Magnesium oil is my secret for hair, for sleep and less stress – plenty of benefits, no side effects! Use this easy recipe to make it and save money!
I never knew how many people struggled with restless legs, anxiety and just getting a good nights’ sleep until I shared my magnesium lotion recipe.
In fact, I once made a batch for my husband’s co-worker and it worked so well, she asked if I would make 3 more for her friends! This lotion has become so popular with our readers, we’ve actually started a second business making and selling it here!
But today I’d like to share what helped me before I started making lotion – magnesium oil.
The reasoning for trying magnesium oil FIRST is easy: the idea of making lotion freaked me out.
Shea butter? Beeswax? Melting and pouring and blending?
Nuh-uh. That was beyond me.
Years ago when I had tried making lotion, it NEVER turned out the way I thought it would. My husband hated it, I felt like a failure and then I had no purpose for the ingredients I just bought.
That’s why when I wanted to make sunscreen, I found a work-around hack that did the job just as well. (Here’s my crazy-easy homemade sunscreen recipe/hack.)
Obviously though, I didn’t give up on lotion. I make magnesium lotion and both my husband and I use it on a daily basis. It’s the same recipe friends and family keep asking me to make for them.
BUT…
I totally get it if you’re not ready to make lotion. I’ve been there!!
But I also don’t want a few supplies and a few steps to stop you from sleeping like a baby night after night, and waking up feeling rested and ready to face the day.
So let me introduce a tutorial to you, something that’s really easy and will still yield the same amazing results that my magnesium lotion does: magnesium oil.
What you should know about Magnesium Spray
Before you jump into the tutorial, let me share a few things about magnesium oil that I think are important for you to know.
1. Magnesium oil stings when you apply it
I’m certainly not trying to scare you off, but I’ve got to be honest. According to the grapevine, magnesium oil stings when you first apply it. The more deficient you are in magnesium, the more it stings. But supposedly, the sting goes away after about two weeks.
I call hogwash.
- I used magnesium oil on my legs DAILY for FIVE MONTHS and it stung, every single time. It was especially painful the day I shaved my legs!
- In no way whatsoever was there was a reprieve after two weeks. And certainly I had built my magnesium stores enough to no longer be deficient…
- So here’s the deal. If you make magnesium oil and it stings, just apply your favorite lotion afterwards. That’s what I do, and it’s WAAAY better than the magnesium oil alone. In fact, this is what I do when I run out of my own magnesium lotion.
2. Not all magnesium is the same
There are MANY different types of magnesium on the market, and I’ve highlighted a few of the most common types of magnesium here. Be sure you’re using magnesium chloride flakes for this recipe. Otherwise, you’re not really making magnesium oil.
3. I still prefer magnesium lotion
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I still prefer magnesium lotion. If you’re feeling adventurous, I highly encourage you to take that route. It doesn’t sting and it really is easy to make. Or you can buy it here.
However, I’d rather you start small than not start at all. that’s where this magnesium oil recipe comes into play. You only need two ingredients, and one is water!
Magnesium Oil Supplies
- 1/2 cup magnesium chloride flakes (I recommend these if you’re just starting out, but buying them in bulk is the best option in the long run.)
- 1/2 cup water (distilled if possible)
- 2 large mugs, OR a small pot and a small glass bowl
- spoon
- glass spray bottle (this one is what you see in the pictures, but these are also clear and a much better deal. These amber bottles have a different type of nozzle and are slightly smaller, but they’re MUCH more affordable.)
How To Make Magnesium Oil Spray Step By Step
Step 1. Measure water in small measuring glass and microwave on high until the water is boiling, about 2 minutes. Alternatively, you can bring the water to a boil in a small pot on the stove. (I prefer the microwave method because it’s faster, but also because I tend to “multi-task” when I cook… meaning I put the water on the stove and come back to a hot, empty pot.)
Step 2. Meanwhile, measure magnesium chloride flakes (I use these) into a second mug, OR into a small glass bowl.
Step 3. When the water is boiling, pour over the magnesium flakes. Stir with a spoon until the magnesium is completely dissolved.
Step 4. Pour into a glass spray bottle.
Step 5. Use daily.
A Note on Topical Magnesium
- The Food and Nutrition Board share their recommended daily dosage for magnesium on this chart.
- I don’t really know how much magnesium I eat on a daily basis, so I make sure to use either 1 tsp of magnesium lotion daily, or 4 sprays of magnesium oil per leg.
My husband has issues with heart palpitations. I found when we first started using magnesium oil it did sting a bit. With regular use as we got our magnesium levels up it no longer stings. I spray his chest and back every night to calm the palpitations. He does use other supplementation as well but I won’t go into that. I do saturate my mix a bit more though. I add magnesium flakes until its not quite dissolving then top it off with a little more water. I also do not boil the water. When I make it I use room temperature distilled water and shake the jar until it is dissolved. We use this spray nightly, for me it makes a big difference for a good nights sleep.
I have a smaller bottle (4oz.) of magnesium oil that I’ve added essential oils such as peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary (10 drops each) and arnica oil (5 drops). We use this for pain spray and it works wonders!
Thank you for sharing, Chotzey!
I have made magnesium oil in the past, but don’t use it much. The spray bottle/nozzle clogs up. It’s one of the blue glass bottles from a health store. The first pump is great and then it stops working. It is so frustrating that I don’t use it anymore. Do you have a hack for this?
Also, I’ve found that spraying the mag oil on the soles of your feet a better option. Firstly, it doesn’t sting nearly as much. Secondly, the pores on bottom of your feet are like sponges and soak it right up. When I was adventurous, I would even spray it on and then do some reflexology.
Hope you have some ideas regarding that spray bottle issue.
