Unfortunately, I have suffered with headaches since the tender age of 11; however, when I was 17 they took an ugly turn for the worse and peaked at their most painful. After becomming dependant on prescribed pain killers (read my review on Co-codamol for more information) and coming off those, I longed for a relief which would not involve ingesting more pesky tablets.

I asked the assistant where it was kept and was suprised when she pointed to a tiny box, located on the counter (it was being featured). It was a lot smaller than I thought, which makes sense as this enables it to fit into small handbags and purses. I was even more surprised when she asked me for the £6.49 to pay for it! This gets you a 3.6g stick, which in turn allows for about 100 applications. With the amount of headaches I was getting 100 applications didn't sound like a lot - I'd need another stick in two weeks!

I decided to try it out as soon as I left the chemist. A real bonus for this product is that it's handy, thus ideal to take with you wherever you go. Its clever application design means it can be applied anywhere as your fingers never need to come into contact with the formula.

To apply the product you simply remove the lid and twist the retractable base of the stick. This pushes up a white, opaque, slightly crystalline stick of levomenthol, which is basically what this product is; a stick of levomenthol. It smells fresh and lovely, like a decongestant rub, but a little more subdued. The directions for use advise you to apply the cone gently across the forehead, to use as required but avoid excessive use. I followed these insructions and moments later felt an intense cooling sensation. It tingles and cools the skin on the forehead, which feels really nice and soothing. Levomenthol (or mentha pipertia) has been shown to relax local blood vessels, which explains the unusual sensation. It is also believed to reduce sensitivity and receptiveness to pain signals, which is where the relief comes from, as well as aiding in the relaxation of tense muscles in the head. The formula is solid, though due to the natural properties of levomenthol is smooth and soft to touch. It glides onto skin with ease and is colourless and non-greasy.

On the day I first tried this I did experience a relief from the pain in my head, however when I have a throbbing headache or migrane this remedy simply isn't strong enough. I really do think that the success of this product depends upon the type of headache you have. Very light headaches/eye strain headaches can, in my experience, benefit from 4head. Anything more than moderate pain and it doesn't affect them at all. Although levomenthol blocks pain signals, that's no good if the source of the pain isn't located in the forehead; indeed most of my headaches begin at the back of my head or on one side if it's a migrane. I would have to shave off all my hair for 4head to be applied in these areas, and even then I think the gentle nature of the product would have me regretting my decison as the pain would still remain! I have tried it on my neck and temple areas of my head, and this helps for about 10 minutes but the relief is somewhat short-lived. It is nice to apply 4head even with a bad headache just for the cooling sensation, which can be welcome when suffering, even though it doesn't affect the pain. Having said that a cool, damp cloth placed on your brow would do the same job and wouldn't cost you £6.49 for the priviledge!

To bear in mind...I don't know if it is advisable for sensitive skins, so it may be worth checking with a pharmacist. Another thing for ladies to bear in mind is that applying 4head to a face covered in foundation/pressed powder will leave you looking streaky and your 4head stick looking powdery. Never apply it too close to your eyes as the menthol will make them stream!