This easy 4-ingredient magnesium lotion recipe is a must to help with magnesium deficiency. Using this DIY magnesium lotion daily has helped my restless legs, quality of sleep, and reduced my anxiety!
I try to use home remedies whenever I can, like healing chapped lips naturally, making elderberry syrup to boost immunity, and charcoal gummies when someone gets the stomach flu. And these all work!
But I tried every stretch and massage technique you can think of to stop my restless legs from keeping me up at night and nothing worked.
So, I decided to learn how to make magnesium lotion. And then I wondered why I waited so long!
DIY MAGNESIUM LOTION
Here are the top 5 reasons that I love this DIY magnesium lotion!
- Helps me sleep at night
- Calms my nerves and muscles
- Reduces stress (read here on how magnesium reduces stress)
- It’s fun and really easy to make…
- And it’s more affordable than store-bought!
Read my research and even more about the benefits of magnesium lotion HERE!
MAGNESIUM LOTION RECIPE INGREDIENTS
Shea Butter. For this recipe, you want unrefined, ivory shea butter. I use this brand because it’s the best quality I’ve tested among shea butters.
Beeswax. Use pastilles (pellets) instead of the brick. The brick is fine if you’re using the whole thing, but when you need just a tablespoon or two, the pastilles make it SO much easier to measure. I use these because I’ve used their other products (including the shea butter mentioned above, and their zinc oxide to make homemade sunscreen) and I trust them to provide great quality.
Coconut Oil. You want unrefined virgin coconut oil – the kind that is solid at room temperature – not refined coconut oil or fractionated coconut oil. I’ve been using this coconut oil for years, but this brand is also really good.
Magnesium Flakes. You want magnesium chloride flakes, which is a highly concentrated form of magnesium. This brand is one of the best on the market.
- There are other types of magnesium on the market, so make sure you’re getting the right kind. I explain the most common types of magnesium in this post (like magnesium sulfate aka Epsom salts). For the tutorial below, make sure you get magnesium chloride flakes.
- If this is the first time you’re making magnesium lotion, I recommend starting with this 1.65 lb bag. If you’ve already made the lotion and have fallen in love (like me!), you can upgrade to buying it in bulk. This 8 lb bag has the lowest price per pound – and trust me, I’ve looked at them ALL!
For this magnesium lotion recipe, you’ll need the following:
- ½ cup magnesium flakes
- 3 Tbsp boiling water
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- 2 Tbsp beeswax pastilles
- 3 Tbsp shea butter
You’ll also need these supplies:
- 1-quart mason jar
- 2 coffee mugs or small bowls
- Immersion blender or hand mixer
HOW TO USE THE EXTRA MAGNESIUM LOTION RECIPE INGREDIENTS
- An 8 oz bar of shea butter will make about 4 batches of magnesium lotion. If you are looking for other uses for it, I also use shea butter in homemade shaving cream and homemade peppermint lip balm.
- If you have extra beeswax to use, consider making homemade citronella candles or use it in homemade dry-skin healing lotion. Otherwise, one bag of beeswax pellets will make 8+ batches of magnesium lotion.
- We use coconut oil all the time in the kitchen, and I also use it in my natural skincare routine to remove makeup naturally and as a daily facial moisturizer.
P.S. Having ingredients on hand for more than one purpose is a great use of your budget! I go more in-depth on making the most of your grocery budget in Grocery Budget Bootcamp. The principles in this course can apply to more than just groceries! Enrollment is currently closed, but you can join my FREE 5-day Crush Inflation Challenge and start saving money on groceries tomorrow!
HOW TO MAKE MAGNESIUM LOTION
Step 1. Measure magnesium flakes into a mug or small bowl. Fill another mug halfway with water and microwave on high until it is boiling, about 2-3 minutes. (Alternatively, you can bring water to a boil on the stove.) Measure 3 Tablespoons of boiling water into the mug with the flakes. Stir until the flakes are dissolved and set aside.
Step 2. In the quart mason jar, measure coconut oil, beeswax, and shea butter. Place the jar in a small pan filled with 1-2 inches of water. Place it on the stove and turn the heat to medium-high. You can use a double boiler, but I find the jar method easier since I can store it in the same jar!
Step 3. Allow the solids to melt, swirling the jar occasionally if necessary. (Be sure to wear an oven mitt.)
