At CVS today I was picking up an RX and saw a guy buying house brand Muscle Rub. I went over to the section stocking it and saw it, a Bengay clone, sitting beside Bengay Ultra-Strength and the CVS clone. Looking at the back of the pack, I saw the active ingredients were Menthol 10%, Camphor 4% and Menthyl Salicylate 30%. I was sold - pick up a tube of the non-greasy formula. Now it's on my back and shoulders and feels unbelievable, though its scent is horrid. I can't wait to try it as an ASB tomorrow
I wouldn't recommend the use of Ben Gay or Ben Gay type products as an aftershave. It's a heat rub. Menthyl Salicylate Be careful. Read the Safety and medicinal use section on the Wiki page. There's a warning on the Ben Gay Wiki page, too.
Eric, I love that Proraso Green scent too, but its not present here. I'm actually not going to use it on account of its scent. I put some on my back, it felt good, but I reek of it and not Floris Elite. Thanks for the warning, ladies. ... I think an excellent range of ASBs would come in the form of Gold Bond's lotion line. Blue, intended for the foot, may be too thick - don't know what in the inactive ingredients are - but it's strong. Green, wearable, would be very pleasant, though.
A further word on using products not intended for aftershave purposes. Just be careful. Products intended for application on the body aren't necessarily safe to use on shaven skin, or sensitive skin. I believe Menthyl Salicylate was also listed as a skin irritant. Put that on shaven skin, it's gonna most likely irritate the skin even if it doesn't on unshaven skin.
It's also a form of aspirin, which is why it's great for achy muscles. Excessive use or in combination with oral aspirin (or other NSAIDs) can cause problems. It's OTC, but it's still a drug.
