Those with low magnesium levels are often prescribed tablets. Research is suggesting that we absorb more magnesium transdermally, hence the growing trend of magnesium oil and magnesium cream.
As low magnesium levels are typically diagnosed by symptoms, it is hard to get an accurate gauge through blood tests alone. Here are a few symptoms of magnesium deficiency:
〉Depression and anxiety
〉 High stress levels
〉Insomnia, difficulty sleeping
〉Restless legs
〉Nausea
〉Low blood pressure
〉Headaches, migraines, cluster headaches
〉Muscles aches and pains
〉Hair loss
I love my magnesium oil. It is so easy to make, it is super cheap and it has been my saving grace as my little business grows up at a super-speedy rate! With a few sprays of magnesium oil on my abdomen every night before bed, I sleep better and I feel more awake when I am awake – rarely do I have a 3pm slump.
I honestly feel a million bucks most of the time (although, I am sure that also has something to do with our lifestyle and the huge amount of water I flush through my body on a daily basis)!
Despite my love for the simple oil spray version, I have been working on the perfect magnesium cream recipe. For some people, it is easier to apply a cream rather than a liquid spray, to specific areas of the body.
According to my research (but do your own of course!), magnesium oil and cream is safe for anyone to use; pregnant women, children, the elderly, etc., and due to the lower percentage of magnesium in this recipe (25% approx. versus 50% in the spray), the Whipped Magnesium Cream may be a better option for children (and sensitive adults) as the tingle isn’t quite as strong.
It is best to share a batch of this cream with friends or family if you don’t think you’ll use it within a short period of time. Read here for information on shelf life.
If you’re looking for a lush cream, with the benefits of magnesium, then this is the recipe for you.
Whipped Magnesium Cream
Makes: 330 g Prep time: < 10 min. (plus setting time)
Ingredients
- 80 g magnesium chloride flakes
- 30 g hot water (see recipe notes)
- 70 g coconut oil (the type that solidifies)
- 50 g carrier oil (fractionated coconut oil and sweet almond oil are popular choices)
- 40 g shea butter
- 30 g beeswax pellets
- 20 g evening primrose oil
- 10 g vitamin E oil
- 30-40 drops of essential oils
My Choice of Essential Oils
My favourite essential oils in this recipe are wintergreen, peppermint and frankincense, but don’t be limited by my suggestions. Use oils that fit your budget, or those that you already have in your collection. Read here for more information on essential oils.
Method
1. Combine magnesium chloride flakes and hot water in a separate bowl, stir until dissolved and set aside.
2. Add coconut oil, carrier oil, shea butter and beeswax to a glass bowl and heat until completely melted. (Double boiler method – place bowl on a pot of gently simmering water and stir frequently; Microwave method – heat in short bursts on low, stopping and stirring frequently).
3. Remove from heat and add remaining ingredients including the magnesium mixture, stirring until well combined. Set aside to cool (you might like to pop your bowl in the fridge).
4. When the mixture is almost set, scrape away from sides of the bowl. Use a hand or electric beater, and whip until light and fluffy.
5. Transfer into container of choice.
6. Place into the fridge or freezer to set (this will reduce the chance of graininess developing over time).
30 Comments
I had forgotten up some of these recipes. Change in lifestyle has changed some of my habits. Whipped Magnesium cream coming up today. So many ideas to share with family who want to reduce chemicals in their home. All my suggestions over the years haven’t fallen on deaf ears. Thank you for sharing. 😊❤️
So excited to try your recipe! I recently started using a magnesium cream for restless legs before I dove in to making whipped butters. Happy to hear I can skip the primrose oil until I have become a little more proficient with the DIY. Loving your site and newsletters. Thanks!
Hi!
I want to try this. The link for the magnesium oil doesn’t work. What brand do you recommend? Thank you!
Thank you for flagging that with me, I have now fixed the link. Brand of magnesium oil, is that what you mean? I make it, it’s soooo easy – 50% magnesium chloride and 50% water. That’s it. Not worth buying as it costs a bomb in comparison to DIY. (Recipe: https://krissyballinger.com.au/recipes/magnesium-oil/) You can find magnesium chloride at some supermarkets now (not epsom which is magnesium sulphate, so watch out for that). This list will help too: https://krissyballinger.com.au/sourcing-diy-ingredients/
I love this recipe, really helps with restless feet and muscle tension. But my magnesium cream is grainy; any tips to reduce or prevent it for my next batch?
Hey Rosnani, I’m so happy to hear the mag cream is helping you! As this recipe contains water, it doesn’t last as long as the mag oil so keep an eye open for spoilage. On this blog (https://krissyballinger.com.au/blog/diy-recipe-hints-tips-important-info/), you’ll find this info to help solve your grainy balm issue. Happy making x
How do I avoid grainy balms and creams? If you follow my recipes and set balms and creams in the fridge as suggested, you shouldn’t have this problem. Solid butters and oils have a melting point, and once they cool down they re-set to a solid form. This can be done several times without compromising the properties of these ingredients – keep the heat gentle and moderate. Examples of melting points are: shea butter – approx. 40˚C, beeswax – approx. 65˚C and coconut oil – approx. 25˚C.
