A menthol cooling gel does not work like cryolipolysis. Menthol triggers a sensation of freshness by activating sensory receptors. Cryolipolysis uses professional equipment to cool fatty tissue in a controlled way and target fat cells. So feeling cold on your thighs does not mean that you are losing fat.
How cold your skin feels, how cold the tissues actually are and what the treatment aims to do to those tissues are three different things.
Why does menthol create a cooling sensation?
TRPM8: a receptor sensitive to cold and menthol
Menthol can activate a receptor called TRPM8, which is found in sensory neurons. This channel is involved in the perception of cold: when it is activated, a sensory signal is sent to the nervous system. Menthol can make you feel cool, but that sensation does not mean the tissues have cooled by an equivalent amount.
In their study published in Nature in 2002, McKemy, Neuhausser and Julius characterised a receptor activated both by menthol and by cool-to-cold temperatures. Named CMR1 in that publication, this receptor is now known as TRPM8. This research helps explain the perception of cold; it does not show that a cosmetic gel destroys fat cells.
Your perception is not a thermometer
A very pronounced cooling sensation cannot tell you the temperature of your skin or of the fatty tissue beneath it. It cannot tell you whether the amount of fatty tissue has decreased, either.
You can therefore enjoy the cooling effect of a skincare product without attributing a medical mechanism to it. To put the different uses of cold into context, read our article on cryotherapy and its different applications: this broad term does not make all these practices equivalent.
The cooling gel that leaves thigh skin firmer
- Immediate cooling effect: menthol kicks in as soon as it is applied, then skin is firmer under your fingers (keep the gel in the fridge for even more intensity)
- Caffeine & Lipothetic®, a patented active ingredient, at the heart of a formula designed for thighs and buttocks
- Sorbet texture: it absorbs faster and makes the feeling of freshness last longer
Cryolipolysis targets different tissue using a different method
Cryolipolysis does not rely on the sensory activation caused by menthol. It uses a professional device to apply controlled cooling in order to target cells in the subcutaneous fatty tissue.
The American Academy of Dermatology describes cryolipolysis as a technique that uses cold to destroy fat cells. It explains that changes appear gradually and that the procedure can have side effects, including swelling, bruising or discomfort. In rare cases, lasting pain or an increase in the volume of fat in the area may occur.
This approach therefore requires assessment by a qualified healthcare professional. It targets localised fat, not overall weight loss. Our article on cryolipolysis and belly fat covers this separate topic; a cosmetic product with a cooling effect should not be presented as its at-home equivalent.
Menthol gel and cryolipolysis: key points to remember
| Point of comparison | Menthol cooling gel | Cryolipolysis |
|---|---|---|
| Method used | A cosmetic product applied to the skin | Professional equipment |
| Distinctive mechanism | Activation of sensory receptors by menthol | Controlled cooling of fatty tissue |
| What the cold means | A cooling sensation, with no way to infer the temperature deep in the tissue | A controlled physical exposure of the tissues to cold |
| Connection with fat | The sensation does not prove any reduction in fat | The technique targets localised fat cells |
A cool shower should not be confused with a treatment that targets fat cells. Our article on cold water jets and cellulite looks at this other practice: it should not be equated with cryolipolysis either.
Where Cryo Thigh Slimming Gel fits
The manufacturer’s product page for Cryo Thigh Slimming Gel, consulted on 2 October 2026, does list MENTHOL among the INCI ingredients and attributes the cooling effect upon application to this ingredient. Here, the word “Cryo” and the reference to cryotherapy-inspired care describe a cosmetic product, not a cryolipolysis device.
The instructions state one application a day, in the morning, on the thighs and buttocks, using circular movements. They suggest storing the tube in the refrigerator for a more intense sensation. This intensification of the feeling does not demonstrate therapeutic cooling of fat cells.
The product is intended for external use on the body only. Avoid contact with the eyes; the product page recommends testing it on a small area if your skin is sensitive. It is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Frequently asked questions
Does the colder the gel feels, the more fat it removes?
No. Sensory intensity does not measure the temperature of fatty tissue or any reduction in it. Applying more product or using it more often cannot reproduce cryolipolysis.
Does firmer-looking skin mean less fat?
No. The appearance or feel of the skin and the volume of fatty tissue are two different criteria. A cosmetic firming property should not be interpreted as weight loss or the destruction of fat cells.
-26%The cordless massager: 2 900 rotations per minute to stimulate your skin
- A deep mechanical massage: rotations and vibrations, up to 2 900 turns per minute, knead the skin on your thighs, stomach, arms and bottom
- 2 complementary heads: the ball head kneads deep down, then the wave head smooths and tones the surface
- 5 intensity levels on a touchscreen, a blue light, cordless and quiet
The cooling gel that leaves the skin on your stomach firmer
- Arctic Algae, Prosveltyl® & Menthol, combined in a formula designed for the stomach and hips
- Sorbet texture: it absorbs faster and makes the fresh sensation last longer
- 🍃 98.3% natural-origin ingredients
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