Step 4. When everything inside the jar is melted, remove it from the pan and let it cool for about 5 minutes.
Step 5. Pour the dissolved magnesium into the quart mason jar. If it solidifies upon contact, that’s okay. Place the immersion blender at the bottom of the jar and blend the mixture together really well, moving the blender up and down along the sides of the jar as necessary to incorporate the ingredients.
This magnesium lotion recipe makes about 8 ounces of lotion. Store at room temperature for up to 2 months.
MAGNESIUM LOTION DIY NOTES
This is more of a magnesium body butter than a liquid, pumpable lotion. It has a slightly waxy, greasy feel because of the combination of coconut oil and magnesium. You can use a different oil if you’d like, as long as it’s liquid. Know that this will change the final texture slightly. Also, because of the ingredients used, it will not absorb like we’ve come to expect when using typical over-the-counter lotion. Then again, it’s not supposed to. 🙂
If you find the list of ingredients and the idea of making lotion daunting, I HIGHLY recommend making magnesium oil spray. It’s just two ingredients – magnesium and water – and it’s great for a beginner DIY. It’s also just as effective as magnesium lotion! You can find the tutorial for DIY magnesium spray here.
Considering the fact that magnesium is a salt, you may find the lotion to tingle or itch at first. Use caution if you have any cuts, broken skin, or freshly shaved legs!
HOW TO CLEAN YOUR MAGNESIUM LOTION DIY SUPPLIES
The hardest part of this magnesium lotion DIY is cleaning your supplies, but I’ve figured out a way to make it easier!
- Scrape as much of the lotion off the immersion blender as possible.
- Fill another quart jar halfway with very hot, soapy water. Place the immersion blender inside and let it soak for a few minutes. (I set my kitchen timer for 3 minutes, so I don’t forget.)
- Turn the immersion blender on in the jar for about 10 seconds. Dump out the water and repeat step 2, this time adding a couple of tablespoons of baking soda. Place the immersion blender inside and let it soak for a few minutes. (Again, I use the kitchen timer.)
- Turn the immersion blender on in the jar. Dump out the water and, at this point, the immersion blender should be fairly clean. If it isn’t, you can use a sponge with dish soap to remove any remaining portions of the lotion.
MAGNESIUM BODY BUTTER FAQS
What is magnesium lotion used for?
People most often use magnesium lotion for improved sleep, relaxation, stress reduction, and magnesium deficiency. This article talks about the importance of magnesium for our bodies. I found topical magnesium to be much more effective than magnesium supplements.
What is the best magnesium body butter?
My homemade magnesium lotion recipe is the best, of course! It’s much more cost-effective to make your own (especially if you use it nightly), and you get to control the quality of the ingredients. Use organic ingredients for organic magnesium lotion!
If you don’t want to make the lotion yourself, you can get a similar high-quality magnesium lotion here.
Does magnesium lotion help you sleep?
It definitely helps me sleep! After I started using it, I noticed improvement in just a few days. Now I use it on my legs every night before I go to bed. Not only do I fall asleep faster, but I stay asleep the whole night and my restless legs are no more!
You can read more about the sleep benefits of magnesium in this post.
You could even add a few drops of lavender essential oil or other essential oils to your lotion for an even better night’s sleep!
MORE NATURAL LIVING DIYS
- DIY Magnesium Oil Spray
- Homemade Lotion Bar
- Homemade Sunscreen
- How to Naturally Condition Hair
- The Ultimate Detox Bath
I was thinking of making this for Christmas but wasn’t sure how much one “recipe” makes. Does that fill the small mason jar shown?
Hi Dee,
This magnesium lotion recipe makes about 8 ounces of lotion. Hope this helps!
Thanks so much for this recipe ! i made this for my family and we love it ! It really helps me with sleep especially now that I’m pregnant .
I have a question though . After a few days the water starts to separate and stay on top of the cream . Is this normal or did I do anything wrong ? Is there a way to prevent this from happening for our next batch ?
Hi Rebeca,
We’re happy to hear you enjoy this lotion! A little bit of separation is normal because there are no emulsifying agents. You can try making the magnesium oil with different temperatures of water, for example if it was boiling the first time maybe try lowering the temperature just a little bit, or vice versa, to see if that affects the outcome. Hope this helps!
