of the strictest frameworks in the world for cosmetic products. It means full traceability of raw materials, a ban on a long list of risk ingredients, and strict requirements for production processes.
Is "natural" the same as "organic"?
No. "Natural" refers to the origin of an ingredient (from nature, not made synthetically in a lab). "Organic" refers to how the raw materials are grown. Our active ingredients are natural extracts, but we don't claim that our whole range is organic.
How do I know which ingredients are in your products?
The full INCI ingredient list is on the jar of every product. We're transparent about what we use and why.
Finally
Honest muscle care: active ingredients, vegan, made close to home. Whether you train fanatically or just want to keep moving freely, with Nordal you choose care you can rely on, for more than twenty years now.
For more on how to use a Muscle Gel: read what is a Muscle Gel? or Muscle Gel in your daily life.
