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Magnesium Body Butter Recipe (A Natural Moisturizer & Home Remedy)

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April 27, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 8 Comments

My homemade magnesium body butter recipe is perfect for those wanting to make more advanced beauty and skin care recipes at home. A more professional recipe for dabblers wanting to take that next step up or artisans looking for products to make and sell, this natural magnesium body butter recipe is a must for your to do list! Learn about the benefits of magnesium along with how magnesium body butter can offer relief from restless leg syndrome, nerve pain, sore muscles and more.

Now that spring is here I’ve been trying to get active again. While the fibromyalgia does present some challenge in the exercise arena, walking on our local greenway is an activity that’s easy for me tackle. I also find it rather enjoyable. Right now honeysuckle is in bloom. So much of my trip is quite fragrant. It’s also filled with lots of activity. From bees gathering pollen to families and children fishing, there’s so much to keep my mind occupied while I work on getting my body back in shape.

After those walks however, my leg muscles are incredibly tight. Because of the fibromyalgia, I feel that muscle tightness more so than someone without fibromyalgia. So I use magnesium body butter as a natural way to relax those muscles and ease pain. It’s also great at relieving tightness and pain across my back from the tension that builds up from being at a desk all day. And it works wonders on my wrists when I’ve pushed myself too hard and done nothing but type for days on end.

The natural benefits of this body butter aside, I also love the way my homemade magnesium body butter recipe smells. I made with with roasted cocoa butter for a rich chocolate like fragrance and then added essential oils to compliment that scent. It’s always a plus when pain relief doesn’t smell medicinal! In addition, this product is naturally hydrating. So it’s perfect for dry skin or simply as an after sun moisturizer.

Why Do Our Bodies Need Magnesium?

According to Medical News Today, magnesium offers a number of health benefits to our bodies. As it plays a role in over 300 enzymatic reactions within the body, it’s a vital mineral that we can’t live without. One of seven natural macrominerals, magnesium is necessary for bone formation, calcium absorption, carbohydrate and glucose metabolism and heart health. Additionally, magnesium can help reduce the symptoms of PMS as well as relieve anxiety.

Not getting enough magnesium in your diet can have a variety of negative consequences on the human body. Side effects resulting from a magnesium deficiency include fatigue and weakness, nausea or vomiting and a loss of appetite. For more extreme cases, magnesium deficiency can lead to muscle cramps, numbness or tingling, seizures, personality changes and spasms or changes in heart rhythm.

Unfortunately, experts contend that many of do not get enough of this valuable mineral in our daily diet. Therefore magnesium supplements are recommended especially as we age. One easy way to increase your magnesium intake is to use a topical skin care product or bath soak that contains magnesium. Epsom salt baths as well as magnesium oil and magnesium body butter are several easy ways to topically increase magnesium intake without swallowing a pill.

(As magnesium can affect certain medications, always check with your doctor before taking any supplements.)

What is Magnesium Body Butter Used For?

Magnesium body butter offers a number of natural health benefits. Not only does this luxurious body butter moisturize skin, it also aids in relaxation and can promote a restful night’s sleep. Additionally, this mineral enhanced body butter also helps relieve muscle cramps, backaches, growing pains and restless leg syndrome. As someone living with fibromyalgia, I use magnesium body butter to naturally soothe nerve pain and to aid in relaxing muscles after a workout.

Formulating A Magnesium Body Butter

I’ve seen a lot of duplicate magnesium body butter recipes on the internet. This homemade magnesium body butter recipe, however, is different. It’s specifically formulated to be optimal for both massage and natural skin care. Not only does it easily glide onto skin, it’s also a safer option. Because magnesium body butters require water for magnesium flakes (or magnesium chloride) to dissolve, it needs a preservative to prevent creepy crawlies from growing in your body butter. While the magnesium oil you purchase – or even make yourself – doesn’t need a preservative, it does when incorporated into a body butter formulation.

Case in point is this recent article from Fast Company. It outlines a recall that was issued for Herbivore Botanicals recently at Sephora due to mold contamination. Herbivore Botanicals, who prides itself on not using chemicals or synthetic preservatives, unfortunately found out the hard way, that yes, you do need preservatives in skin care products containing water. So please, even if your product is for personal use, I recommend you play it safe. Even in the refrigerator mold and bacteria can grow in your homemade products. While the temperature of a refrigerator slows this growth, it doesn’t prevent it.

