Hot or cold shower after training? Where menthol fits
Some people finish every session with a cold shower. Some people want it as hot as the building allows. The internet has a lot to say about both. We don't need to pick a side.
State of Recovery (S.O.R) is a 3-step skincare routine for people who train: gel and scrub in the shower, moisturiser after. It works the same whatever the water temperature. Here's where the menthol fits.
Hot or cold: whichever you'll actually do after every session.
The 3 steps don't change. Menthol in the formula gives a cool feel on the skin either way. It doesn't change the water.
What people like about each.
Cold: people say it wakes them up and gets them out of the shower fast. Some use it as a way to finish the session on purpose. Others can't face it in a Melbourne winter.
Hot: people say it feels like the end of the day. Easier to stay in long enough to do all 3 steps. Easier in winter.
Contrast: some people go hot then cold, or the other way round. It's a habit, not a rule.
We keep it at that. We're a cosmetic brand, so we don't make claims about what water temperature does inside your body, and we don't make them about S.O.R either.
Where menthol fits.
Menthol is in the routine for one reason you'll notice: the cooling. It's a cool feel on the skin from the first lather of the gel, whatever the water is doing. Hot shower, you still feel it. Cold shower, it fits right in. Then the moisturiser goes on after you towel off, whatever temperature you finished on.
Same 3 steps. Any water.
Muscle Shower Body Gel
Every shower. Clear gel, white foam. The cooling starts on the first lather.
Muscle Shower Body Scrub
2-3 times a week. The exfoliating step, with arnica in the formula. Rinse in hot or cold.
Muscle Body Moisturiser
After the shower. Towel off, work it in, get dressed.
$110 bought separately. Ships free in Australia.
Three ways people use it.
Gel and scrub under warm water, 30 seconds cold to finish, moisturiser after.
Full 3 steps under hot water. Moisturiser on before the cold air hits.
The shower afterwards is the one that counts. Gel in, rinse, moisturiser on.
In a third party consumer test with 33 participants:
*33-person consumer study.
Start with one product.
Start with the Muscle Body Moisturiser ($40), after any shower, hot or cold. All 3 steps are The Recovery Stack, $100 for the set. Thinking about a bath instead? Read the 3-step routine vs a bath.
FAQ
Hot or cold: which one should I use?
The one you'll stick to. We don't pick a side. The 3 steps work the same in either.
Is the menthol too cold in winter?
Menthol gives a cool feel on the skin, not a change in water temperature. Run the water as warm as you like.
What does the menthol do?
It gives a cool feel on the skin once it's on. We don't make any claim beyond that.
Is it OK for sensitive skin?
S.O.R is a cosmetic product. If your skin is sensitive, try a small area first and check the ingredients on the product page. If you have a skin condition, ask your doctor or pharmacist first.
Can I use it after an ice bath or sauna?
Yes, in the shower you take afterwards. Gel and scrub in the shower, moisturiser once you've towelled off.
Recovery, built in.
Start with the MoisturiserShop The Recovery StackAlso read: Magnesium shower routine vs a bath · Leg day recovery routine · Running recovery routine · Pilates recovery routine · Do guys need a body moisturiser? · Gifts for someone who trains · The training-bag checklist · The 5-minute post-workout shower · HYROX race week
S.O.R is a cosmetic product.