A cooling skin balm for people who hate nasal sprays
The Aussie veteran who has people ditching nasal sprays
Here is why your decongestant spray keeps letting you down, and what more than 5,000 Australians reach for instead.
3:04
AM
You are awake again, breathing through your mouth
You know the drill by now. Second pillow. Head propped up at an angle that never quite works. One nostril doing all the work until it gives up, then the other one takes a shift.
Your mouth is dry because it has been open for four hours. Your throat feels like sandpaper. And on the bedside table, in the dark, is the little bottle you have been reaching for since Tuesday.
You give it two pumps. Twenty seconds later you can breathe, and it feels like magic. You think you can go back to sleep peacefully.
Then in about 30 minutes, you are blocked up again. Worse than before.
How the trap closes
The spray spiral
Decongestant sprays work by squeezing the blood vessels inside your nose so the swollen tissue shrinks back. Less swelling, more room, instant airflow. It is genuinely clever, and it is genuinely fast.
It just was never designed to be used the way most of us use it.
1
Pure magic
Two pumps, twenty seconds, and you can breathe properly for the first time in days.
3
It wears off quicker
You used to get most of the night. Now you are getting a few hours. So you use it a bit earlier, and a bit more often. Perfectly reasonable.
6
Blocked worse than when you started
Your cold has actually cleared up, but your nose hasn't. The stuffiness is now coming from the swelling that follows each dose wearing off.
12
You cannot get through the night without it
The only thing that touches the blockage is the thing causing it. That loop has a medical name, and if you have been living in it, you are about to feel very seen.
This is called rebound congestion.
Not a conspiracy theory
It is printed on the bottle you already own
Go and get it. Read the small print on the back. Somewhere on there, in text roughly the size of an ant, is a version of this.
Adults and children over 12 years: 1 to 2 sprays into each nostril, not more often than every 8 to 10 hours.
Do not exceed the recommended dose. Not suitable for children under 6 years.
Do not use for more than 3 days in a row.That three day limit is not the manufacturer being cautious about nothing. It is there because of rebound congestion, known properly as rhinitis medicamentosa: the swelling of the nasal lining that follows overusing these sprays, which leaves you more blocked than you were at the start.
Sources: Cleveland Clinic, the American Medical Association, and NIH StatPearls clinical reviews on rhinitis medicamentosa. Evidence on exactly how long is too long varies between individuals.
Show me the alternative →Clearing up the confusion
So why does everyone keep buying them?
Because they are four dollars, they are in every servo and supermarket in the country, and they work brilliantly the first time. That is a hard combination to argue with at 3am.
None of this is a personal failure. It is a product doing what it was built to do. Here is what usually gets muddled.
| What people assume | What is actually going on |
|---|---|
| My cold is dragging on and on | The cold often clears while the blockage stays. Congestion that gets worse instead of better is the signature of rebound. |
| The spray has stopped working, I need more of it | It still works. It just wears off faster each time, and using more is what deepens the loop. |
| It is sold over the counter, so long term use must be fine | Being sold without a prescription and being safe to use for weeks are two different things. The label sets the limit for a reason. |
| All nasal sprays are the same | They are not. Rebound is specific to decongestant sprays that constrict blood vessels, not to saline rinses. |
Nobody actually enjoys spraying chemicals up their nose
The difference that matters
In your nose, or on your skin
This is the whole idea, and it is almost annoyingly simple. A decongestant spray has to go inside your nasal passage to do anything at all. A balm sits on your skin.
Sprayed in
- Goes directly into the nasal passage
- Works by constricting blood vessels
- Comes with a three day limit
- Wears off faster the longer you use it
- Rebound congestion is a known risk
Rubbed on
- Stays on the outside of your skin
- Contains no vasoconstrictors
- Use it as directed on the label
- Cooling menthol vapour sits in the air around you
- Nothing is sprayed into your nostrils
While you are checking labels
Have a look at the base of your old chest rub
The classic chest rub in the back of everyone's bathroom cupboard is built on a petroleum jelly base, the same stuff plastic is made of. That is what gives it the thick, waxy, sits on top of your skin feel.
The Cold Cream is built on hemp seed oil instead. It absorbs rather than sitting on the surface, and it carries no artificial colours or fragrance. Same cooling, vapour rich ritual. Completely different base.
The alternative
Meet the Cold Cream
This cooling balm is made in Australia. Rub a small amount onto your temples, forehead, under your nose, chest and throat.
You feel the menthol, camphor and peppermint oil first. The skin feels cold where you apply it. The fresh, minty vapour sits in the air around you.
Nothing is sprayed into your nostrils. Apply the cream to your skin and use it as directed on the label.
120ml or 250ml · 90 day money back guarantee
Who makes it
Mitch did not set out to build a cream company
Peacemaker Healing was founded by Mitch, a medically retired veteran who served in both the Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces.
He was forced to retire in 2016 with serious physical injuries and post traumatic stress. At his worst he was largely bed ridden, and he learned the hard way what living with constant discomfort does to your sleep, your movement and your patience.