If you aren’t sure what products need preservatives and which ones don’t, there are several reputable websites that can help you make sense of them. Brambleberry has an informational article about preservatives here as well as a preservatives quick guide. While Wholesale Supplies Plus also offers an informative guide to choosing a preservative. I recommend using Germall Plus for my magnesium body butter recipe. However, there are other alternatives you could try as well.

The preservative, of course, is just a small part of my magnesium body butter recipe. In place of the water to dissolve the magnesium flakes, I actually used rosewater. (I did try just dissolving the magnesium flakes in oil first. Unfortunately, that does NOT work.) I also included several moisturizing body butters, a blend of essential oils, two waxes and arnica herbal oil.

Arnica oil specifically, has traditionally been used topically to relieve muscular aches, joint pain and arthritis. While the addition of ginger essential oil warms skin to naturally relax muscles. Finally I used a combination of two waxes, each serving a unique purpose. I added an emulsifying wax to bind the oils, butters and water together. While cera bellina wax gives the final formulation additional slip for massage purposes.

If you’d like to craft a natural magnesium body butter recipe but aren’t comfortable with using preservatives, there is an alternate option. My arnica & magnesium body butter recipe, which can be found here, is made with magnesium hydroxide rather than magnesium flakes. As the magnesium hydroxide powder does not need water to dissolve, this recipe does not need a preservative. Scented with a delightful lavender and orange fragrance, derived from natural essential oils, this magnesium body butter recipe is also great for everyday aches, pains and bruises. You can find this alternate recipe here.

Magnesium Body Butter Recipe

Ingredients:

2 oz. cupuacu butter
1 oz. refined (high melt point) shea butter
1 oz. roasted cocoa butter
1.5 oz. babassu oil
.5 oz. emulsifying wax
.5 oz. arnica herbal oil
.2 oz. cera bellina wax
1 oz. magnesium flakes
.5 oz. rosewater
5-10 drops vitamin E oil
30 drops ginger essential oil
40 drops blood orange essential oil
6 drops amyris essential oil (Learn more.)
broad spectrum preservative, of choice

Instructions:

You will need a digital scale to weigh out the ingredients for my magnesium body butter recipe along with an immersion blender. A thermometer is also highly recommended.

Begin by weighing out the butters, babassu oil and waxes. Combine in a heat safe container and gently melt using the double boiler method. Once melted, remove from heat.

Weigh out the arnica herbal oil and stir into the magnesium body butter mixture. Then add the vitamin E oil and essential oils. Mix well to combine.

In a separate heat safe container, weigh out the rosewater and magnesium flakes. Gently heat the mixture until the magnesium flakes have completely dissolved. Remove from heat once the temperature of the rose water is the same as that of the melted butters, oils and waxes.

Now combine the magnesium oil you just made with the melted butter, oil and wax mixture. Mix using an immersion blender for about two minutes. Then add a preservative of your choice according to manufacturer guidelines. (Typically this is both a percentage of your total recipe in addition to a set temperature. Most preservatives must be added below a certain temperature to maintain effectiveness.)

Mix the preservative into the magnesium body butter using the immersion blender for another minute.

Now pour your body butter into a container (or containers) of your choice. (I used an 8 oz. thick walled PET amber jar.) Allow the magnesium body butter to cool completely, then screw on the lid and label as desired for personal use or gifting.

Alternately, if you plan to sell the body butter you produce from my magnesium body butter recipe, you’ll need to follow FDA guidelines for labeling your product. If you’re unsure about the rules and regulations regarding labeling cosmetics, I highly recommend the book, Soap and Cosmetic Labeling: How to Follow the Rules and Regs Explained in Plain English, by Marie Gale. I’d also encourage you to check out her other book, Good Manufacturing Practices for Soap and Cosmetic Handcrafters.

More Home Remedies for Pain Relief

If you’re looking for more natural skin care recipes that are suitable for massage, then be sure to check out my post for quick and easy massage melts. There are two scent options – one with essential oils and one with fragrance oils – as well as 11 natural pain relief recipes for homemade salves, sprays and body butters. You can find them all here. Or learn how to make a natural CBD oil salve recipe here.

Love my homemade magnesium body butter recipe? Then don’t forget to pin it for later! You can repin it here.