Sometimes, balms containing shea butter (also cocoa and mango if you’re swapping out the shea) go ‘grainy’ over time – it may look like the product is blooming with mould spots, but it’s (usually) not the case. This is usually due to melted balm cooling down too slowly and fatty acids solidifying at different temperatures. The easiest and most efficient way to combat this is to place balms in the fridge (or freezer) to set, forcing the fatty acids to cool down and solidify at the same rate (graininess is more of an issue when balms cool down slowly).
Note that graininess doesn’t affect the integrity or performance of the final product – it might just feel odd on your skin until you’ve rubbed it in. And if you forget to set your balms in the fridge and find your mixture becomes grainy, you can gently melt your balm again, and mix/whip it to make it smooth.
Keep an eye on your balms and take them out of the fridge or freezer once they’ve set. As a guide, this usually takes approximately thirty to forty minutes in the fridge, and ten to fifteen minutes in the freezer.
Hi!
Can you use something else instead of coconut oil? Im thinking about the solid one.
Hi, the solid one? Not sure what you mean – this recipe uses coconut oil (the type that solidifies in cooler temps). You could sub it with shea butter and a carrier oil of choice (at a ratio of 50/50).
Hi, I’m not sure how, but I’ve only just discovered your page but have definitely heard of you. These recipes are amazing and I’ll be looking for the book now Wondering what the evening primrose oil does in this recipe? I don’t have any and wondering if it can be replaced. I haven’t made home made recipes in years for body and home and just ordered a bunch of products but not the evening primrose. So looking forward to making a bunch of these recipes. I came on looking for face wash for my daughter and found so much more.
Hi Rachie! So happy you’ve found me. The evening primrose oil is rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants, and known for its skin-rejuvenating and restorative properties. It is easily absorbed and brightens tired and dull skin. It can certainly be left out though, or subbed out for another oil. The beauty of natural DIY is that you have creative license to tweak according to the ingredients you have/don’t have! Happy making x
Silly Q maybe, what kind of beeswax? White, yellow…I assume USDA quality since we are not making candles. Thanks . Jaime
There is some info here which will help > https://krissyballinger.com.au/blog/index-of-natural-ingredients/ I love these (even if you don’t purchase here, it’ll give you an idea) https://www.northernlight.com.au/product/organic-beeswax-drops-2-5kg/
Hi Krissy,
What is the estimated shelf life on this recipe if not refrigerated? Could you make it without water?
TIA
Hi Kristina, I share shelf-life info here > https://krissyballinger.com.au/blog/preservatives-shelf-life-and-safety-information/ There are so many variables to consider so I let the creator decide. Magnesium needs water to dissolve so I’ve never had success when I’ve tried to adapt the recipe to omit water. What about just making the gel or oil? > https://krissyballinger.com.au/recipes/magnesium-gel/ https://krissyballinger.com.au/recipes/magnesium-oil/
Hi I love the sound of this recipe, especially with a thermal cooker instructions I can’t wait to try! My question is if I can add essential oils to this, and if so how many drops total? Thank you xx
Hey Angela, 30-40 drops total. Happy making! x
I make this for my Mum who suffers from muscular aches and pains. She loves it because it helps calm the pain. I find it really easy to make.
I love this recipe! It really helps with so many things like I get better sleep, my muscles love it after exercise and it’s so easy to make!
Krissy what role does the vitamin E oil play in the recipe? i don’t have any on hand, so was wondering if i can just increase the amount of carrier oil, or evening primrose oil? Would this work?
Typically Vitamin E will prolong shelf life in oil-based recipes. This recipe has a shortened shelf life due to the water content anyway… So, you could leave it out, no need to sub it (it’s such a small amount).
Could you dissolve the flakes in witch hazel to prolong shelf life?
It won’t make much difference.
Hi Krissy, I have your book and LOVE the mag oil. I thought I’d give this a go but it came out really oily, and didn’t whip up. I’m new to this (diy body products, I have been makeing cleaning products for a while) and used organic unrefined shea butter (n-essentials) could that have been it? Not sure of the difference between refined and unrefined. Thanks heaps.
Hi Diva, did you dissolve your magnesium fully? And did you wait for the mixture to practically set before whipping? If so, it could just be that you don’t like the texture of this cream? I could only suggest you use less as a little goes a long way. I use organic unrefined shea butter too and have no issues. Sorry I can’t help more here!
It might be wise to add that This formula (and ANY formula that has water or water based ingredients m) requires a preservative unless kept in the fridge and used within 2 days.
Hi Amanda, I make mention of ‘recommended reading’ in the notes of each recipe, and in there is info on safety, shelf life and preservatives. Hopefully most people see and read that! 🙂 https://krissyballinger.com.au/recipes/recommended-reading-for-diy-recipes/
Hi ,I love your magnesium recipes first of, thank you for sharing. My little one (4months old) has restless legs at nighttime. Do you know if this recipe is she for infants? I’ve seen magnesium cream in the shops for infants but it has so many added ingredients and I’m interested in having a go at making one for her.
Thanks. Bernadette
Hi Bernadette, why don’t you try adding a little magnesium to baby’s bath?
Hi Krissy, this sounds great. What do you think of using demineralised water?
If you have it, go for it.