Don't listen to them - shake the product before using it!! I have used this product for several years, and have tried it both ways. The verdict - shake it!!!! This product is also excellent for eczema, psorisis and other skin rashes. I have gluten intolerance, eczema and occasionally psorisis rashes. I put bye bye blemish on all of these skin rashes and it helps STOP the itching!! I put it on day or night when my skin itches from any one of these conditions. It immediately cools and stops the itching. This is due mostly because of the sulfur in the medication. So, throw out ur useless cortisone creams that don't really work and start buying this. Believe me, I have suffered for years from these conditions and NOTHING helps more as a topical treatment than this product! I never let myself run out, ever. Just shake it, dip a Qtip in the mixture and apply it to whatever itchy places you have, even when there is no lesion and the skin isn't broken open, this product cools and calms the itchy area. Love it.