Discover more of my natural skin care recipes by following me across your favorite social media platforms. You can find and follow me on Pinterest. Or check me out on Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. You can also sign up for my semi-weekly newsletter to stay updated on new bath and beauty recipes.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle Tagged With: bath and body, body butter, body butter recipe, diy, health and wellness, healthy living, home remedies, home remedy, magnesium, natural alternative, natural remedy, natural skin care, pain relief, pain remedy, self care, skin care products

Blueberry Thyme Bath Salts Recipe (A Homemade Mother’s Day Gift Idea)

April 25, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 2 Comments

If you’re looking for an easy homemade recipe for bath salts, then make this blueberry thyme bath salts recipe! This bath salt recipe is formulated with Epsom salt and magnesium flakes to ease sore muscles and reduce stress. Plus it smells amazing! (It’s kind of cotton candy like. My friends LOVE this scent.)

Learn how to make this Epsom salt bath salts recipe for sore muscles for yourself or as a delightful homemade Mother’s day gift. This is the perfect handmade gift to help you – and your Mom! – unwind from daily stress or muscle aches and pains. A must for any self care routine.

Moms Need Time Out for Self Care Too!

Both as women and as mothers, we often try to take on too much and brush self care aside. Not only does this put a strain on our emotional wellbeing, it leaves us feeling overwhelmed and underappreciated. Basically on a fast track to burning out. (Are they still calling that a nervous breakdown?)

Recently a dear friend remarked to me how she exhausted she is day in and day out. How nice it would be if someone took of her once in a while. Not only does she push herself to work two jobs, she’s also always on her feet working through chronic pain. Home life isn’t much different. Like many of us, she’s also expected to tackle all the chores and cooking.

It’s easy to understand why she feels so run down. Don’t we all have those days? It can be a challenge to learn how to say no. Or to stand up for yourself and demand things change when you’re caught in a cycle. We all need a break from time to time. We aren’t machines. And we certainly can’t continue to keep doing everything and then some without help. It’s no wonder many of us feel as if we are just surviving.

This homemade bath salts recipe is the perfect way to ~~push~~ gently nudge your Mom into taking some time out for herself. And to remind her that yes, you do appreciate everything she’s done for you. By making this easy bath salts recipe for a homemade Mother’s day gift, you’re not only helping her relax, but ease away tension and sore muscle pain as well. This easy bath salts recipe yields two 8 oz. containers of blueberry thyme bath salts. So you can make one for mom, and keep the other for yourself!

Using Magnesium Flakes for Bath Salts Recipes

If you read my recent posts on how to make pineapple hidden color bath bombs or magnesium oil, then you’ll recall why magnesium flakes are my new favorite ingredient. Not only is this salt, also known as magnesium chloride, more readily absorbed by skin then Epsom salt, it can be used in a number of different ways. You can use magnesium flakes to make a simple magnesium oil recipe to ease sore muscles and restless legs. Or give it a try in a magnesium body butter that calms your body and assists with a restful night’s sleep. It can also be used as a key ingredient in a recipe for bath salts.

Magnesium flakes are better suited than Epsom salt for topical application as they are more readily absorbed by skin. FOr this homemade bath salts recipe I used both magnesium flakes and Epsom salt. I also included a touch of moisturizing shea nut oil. The combination of these ingredients make my easy blueberry thyme bath salts recipe a wonderful remedy for stress relief and sore muscle recovery. It can even help to improve circulation!

Keep reading to learn how to make my blueberry thyme bath salts recipe to gift as a homemade Mother’s day gift for mom!

Blueberry Thyme Bath Salts Recipe

Ingredients:

19 oz. Epsom salt
1.5 oz. magnesium flakes
.25 oz. polysorbate 80
.25 oz. shea nut oil (aka fractionated shea butter)
.25 oz. blueberry thyme fragrance oil
1/2 teaspoon lip & eye safe pink mica powder
dried cornflowers, to suit

Instructions:

Using a digital scale, weigh out the Epsom salt and magnesium flakes into a large glass bowl. (I like to use glass Pyrex measuring cups for mixing. I have them in all sizes.) Mix well to combine. Then measure out the mica powder and mix evenly throughout the salt mixture. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, weigh out the shea nut oil, polysorbate 80 and fragrance oil. (Polysorbate 80 keeps the mica powder from staining your tub.) Mix well.

