Magnesium lotion is our best seller, and the question I hear most often is some version of "Should I get the lotion or the spray?" I've been making both by hand since we started, and the honest answer is that they're the same magnesium in two very different textures. Which one you'll love comes down to how you like things to feel on your skin and how you like to use them.
First, what is "magnesium oil"?
Despite the name, magnesium oil isn't an oil at all. We use magnesium chloride, the traditional form used to make magnesium oil (not to be confused with magnesium sulfate, better known as Epsom salt). It's a concentrate of magnesium chloride flakes dissolved in water, and the result feels slippery, almost oily, which is how it got its nickname. I make my own, and it's the base for both of our products: sprayed straight from the bottle in our Magnesium Oil Spray, and blended into organic butters and oils in our Organic Magnesium Lotion.
The quick comparison
| Magnesium Oil Spray | Magnesium Lotion | |
|---|---|---|
| Feel | Light and watery. Can feel a little tacky or salty until it dries. | Rich and creamy. Smooth, never chunky or chalky. |
| Moisturizing | No. It's magnesium and water. | Yes. Organic shea, avocado and coconut oils and local beeswax. |
| Strength | A concentrate. Some people feel a tingle or itch, especially at first. | Usually gentler, since the butters cushion it. |
| Fastest to use | Yes. A few sprays and you're done. | Takes a minute to massage in. |
| Covers large areas | Easily: legs, back, shoulders. | Best for feet, hands and smaller areas. |
| Scent | Unscented, or with lavender, chamomile or your choice of essential oil. | Light lavender. |
| Size and price | 8 oz glass spray bottle, from $24.95 | 2 oz ($20.95) or 6 oz ($38.95) glass jar |
Choose the spray if…
You want something quick and simple. The spray is just magnesium chloride and water (plus an essential oil if you'd like), so there's nothing in it to make your skin feel greasy. It's easy to cover larger areas like your legs or shoulders, and an 8 oz bottle lasts a long time. Spritz two or three sprays onto your skin as part of your evening routine and rub it in.
A couple of honest notes: the spray is a concentrate, so it's much stronger on the skin than the lotion. It can leave skin feeling a little tacky until it dries, and some people feel a tingle or an itch, especially the first few times. If that happens, you have two easy fixes: smooth a little lotion over it, or rinse it off after 10 to 15 minutes. Starting on less sensitive areas, like the soles of your feet, helps too.
Choose the lotion if…
You'd rather have a moisturizer that happens to have magnesium in it. The lotion blends my magnesium oil with organic avocado oil, shea butter, coconut oil and local beeswax, so it softens dry skin at the same time. It's the one I reach for at the end of the day: I massage a little into my feet before bed and pull on a pair of socks. It's my favorite way to wind down.
The lavender is light and gentle, so it's loved by men and women alike. And because it's so rich, a small amount goes a long way. A 2 oz jar is a good place to start, and the 6 oz jar is the better value once you know you love it.
Can you use both?
Absolutely. One easy routine is the spray in the morning or after a shower, when you want something quick that dries fast, and the lotion at night as part of winding down. They're made from the same magnesium oil, so they work well side by side.
A few tips for either one
- Apply to clean, dry skin, and skip freshly shaved skin. That's when a tingle is most likely.
- Patch test first on a small area if you have sensitive skin.
- Store at room temperature. The lotion firms up a little when it's cold; warm a bit between your fingers and it melts right in.
- For external use only, and keep away from eyes.
Still not sure?
If you love a moisturizing ritual, start with the lotion. If you want something fast and simple, start with the spray. You can see everything we make with magnesium, including our Magnesium Deodorant, in our Magnesium collection. And if you have a question, email me at jillian@buttermeuporganics.com. I read every message.
— Jillian, founder of Butter Me Up Organics, handmade in Livermore, California since 2008