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An easy-to-make magnesium lotion that contains an easily absorbed, transdermal emulsion of magnesium in a skin-nourishing base of certified organic oils to soothe and hydrate without leaving skin feeling waxy or greasy.
Transdermal magnesium is an effective way to get more of this crucial mineral into the body, which most people are deficient in.
In particular, applying magnesium to the skin has localized benefits such as muscle relaxation, pain relief, and reduction in inflammation.
Transdermal magnesium is also a tried-and-true method to better sleep.
An Epsom salt bath is perhaps the best-known method for obtaining magnesium through the skin.
However, a hot bath during the summer is not such a welcome idea. In addition, taking a daily magnesium bath can get expensive over time if you’re doing it for the sleep benefits.
A simple solution is to make and enjoy your own magnesium lotion.
It is easy to make, luxurious, and very budget-friendly!
Preparation Tips
Use only a plastic or wooden spoon to mix the magnesium chloride with the water because this type of salt reacts with metal.
The half cup of dissolved magnesium chloride used in this recipe contains roughly 22 grams of elemental magnesium.
Thus, one dollop (1 mL) of this magnesium lotion contains about 90 mg of elemental magnesium and costs less than 5 cents!
If you have very sensitive skin, use a quarter cup of magnesium chloride salt instead, making it half as strong. Each dollop of lotion will then contain approximately 45 mg of elemental magnesium, which is roughly equivalent to commercial magnesium body lotions.
I suggest using this lotion about an hour before bed.
If you prefer to make your own homemade lotion without magnesium, try this vanilla body lotion.
Need a simpler recipe? Try this easy-to-mix DIY magnesium oil spray.
Homemade Magnesium Lotion
Magnesium lotion that contains a quickly absorbed emulsion of magnesium chloride in a skin-nourishing base of certified organic oils to soothe and hydrate without leaving skin feeling waxy or greasy.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup jojoba oil
- 1/4-1/2 cup magnesium chloride salt use 1/4 cup for extremely sensitive skin
- 1/2 cup warm filtered water
- 1 tbsp mango butter
- 1 tbsp beeswax pellets
- 20 drops lavender essential oil optional
Instructions
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Combine the beeswax, jojoba oil, and mango butter in a double boiler or medium sized stainless steel bowl set inside a large pot with hot water.
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Melt the beeswax and mango butter in the oil until just melted. Remove from the heat and set aside.
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While the oils are slightly cooling, mix the magnesium chloride salt with the warm water until fully dissolved.
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Pour the warm oils and the magnesium chloride solution into the mason jar. Add optional lavender essential oil.
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Using a handheld blender, emulsify the oils and water. I suggest placing an immersion blender on the bottom of the jar and blending continuously for 30 seconds. Then, slowly raise the blender through the mixture while it is still blending (be sure to hold the jar with the other hand!).
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When you reach the top of the mixture, turn off the blender. Repeat every 5 minutes until the mixture is cooled and turns white. I usually do this 3-4 times total. Hint: It's a bit like making homemade mayo!
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This luxurious magnesium lotion is shelf-stable at room temperature and lasts for months. If slight separation occurs over time, simply remix with a small whisk or spoon.
Sarah,
This is awesome, thank you. I do have some “100% chelated magnesium glycinate” which states is highly absorption. Would this work just as well?
God Bless…
For making lotion? Definitely not a good substitution. Also, mag glycinate is synthetic and lab created … not found in nature!
Sarah,
This is awesome, thank you. I do have some “100% chelated magnesium glycinate” which states is highly absorption. Would this work just as well?
God Bless…
Response: Thank you Sarah for educating me, didn’t know. So much to learn….you are awesome. I did go to the link you recommended for the “magnesium chloride salt” which takes you to Amazon and it states “Greenway Biotech Organic Magnesium Chloride USP Supplement 100% Edible Powder (Pharmaceutical Grade) | Pure Ph. EUR., BP, USP | 1 Pound”. We received it in the mail, however, the packaging does not say “ORGANIC” nor do the ingredients, just the ad on Amazon and the label looks like it was saturated and coming off the package. And it stated “NOTE: IT’S BEEN REPACKAGED”. Can a Greenway Biotech really sell ORGANIC magnesium? I mean, Biotech implies man made chemically created. I did verify that the vendor on Amazon is Biotech. Just want to make sure we purchase the correct product.
Magnesium chloride salt is found in nature unlike most types of magnesium that are lab created, but it isn’t going to be labeled “organic” the way a fruit, vegetable or meat is because it is not an agricultural product.
Epsom salts, azomite powder, or dolomite are the same. Food grade is the best you can get with that type of product.
Do you think it would work mixing the magnesium chloride salt with tallow instead of the other ingredients?
I think it would probably work, but I have not tried it myself to know for sure.
You would likely need to experiment a bit to get it just right. This recipe is based on my vanilla lotion recipe from a few years ago … I subbed the magnesium chloride dissolved in water for the chamomile tea … it still took some experimentation to get it right (I ended up reducing the water by 1/3 to get the proper consistency).
Could one use Epsom salt instead of magnesium chloride in making this lotion? Because magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) or “magnesium oil” water (MgCl₂·nH₂O) makes me itch too much! Homemade Epsom salt water does not bother me nor make my itch.
Yes, you can definitely do that. I had actually considered that option when creating this recipe. However, epsom salt contains less elemental magnesium than magnesium chloride. Also, a molecule of magnesium chloride is smaller than a molecule of epsom salt, so the transdermal effects for penetrating the skin are better with magnesium chloride.
But, if you compare these considerations to not using the lotion at all (because magnesium chloride is itchy for you), then it would be a good idea to substitute epsom salt, in my opinion!
Good morning. Thank you for the magnesium recipe. Can you recommend a good one to buy if not making?
Teresa
I suggest this brand as excellent. https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/go/magnesium-lotion/
Can I substitute the mango butter for tallow?
Yes you can, but I do not know how this will affect the consistency because I have not tried it myself. Please let us know how it turns out if you make it this way!