Now combine the dry salt mixture with the liquid mixture. Mix thoroughly until all of the salt is evenly coated. Then mix in cornflowers as desired to achieve the look you want and to add contrast.

Finally, fill your containers of choice with your homemade bath salts. (I used a thick walled PET amber jar as well as an upcycled soup container that resembles a milk jar.)

Then add stickers, ribbons or gift tags as desired to give your bath salts as a homemade Mother’s Day gift.

To use, simply add the desired amount to warm bath water, sink in, relax and enjoy!

Try Another Easy Bath Salts Recipe

If you love my blueberry thyme homemade bath salts recipe, then try one of these other easy bath salt recipes as well!

More Homemade Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Looking for more ideas for mom? Try one of these other homemade Mother’s day gift ideas. Learn how to make custom Hand Painted Ceramic Vases or an Easy Needle Felted Wine Bag. You can also view an entire collection of the best homemade Mother’s day gifts here. You can also discover more ways to practice self care here.

Discover more of my favorite bath salts recipes by following me across your favorite social media platforms. You can find and follow me on Pinterest, Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up for my semi-weekly newsletter to stay updated on new recipes.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Holiday DIY, Homemade Gift Ideas Tagged With: bath and body, bath salt recipe, bath salts, bath tutorial, crafts, diy, easy, epsom salt, gift idea, home remedies, home remedy, magnesium, Mother's Day, Mother's Day gifts, natural skin care, pain relief, self care, sore muscles, stress relief

Amyris Essential Oil Usage & Benefits (Plus Easy Essential Oil Recipes to Try!)

February 25, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 19 Comments

The March Simply Earth essential oil recipe box brought with it a few surprises. Not only did I discover amyris essential oil for the first time, I also learned a few other interesting things when making my amyris essential oil recipes. Keep reading to learn about the the usage and benefits of amyris essential oil. Plus discover the natural amyris essential oil recipes I tried.

About Amyris Essential Oil

To be honest, before receiving amyris essential oil in my Simply Earth essential oil recipe box, I’d never heard of it. I literally had to look it up. As it turns out, this thick, viscous essential oil is often used as an affordable alternative to sandalwood essential oil. Known as West Indian Sandalwood – though it’s not actually related to sandalwood – amyris essential oil boasts a rich, warm woody aroma that blends well with a number of other essential oils. These essential oils include cedarwood, citronella, conifer oils (like balsam fir or pine), cypress, frankincense, geranium, jasmine absolute, lavender, lemon, oakmoss, patchouli, sweet orange, tangerine, ho wood, rose absolute, vetiver, ylang ylang and sandalwood.

Considered generally safe for use, amyris essential oil is nontoxic, non-sensitizing and non-irritating. Despite this, it should still be diluted with a carrier oil for topical use. (A patch test on skin is recommended prior to use.) Additionally, it is important to note that amyris essential oil is not intended for oral consumption. And, as with other essential oils, always consult a medical professional if you are pregnant or nursing prior to use.

Amyris Essential Oil Usage & Benefits

Amyris essential oil has a number of uses and benefits. It’s commonly used as a fixative in perfume recipes in addition to a number of other cosmetic and therapeutic applications.

Studies show that amyris essential oil has antiseptic, sedative, decongestant and emollient properties. In addition, researchers have also found that amyris oil contains potent antibacterial and antifungal properties. Specifically, it’s effective against 12 strains of multidrug-resistant bacteria. These include Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella paratyphi, as well as Candida albicans fungi.Due to this oil’s high emerol content, it also makes an effective insect repellent. Not only does it deter biting insects, such as mosquitoes, it also repels brown dog ticks, blacklegged ticks and lone star ticks.

Due to its inherent properties, amyris essential oil is well suited for natural remedies that support the immune system. They also make this oil a beneficial ingredient in recipe formulations that focus on calming the mind, relaxing muscles and aiding with sleep. So it’s no surprise that amyris essential oil offers a variety of aromatherapeutic benefits that aid with both sleep and common illnesses such as colds and flu.

Simply Earth Essential Oil Box

Now that you’re caught up on the basic ins and outs of amyris essential oil, I want to share a few highlights that can be found inside the March Simply Earth essential oil box.

Not only does the March box come with a bottle of amyris essential oil, three other essential oils are also included. They are blood orange essential oil, coriander essential oil and a digest essential oil blend which aids with nausea, bloating and gas. (If you’re new to Simply Earth’s essential oil boxes, you can learn more about what’s inside and how they give back to the community here.)

