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Topical magnesium oil has become a staple in my self-care regiment. This is because so many things in our modern day culture deplete magnesium in our bodies: junk food, processed sugars, stress, poor sleep, nutrient deficiency…just to name a few!

But taking magnesium orally can be difficult when you already have an unhealthy gut. The absorption can be very variable in these circumstances and the side effects (hello, diarrhea!) can be quite unpleasant.

Topical absorption of magnesium can also be variable but it’s still better than the alternative…and the lower incidence of GI side effects makes it a much more pleasant experience.

Add to that the benefits of better sleep, more calm moods, and faster muscle recovery (and improved function in all 300 or so reaction that magnesium takes part in!), and using magnesium on a regular basis starts to look pretty enticing.

THMO Skin Care Routine

This lotion version is silky and smooth…it’s  slightly more involved than this DIY Magnesium Oil Spray and even more moisturizing than this Magnesium Oil Body Butter recipe. The options are pretty much endless!

How to Make A Moisturizing Magnesium Oil Lotion

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 2 tablespoons sweet almond oil (you can substitute any other liquid-at-room-temperature oil)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vitamin E oil (about 3 capsules if that’s all you have)
  • 2 tablespoon emulsifying wax (this allows the water and the oils in this recipe to mix to make your lotion look and function like really nice store-bought versions)
  • 1 cup distilled water, freshly boiled
  • 1/4 cup magnesium oil flakes
  • 1 tablespoon aloe vera juice (optional, you can use water instead)
  • 1/2 teaspoon honey (can also substitute with vegetable glycerin…both act as humectants and no, the honey doesn’t make the lotion sticky)
  • 10 drops vanilla essential oil
  • 6 drops lavender essential oil

Steps:

1.  Place the emulsifying wax, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, and vitamin E oil inside a small pot.

2. Place the pot over very low heat, stirring occasionally.  The emulsifying wax will be the last thing to melt.

3.  While the oils heat and melt, combine your magnesium oil flakes and hot water until the flakes have dissolved. The combine your pour your freshly made magnesium oil, aloe vera juice, and honey (or vegetable glycerin) into a glass mixing bowl.

4. Once the oils and emulsifying wax have melted and combined, pour them into a pyrex measuring cup or whatever mixing bowl you’re using.  It’s very important that you add the water to the oils and not the other way around.

6.  Slowly start pouring the magnesium oil/aloe vera juice/honey mixture into the oils a couple tablespoons at a time.  It’ll turn the whole thing white and be very liquid-y.

7.  Keep stirring and adding more liquid until all the liquid is incorporated into your (almost ready!) lotion.  It’ll still be very liquid-y but will thicken up as the mixture cools and over the next 24 hours or so.

8.  Once the lotion starts to cool but isn’t completely thickened (this lotion is designed to be very rich so will not pour well after it thickens), transfer it to whatever container you’ll be storing it in.  I normally use a disc-top bottle for thinner lotions but since this one is supposed to be a powerhouse, I used a large glass container (I reuse my ghee jars!) so that I could scoop out the lotion (I hate not being able to get the last bits of a lotion out of a bottle! I know you’re in there!).

Since it has no preservatives, I like storing this lotion in the fridge and then using it all over before bed. I wouldn’t leave it out at room temperature for any longer than about a week.

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