9 natural recovery products to help ease you into your fitness goals

Once upon a time, the answer to aches and pains most often came in the form of a small bottle obtained over-the-counter at the local drugstore (as in: Advil). These days, however, wellness-minded gals are more likely to try natural remedies such as healing baths, dry brushing, and even essential oils on their road to recovery than they are to rely on the quick fix of a painkiller.

Clean beauty companies are taking notice of this trend and are, as a result, are concocting topical products designed specifically to reduce muscle and joint discomfort. Many employ ingredients such as arnica montana—an herb which in studies has been demonstrated to reduce pain in the aftermath of intense exercise—and the likewise-soothing CBD found in cannabis, alongside other au naturel helpers such as aloe vera, peppermint essential oil, and St. John’s wort.

Since you can’t always take to the tub for a magnesium-rich soak when sore muscles strike, you may want to stock your shelves with nine such products in anticipation of a big sweat sesh. (Don’t forget to gently detox before hitting the mat super hard, though!)

Scroll down to shop beauty products that pair well with exercise. 

Shop recovery gels, creams, and oils

YUNI Beauty Chillax Recovery Extract $18

Tata Harper Recovery $42

Hope Gillerman Muscle Remedy $48

Weleda Arnica Sports Shower Fluid $8

Vered Muscle Soothing Massage Oil $74

Badger Sore Muscle Rub $10

Papa & Barkley Releaf Patch TBD

Eir Cooling Butter + Arnica $24

Dr. Bronner's Arnica Menthol Magic Balm $10

Need more help recovering as you recommit to your fitness goals after the holiday season? Here’s what we learned on the subject from Nike’s marathon-training program. Plus, Karlie Kloss has a few tips, too.