There are also a number of great essential oil recipes. These recipes include the following:

Digest Essential Oil Rollerball Recipe
Mood Lifting Essential Oil Diffuser Blend Recipe
Anxiety Away Essential Oil Inhaler Recipe
Magnesium Whipped Body Butter Recipe
Magnesium Oil Sleep Spray Recipe
Essential Oil Sickness Support Bath Soak Recipe

My two favorite essential oil recipes from the March box were the sickness support bath soak recipe and the magnesium oil sleep spray recipe. Both of these recipes use amyris essential oil as a key ingredient. You can learn how to make two amyris essential oil recipes from the March Simply Earth box below. Or subscribe to Simple Earth now! (A la carte essential oils and other materials including containers, carrier oils and diffusers are also available for sale without a subscription.)

Easy Amyris Essential Oil Recipes

Magnesium Oil Sleep Spray Recipe

Magnesium oil is not an oil. Believe it or not, I had no idea. I was also somewhat skeptical about an external application of magnesium oil actually helping with pain and sleep issues caused by fibromyalgia. Once, I tried this recipe, however, I was stoked to find it helps not just with sleep. It also calmed the fibro flare ups I’ve been having in my wrists and arms lately. Pain that often makes it difficult to type. Simply spray it on and massage in.

This magnesium oil sleep spray recipe does contain water. However, the magnesium flakes (a salt) used in this recipe naturally preserve the water. Therefore no additional preservative is needed.

What are magnesium flakes?

Magnesium flakes, or magnesium chloride, differs from Epsom salt. Epsom salt is actually magnesium sulfate. While both are absorbed by skin, magnesium chloride is better suited for topical applications. Magnesium flakes therefore are well suited for stress relief, sore muscle recovery, improving circulation, headaches, joint pain, restless leg syndrome and cramps.

Notes about the recipe.

Magnesium flakes are included in the Simply Earth essential oil box. However, you will want to purchase more magnesium flakes, along with the fractionated coconut oil (available from Simply Earth), once the supply they send runs out.

Because I live with fibromyalgia, I did make a substitution in this recipe. Instead of water, I used witch hazel for its anti-inflammatory properties. While you dissolve the magnesium flakes in boiling water, I was able to dissolve them in the witch hazel by simply stirring the two ingredients together.

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon magnesium flakes
1/2 cup boiling distilled water
1 Tablespoon fractionated coconut oil
6 drops blood orange essential oil
4 drop amyris essential oil

Instructions:

Dissolve the magnesium flakes as called for in the recipe in 1/2 cup boiling water.

Meanwhile, in a small glass bowl, stir the essential oils into the fractionated coconut oil.

Next, pour all of the ingredients into the spray bottle (provided.)

To use, simply shake the bottle then mist onto your pillow at bedtime. Or spray onto arms and/or legs as needed and massage in.

Sickness Support Bath Soak Recipe

Simply Earth’s sickness support bath soak recipe is wonderful not just for boosting immunity to fight off illnesses, it also can help with sore muscles and body aches associated with the flu. It’s also effective at calming your body as well as relieving nausea or a distressed digestive system.

Made using amyris essential oil and magnesium flakes, this homemade detoxifying bath soak recipe also contains Epsom salt (not provided) and lavender buds (included.) As this bath soak recipe is diluted in bath water, I actually doubled the amount of essential oils called for in the recipe. (By the way, this smells absolutely AMAZING!)

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons magnesium flakes
1/2 cup Epsom salt
1 Tablespoon fractionated coconut oil
6 drops Amyris essential oil
4 drops Digest essential oil blend
2 Tablespoons dried lavender

Instructions:

In a small bowl, mix the magnesium flakes and Epsom salt together.

Using a separate glass bowl, combine the essential oils with the fractionated coconut.

Now add the salt mixture to the oils and mix well to ensure all the ingredients are evenly incorporated throughout the bath soak.

Then mix in the dried lavender buds. Spoon the bath soak into a small glass jar or container until ready for use.

To use, simply pour the entire contents of the bath soak into warm running bath water.

Can’t wait to get started using this amazing essential oil? Subscribe to Simply Earth today! Use coupon code: SOAPDELIFREE to get a free bonus box with your first order. Plus receive a gift card for $40 off your next order!