Thank you for the detailed recipe and shopping list. I appreciate you!
I love this stuff! It has really helped me fall asleep faster. Thank you so much for leaving the recipe on your blog so long! (I have to look it up every time I make a batch because I always forget where I’ve written it down.)
Hi Tiffany…I started using and making my own magnesium body butter. I use tallow instead of coconut oil. My question is, is it necessary to add the beeswax? I also read that it serves as an emulsifier. But I do find the lotion very thick. If I only add 1 tbsp of beeswax, will it be ok? Thank you.
Beeswax helps to firm up the lotion, which may or may not be necessary depending on the fat you use. I’ve never used tallow before, but reducing the amount of beeswax will make the lotion thinner.
I made this and loved it.. I used yellow shea butter. And slowly over the last month all the yellow coloring has gone away and it’s pure white.. I’m not sure if it’s still safe to use? I have also noticed it seems to itch more than it used to. My kids never used to complain and now they do. It’s been so strange watching the color slowly fade out. Makes me wonder about the quality of shea I bought.
How much do I use daily
Hello AlAlexis,
For this Whipped Magnesium Lotion, use as much or as little as you need! Starting with one teaspoon is a good spot.
Hi, what should I do if the magnesium flakes didn’t fully dissolve? Should I put the water and magnesium mixture back in the microwave for a few seconds or is that going to negatively affect this lotion?
Hello Heather,
You can reheat the water and magnesium at any time, although a double boiler would be best. Once you add the other ingredients, I wouldn’t recommend trying to remelt. Hope this helps!
Is there a way to make it without the immersion blender? I don’t have one but would love to try this recipe!
Hello Joy,
This Whipped Magnesium Lotion hasn’t been tested without an immersion blender. If you try another appliance, let us know how it goes! 🙂
Hello
Do you have a newslettter? I want to be able to find your website again because I found so many things I want to try. I want to use as many natural products as I can and I like to make things in the kitchen.
Thank you
Kris
Hello Kris,
You can sign up here: https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/start-here/
What is the best kind of container for storage?
Hello Jami,
Mason jars work great for this lotion.
What is the shelf life on this lotion and how should it be stored?
Hello Kandace,
Whipped magnesium lotion should be stored at room temperature, avoiding extreme heat and extreme cold. It will last well over a year!
Hello!
I am wondering if this lotion is safe for use on children ages 6 and 12.
Thank you!
Hi Meg! Yes! Magnesium lotion is safe for kids.
Hello I was wondering if you can add essential oils to this? Like lemon or lavender or aroma touch all by doterra?
Hello Nicole,
Yes, you can use those essentials oils in the DIY Whipped Magnesium Lotion. Hope this helps! 🙂
How much should I use for my 5yo?
I followed recipe , amazing results with a quick immersion of diluted mag H2O into slightly cooled melted solids… perfect salve consistency, nice massage density.
Question for Karen: may I add say closer to a cup of magnesium flakes to same 3 tbsp H2O, to increase its strength? And would you support the idea of adding menthol flakes, if so, how do you suggest adding menthol flakes?
Hi Sheila! You can add more magnesium, but we haven’t tested that and therefore can’t promise it won’t effect the consistency in the end. We haven’t tested with menthol flakes, so unfortunately we don’t have any recommendation there!
Hi Tiffany -thanks so much for this. I have used a different recipe using a food processor which worked wonderfully the first time, then totally bombed the second and third time (wouldnt emulsify and I couldnt work out why).
Your recipe works beautifully. Given buying the same quantity of commercially made mag lotion costs $77 here in Australia, I love making my own!!
I do not have unrefined shea butter, can I use the regular refined?
Hi Amanda,
Yes, you can!
I only had a refined coconut oil(I keep refined for my pets) and it turned out great despite that difference. I especially love your added cleaning tips! This cleanup was nothing compared to cleaning up after a diy deodorant. I’m looking forward to the benefits of this lotion 🙏
I absolutely love this recipe! I have RLS and Fibromyalgia, and it has helped immensely! I have given away countless jars of this, and everybody is amazed at how much it helps. Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe!💕
As many times as I have made it, it always turns out gritty. Is this normal, or am I doing something wrong? I have whipped it with my immersion blender for several minutes. Any help would be appreciated!