This muscle & joint therapy cream has 64,000 fans on Amazon — here’s what makes it so popular

Not to brag, but my dad and I are firmly in the “bonding over back aches” stage of our relationship. This is how I first came to know about Penetrex, a topical joint and muscle therapy that uses actives like arnica, vitamin B6, and MSM to provide continual relief. I didn’t realize how much my dad had his finger on the pulse of topical muscle creams until recently, when I discovered that Penetrex had tens of thousands of fans on Amazon. Here are some of the things that seem to set it apart from the countless alternatives out there.

The basics

• Formulated for muscle and joint discomfort or aches
• Key ingredients include arnica, vitamin B6, and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)
• Suitable for everyday use or as needed, according to the brand
• Offers the most relief with consistent use
• Available in 2 or 4 fl. oz. jars.

As someone who played competitive sports as a teen and now sits hunched over a computer all day as an adult, I’ve tried a lot of different topical muscle relief products. Some of them didn’t offer any noticeable improvement. Others helped a bit but came with an unpleasant consequence, like leaving a greasy residue, imparting a pungent smell, staining my clothes, or making my skin break out horribly.

With Penetrex, I haven’t dealt with any of this. It absorbs into skin quickly and has a light, whipped texture that feels a lot like moisturizer (this could be because it includes ingredients known for their skin nourishing properties, like shea butter, glycerin, and aloe vera). Upon applying it, there’s a mild but pleasant minty scent that fades pretty quickly. And even with regular use, my acne-prone skin seems unbothered by it.

I had also come to associate muscle relief creams with that intense skin burning sensation — so I was pleasantly surprised when I realized that Penetrex not only helped my aches with regular use but did so without any physical discomfort.

How to use it

One notable thing about Penetrex is that it’s meant to offer more relief with repeated, long-term use. The brand recommends that to start, you apply it three to four times daily for the first seven to 10 days. After that, you can just apply it as needed. The brand also notes that Penetrex can be used on its own or in combination with a heating pad or ice pack.

Of course, Penetrex is not a quick solution or a cure-all for any condition. You should check in with your doctor before using it if you’re pregnant, have any underlying health concerns, or are experiencing unusual pain.

The reviews

On Amazon, Penetrex currently has over 52,000 five-star ratings, with several fans saying it came recommended to them by a nurse. Some reviewers did feel that the price was a lot for the size of the jar. But others insisted that a little product goes a long way. One fan who seemed less concerned about the price vowed that they would “bathe in it” if they could (same — but please, don’t do this).

Here are what some other reviewers had to say:

“My physical therapist introduced me to Penetrex, and I am so grateful she did. It works better than any other muscle cream that I’ve tried ... It’s great for muscle tension while sitting at my desk.” — kl keith

“The cream is not sticky or gross, and has a slight pleasant peppermint smell that is not noticeable after you put it on. Is it a miracle? Is it a cure-all? No. No. But do I think it really helped? Yes.” — D. English

“It works so well that I bought the 3 pack of 4 oz jars to give my family.” — D. B. Clark

“I use it on my knees and so does my husband. We were very surprised how good it works. Most definitely a winner!” — K. Stoker