Sore muscle cream after workout: the short answer
After a workout the main choice among rub-on options is menthol strength: Tiger Balm Muscle Rub lists 5%, Biofreeze gel 4%, LactiGo's Menthol gel 1.25% and LactiGo's Original gel none. Of these four, only Tiger Balm's Muscle Rub is sold as a cream; the other three are gels.
LactiGo's two gels are each $55.00 for a 100 ml bottle, one-time, as read on 4 October 2026.
| Product | Menthol its label lists | How often or when its maker says to apply | Price as read |
|---|---|---|---|
| LactiGo Original gel | None | Up to three times daily; after the post-activity shower (FAQ) | $55.00 for 100 ml, one-time |
| LactiGo Menthol gel | 1.25% on the product page | After exercise; not more than 3 to 4 times daily | $55.00 for 100 ml, one-time |
| Biofreeze gel | 4% | A thin film, not more than 3 to 4 times daily | Sold through retailers at varying prices |
| Tiger Balm Muscle Rub | 5%, with camphor 3% and methyl salicylate 15% | Before, during and after workouts; 3 to 4 times daily | Sold through retailers at varying prices |
We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
Shop LactiGo: first-bottle guarantee →Menthol strength from none to 5%
LactiGo's Original gel lists no menthol, and its Menthol gel lists 1.25% on the product page and on the September 2024 label that DailyMed, the US drug-label listing, holds for the 100 ml and 946 ml bottles. A March 2026 label for a 946 ml pump bottle lists 1.5%, so the strength on your package is the one that counts.
LactiGo's FAQ describes its gel as containing menthol, but the Original gel lists none, so check which gel you are buying. Biofreeze's gel lists menthol 4% and carries a flammable marking. Tiger Balm's Muscle Rub adds camphor and methyl salicylate, and warns against bandaging tightly or using a heating pad.
How often or when each maker says to apply
LactiGo's Menthol gel label and Biofreeze both say not more than 3 to 4 times daily; LactiGo's label gives that for adults and children 2 and older. LactiGo's Original gel page says up to three times daily. Tiger Balm says Muscle Rub is designed for use before, during and after workouts and repeats the application 3 to 4 times daily.
LactiGo vs Biofreeze compares those two gels directly.
What LactiGo says about use after exercise
LactiGo's Menthol gel page says to apply after exercise as part of a cooldown, and its FAQ recommends applying after the post-activity shower. The same page also says the gel will "reduce your recovery times and muscle soreness". That is LactiGo's claim, and the page carries the notice "These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration."
LactiGo cites no study of soreness after a workout for its gel. The menthol paper on its studies page compared menthol with ice during delayed onset muscle soreness, and the 2025 study of the gel, supported by Hong Kong Baptist University, measured sprint power in seven rugby players, not lifting. See how to use LactiGo for the directions.
LactiGo, Biofreeze or Tiger Balm: price and who should pick which
LactiGo is $55.00 for a 100 ml bottle of either gel, one-time; a Subscribe & Save option marked 9% off shows on the Menthol 100 ml page. Biofreeze and Tiger Balm show no price on their own sites and are sold through retailers at varying prices.
Pick Biofreeze or Tiger Balm Muscle Rub for a higher menthol strength from a retailer, LactiGo's Menthol gel for 1.25% and its Original gel for none. A first LactiGo bottle is sold under the 30-day money-back guarantee its store pages show; its refund page allows first-time customers who order one bottle up to two months to claim a refund. The best muscle recovery gel page sets these against PR Lotion and Icy Hot.
We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
Shop LactiGo gels →Sources used for this page
The facts above come from the pages below, read on 4 October 2026. We have not used these products hands-on. Prices and terms change, so confirm them on the vendor's site before you buy.
- Shop All | LactiGo store (rendered prices) — Vendor pricing page · shop.lactigo.com · read 4 October 2026
- Lactigo Topical Sports Hydration Gel (Regular) [100ml] — Vendor product page · shop.lactigo.com · read 4 October 2026
- Lactigo Performance and Recovery Gel with Menthol [100ml] — Vendor product page · shop.lactigo.com · read 4 October 2026
- FAQs | LactiGo store — Vendor documentation · shop.lactigo.com · read 4 October 2026
- Refund policy | LactiGo store — Vendor legal page · shop.lactigo.com · read 4 October 2026
- The studies | LactiGo store — Vendor documentation · shop.lactigo.com · read 4 October 2026
- Topical carnosine gel in world-class rugby sevens players (Beaven et al., 2025) — Independent · pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · read 4 October 2026
- DailyMed: LactiGo menthol gel label, September 2024 — Independent · dailymed.nlm.nih.gov · read 4 October 2026
- DailyMed: LactiGo menthol gel label, March 2026 — Independent · dailymed.nlm.nih.gov · read 4 October 2026
- Biofreeze Pain Relief Gel, pump — Vendor product page · biofreeze.com · read 4 October 2026
- Tiger Balm Muscle Rub (US) — Vendor product page · tigerbalm.com · read 4 October 2026