Last weekend I developed a cold, and not just a minor one at that. We are talking sleepless nights being kept up by the fact that my nose was clogged with what felt like a plug, making sleeping impossible for both myself and my partner and meaning I had to resort to breathing through my mouth, fine until the cold night air started to make my throat feel even sorer than it already was. After a night of snorting, I went to my local pharmacy the next day to stock up on a variety of over the counter remedies and my Vics Vaporub was one such buy. In the past I have tended to buy Olbas oil being that it usually lasts and lasts, however my store was out of this so I resorted to the next best thing.

What is it? ~

Vics Vaporub comes in a small box whose lid can be pulled back to display the product, a small 50g blue tub with a screw top lid. Upon screwing off the lid you are presented with a clear gel decongestant which is very similar in consistency to Vaseline and smells highly of menthol, not that you can smell anything too highly when you have a blocked nose.

This product can be used to treat the sinus irritation that occurs with any cold or flu symptoms and is very fast and easy to apply. Vics recommend that the gel is either rubbed into the throat and chest area or that a dollop of the gel is melted into a bowl of hot water and the contents breathed in under a towel; the effects of which are supposed to ease breathing and to relieve the pain around the sinuses.

Where can I buy it? ~

The beauty of this product is that it can be purchased in virtually any convenience store, supermarket or pharmacy straight over the counter. I bought mine in my local Wilkinsons' and paid £2.49 for it, it is therefore considered a bargain given the amount of time it will inevitably sit in my medicine cupboard.

My Experience ~

I have been using this product for the past week to aid me at night when my nose starts to rebel. Being someone who does not follow instructions easily, I have been applying a small dollop of Vics just under my nose at night and around my chest area. The gel does sting slightly when it is spread over the skin however this sensation soon eases. This product has amazed me with the speed at which it seems to dissolve my blocked nose. Within a couple of minutes my nose is clear, be it still a little sore and I can therefore have a restful night without breathing through my mouth.

The smell of this gel does linger long into the night, and a trace of it can still be smelt the following morning. However I did find that at the onset of my cold I would wake up during the night and reapply a smear of the stuff under my nose. I have not used this rub for any other purpose other than to help me sleep, however being that it comes in such a handy sized tub it could very easily be put into your handbag or travel bag for relief on the go.

Overall this product is a very effective way at easing the symptoms of a cold and it comes highly recommended. It's just a shame it doesn't make the cold itself go away quicker!

Thanks for taking the time to read my review!

This review is also posted on Ciao under the same user name.