So he started making things. Not for a market, for himself and the people around him. The range grew out of what actually helped, sold one tube at a time at the Cairns markets before it ever had a website.
Peacemaker Healing runs as a profit for purpose business, supporting veterans, first responders and their families affected by PTSD.
No mystery formula
What is actually in it
Hemp seed oil
This is the base you rub into your skin. It gives the cream its smooth feel.
Menthol
You feel the cooling sensation first. Its minty vapour sits in the air around you.
Boswellia serrata
You will see this botanical extract on the ingredient list. It is blended into the cream you rub onto your skin.
Full ingredient list: Aloe Vera, Arnica Montana, Boswellia Serrata, Glucosamine, Menthol, Camphor, Peppermint Oil, Pure Hemp Seed Oil. Contains natural ingredients. No artificial colours or fragrance.
Takes about ten seconds
How to use it
Small amount on your fingers
Less than you think. A pea sized amount covers everywhere you need it.
Temples, forehead, under the nose, chest and throat
Rub it into your skin. You will feel the cooling sensation where you apply it.
Wash your hands, then get comfortable
Reapply only as directed on the label.
External use only. Wash hands after applying. Do not apply to broken, irritated or sensitive skin. Avoid direct contact with eyes, and if that happens, rinse thoroughly with warm water. Keep away from children.
Get the Cold Cream →Same day dispatch on orders placed before cut off
95+ reviews
Real people, real results
★★★★★
I have to say but this cream is the BOMB and has made a big difference in my life. I wake up with a soggy nose every morning and have a sneezing fit every now and than 🤧 Rubbing this cream on my chest as soon as i wake up (i have it on my bed side table) everything has stopped since. No more waking up grubby for meeee 🩵💚🤍
Destiny K · Verified buyer
★★★★★
I get really bad sinus infections and as a mum it gets hard but this cream 3x throughout my day makes everything fade away 😌
Sarah-Kay · Verified buyer
★★★★★
I’m a real bad asthmatic and was told from my mates that this stuff is the STUFF. I’ve seen ads pop up on my facebook all the time from Peacemaker but was always skeptical. i’ve finally tried it and i can finally be around the smokers area at the pub now 😂❤️
Suzaan T · Verified buyer
★★★★★
Actually helps me breathe. Helps clear my throat and lungs. Works fast and so easy to apply with no mess.
Frank J · Verified buyer
★★★★★
Tried the cold cream for the first time on my son this morning who had his cold for a few days now and WOW it really does work 🥹 no more boogers and no more sneezles within a few hours. School next week WOOHOO 🥳
Ella E · Verified buyer
★★★★★
Absolutely amazing unblocks my nose instantly during those stuffy nose mornings
Rhys · Verified buyer
More than 5,000 customers use Peacemaker Healing creams daily.
Nothing to lose
Try it, and if it is not for you, send it back
Your best value
Get 3 jars. Pay for 2.
Natural topical cream formulated for blocked sinus relief.
Before you ask
Questions we get a lot
Can I use this while I am still using my nasal spray?
Yes. They are completely separate things and the Cold Cream goes on your skin, not in your nose. If you are trying to cut back on a spray you have been using for a while, speak to your doctor or pharmacist about how to do it, because stopping abruptly can be uncomfortable.
What does it actually feel like?
Cold. Properly cold, in a good way. The menthol and peppermint give you that sharp fresh air sensation across your forehead and around your nose within a few seconds, and it settles into a cooler, lighter feeling that lasts a while.
Will it sting or burn?
It is formulated to be gentle enough for sensitive skin, but menthol is menthol, so keep it well away from your eyes and do not put it on broken or irritated skin. If you are unsure, patch test a small amount on your inner arm first.
Is it safe to use every day?
Read and follow the directions on the label. Patch test first if your skin is sensitive. Stop using it if irritation occurs.
Can children use it?
Keep it away from children and check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any menthol product on a child. Menthol and camphor products are generally not recommended for young children.
Should I get the 120ml or the 250ml?
The 120ml is the right starting point if this is your first tube. Go the 250ml if there is more than one of you in the house using it, or if you already know winter is a long season for your sinuses.
What if it does nothing for me?
Then you send it back. There is a 90 day money back guarantee on it, and Mitch and the team handle those personally.
Stop watching the calendar on the back of a bottle
Rub it on. Feel the cooling sensation. Nothing is sprayed into your nose.
Try the Cold Cream →90 day money back guarantee · Free shipping over $99
Please read. Peacemaker Healing Cold Cream is a cosmetic topical balm for external use only. It is not a medicine, it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or condition, and it is not a substitute for medical advice or any treatment recommended to you by a health professional.
Wash hands after applying. Do not apply to broken, irritated or sensitive skin. Avoid direct contact with eyes. Keep away from children. Store below 30°C away from direct sunlight.
If you have a blocked nose that will not clear, congestion that keeps coming back, or you have been using a decongestant nasal spray for longer than the label recommends, please speak to your doctor or pharmacist. Do not stop or change any medication based on information on this page.
Individual experiences vary. Reviews reflect the personal opinions of the customers who wrote them.