Hi Jody!
Try hot soapy water + toothbrush. If that doesn’t work, try soaking the nozzle in vinegar and scrubbing. Hope this helps.
Is it possible to use magnesium citrate powder instead of the flakes?
Yes but it will not have a final product exactly like the one in this post.
Hi there!
It’s my first time using magnesium spray, and I’m wondering how much magnesium is in it per 1/2 cup? I have looked on Amazon for products like this and I could find it’s barely 100 mg of magnesium per 1 ml. It seems to me that 1/2 cup is a lot. Can you help me to figure it out?
This recipe calls for 1/2 cup magnesium and 1/2 cup of water. For 1/2 cup of flakes you will get about 7.5g of elemental magnesium.
Hi, can you add essential oils to the spray or lotion recipe.?
Yes you can!
Hi, I’d like to know with the glass bowl or mugs I use to boil it in, are these going to be safe for putting food in them still at a later date? Or do I keep a seperate bowl just for this?
Oh yes, you can re-use the supplies. Just wash them well!
Is this safe for kids? Like my 9yr old daughter??
Hi Karen,
Yep! We use it on our children ourselves. 🙂
Does it have to be in a glass spray bottle. I only have plastic ones in the house, and thought I would make some.
You can make this in a plastic bottle, Paula.
Just reading the comments and thinking maybe a quick fix is mix the oil 50/50 or 40/60 with your favorite lotion or hand cream. Should prevent the irritation and you don’t have to worry about improperly preserved, homemade recipes. HTH
Thanks for sharing Davette! I’ve tried doing as you suggested, but the texture is off. If the spray is too strong, my best suggestion is to either use our lotion (https://magnesiumlotionshop.com) or apply your favorite lotion immediately after the mag oil.
Hi,
Just wondering, doesn’t the lotion prevent the Magnesium from being absorbed, because of the oils, don’t they form a barrier???
Also, you mention restless legs being caused by Magnesium deficiency and the oil/lotion helping, but it’s strange with me, as if I apply Magnesium oil to my legs or feet at night, I actually seem to get restless legs and can’t get to sleep for ages because my legs keep jumping! I never get this sensation any other time.
Hi Sally! The oil doesn’t form a barrier – in fact, oil can help your body BETTER absorb minerals! And some people do react opposite to magnesium – I can’t take magnesium internally because it makes me excited! If that’s the case, I suggest finding a different way to take magnesium, if you need it.
Hi Tiffany,
Thanks for the reply!
I just thought the oils would form a barrier on the skin to prevent the absorption of the Magnesium, but I will give the cream a go anyway and see if I still get the usual calming feeling that I get from the oil (Just not on my legs and feet at night!) and then I’ll know. 🙂 I only have shea butter currently, so will mix some of my Magnesium oil into that and see what happens.
Thanks again. 🙂
Hi Sally…I’ve been making my magnesium oil in a spray for years.When it’s sprayed on the skin …its transdermal….anything you put on your body goes internally….Ancient Minerals has been shown to be the best form of magnesium chloride and I’ve had my bag of it for years and its only half full now.
I use the same quantity as Tiffany suggests, but I spray and massage into my feet,legs,stomach, back of arms…..plus it gets rid of pain, as when I get a pain in my knees ,I’ll rub that area and the pain goes within 15 mins. I would like to make up the lotion,but I’ve had messy cleanups when using beeswax as it sticks to everything!! I might just mix the oil with some shea butter and a drop of rose geranium essential oil…for females over 50…its recommendations are 320mg of the oil….good luck…
I keep a dedicated Pyrex 1 cup measure and mini whisk for my DIY projects. If you wipe them immediately, like just cool enough not to burn yourself, there is very little trouble cleaning them. If it’s something messy, like with clay or charcoal, I recycle a baby food or pizza sauce jar and get extra chopsticks with our takeout and then tossing them after. I’ve never gotten anything in my double boiler but it’s nonstick anyway. HTH
Can you use magnesium sulfate ?
Hi Cynthia! This article may help: https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2017/08/benefits-of-magnesium/
It it stings you may want to try reducing the amount of magnesium. Maybe it is too much? I have found this to be true of some essential oils. When I dilute it a little the stinging stops. Thanks for these recipes! Can’t wait to try them!
Can you use the magnesium lotion as a face cream/moisturiser or is it to a body lotion? Thanks
Hi Sue! Aside from the magnesium, the ingredients in the lotion recipe (not this post for the spray) are found often in lotions, so you’d be fine there. I’d test the magnesium lotion on a more sensitive spot of the body first, like tummy or neck, before jumping to the face. If you have no reaction, then you CAN use it as a face lotion, but do know that you’ll get drowsy!
I read that liquid is better since it is absorbed in the skin. I plan to make some oil and then make some lotion, my skin gets dry.
Both the magnesium oil spray or the magnesium lotion would be absorbed in the skin, so you’re good on either case Delphia!
Is this spray for the whole body? Or is there a better place to use it, legs, arms, torso?
You can use it anywhere Crystal, with the warning that it might cause a slight irritation. Therefore, I’d use it on places where you skin is a bit “tougher.”
I read that cutting the amount of magnesium to water will help with the stinging, and it does. I made a second batch that was half strength, and it didn’t sting at all. Of course, you’re only getting half the magnesium, but if it helps you use it often rather than not at all, that’s better than the alternative. And for me, over time, the stinging of the full strength one did mostly subside. Thanks for the tip about using lotion on top!
I did try your recipe for magnesium lotion, but I really prefer the oil. I run around spraying the whole family sometimes; nobody else complains of the stinging except me.
I can see how the oil would be easier to use in a family setting for sure. Thanks for the tip on half strength Kathy!