For more simple essential oils recipes, sign up for my semi-weekly newsletter to discover more of my original beauty and skin care recipes and projects to try throughout the new year! You can also follow me on facebook, twitter, pinterest and instagram.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle Tagged With: amyris essential oil, aromatherapy, bath tutorial, beauty box, beauty kit, beauty recipes, cold relief, colds, detox, essential oil blend, essential oil recipes, essential oils, flu, health and wellness, healthy living, home remedies, home remedy, immunity, magnesium, mineral bath soak, natural alternative, natural remedy, natural skin care, nausea, self care, simply earth

Natural Deodorant – Making the Switch for your Health

August 16, 2017 By Rebecca D. Dillon

For those of you who follow my blog regularly, you know that a while back I switched to an all natural deodorant for good. After two months of sticking with it I was 100% convinced of the health benefits. Not only was I able to ditch the negative effects caused by using an aluminum based antiperspirant, but I was also able to increase my magnesium intake through a simple everyday habit – putting on deodorant.

In the past I’d tried natural deodorants from commercial companies that just didn’t work for me. I’d also tried making my own deodorant with baking soda. That was quite the fiasco. Not only did it break me out in a painful rash under my arms, but it turned me off from natural deodorant for quite some time. Then one day I read about swapping the baking soda out with magnesium hydroxide. That’s when I fell in love.

My love affair with natural deodorant only grew after that. I started creating new natural deodorant recipes every time I’d run out of the previous batch. I also started experimenting with a variety of ingredients I’d never used in a deodorant prior. You’ll find that all of my new deodorant recipes reflect this change. They also all now contain a combination of clay, arrowroot powder, magnesium hydroxide powder and a combination of plant based waxes, butters and oils. (They’re vegan too!)

If you’re thinking of making the switch, it is important to realize that you will sweat when wearing natural deodorant. It’s definitely not the same as slapping on an antiperspirant. However, your body honestly needs to sweat. The plus side to my natural deodorant recipes however, is that you do stay dry longer than if you were wearing nothing at all. And, well. You won’t stink.

My most recent natural deodorant recipe is for a natural magnesium cream deodorant. I created this natural deodorant recipe specifically for The Nourished Life blog. My natural magnesium cream deodorant recipe not only fights odor causing bacteria, but it’s gentle on skin and helps to increase the level of magnesium in your body to help with everyday aches and pains. (I mean, I kind of feel like we could all use that from time to time, especially as we age.)

So be sure to hop over to The Nourished Life blog here to check out my most recent natural cream deodorant recipe. Then be sure to check out some of my other natural deodorant recipes right here on Soap Deli News blog!

For more natural deodorant and skin care recipes, be sure to follow me on all of your favorite social media platforms! You can find and follow me on Pinterest, G+, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’, and Instagram. Alternately, you can also sign up to receive new posts from Soap Deli News blog to your email via FeedBurner so you never miss a post.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes Tagged With: cream deodorant, deodorant, deodorant recipe, diy, magnesium, natural, skin care, vegan

Homemade Magnesium and Arnica Body Butter Recipe

December 6, 2016 By Rebecca D. Dillon

This homemade magnesium and arnica body butter recipe is scented with a delightful lavender and orange fragrance and is great for everyday aches, pains and bruises.

I created this body butter recipe with my grandmother in mind. My grandmother is now in her mid-80’s and her health has gotten worse recently. This of course means a lot of doctor visitors, getting blood drawn or being hooked up to IV’s and some hospital stays. Inevitably this has caused some pretty nasty bruising. In addition to the bruising, aches and pains are also more common. So for this recipe I combined magnesium hydroxide and arnica infused sweet almond oil into a wonderfully soothing and beautifully scented body butter.

Keep reading to learn more about why I chose these two key ingredients.

Did you know?

It’s common to have low levels of magnesium in your body. Unfortunately magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in your body and is necessary for over 300 reactions within your body. So low levels of magnesium can cause some health issues to arise. Fortunately, it’s easier to increase your magnesium levels than you might think. As magnesium has the ability to be absorbed through skin, a topical body butter is the perfect way to increase your magnesium intake.

So why is magnesium so important?

Magnesium is important for many reasons. It helps to increase rigidity and flexibility in your bones – which is especially important as you age – regulate and normalize blood pressure, increase bioavailability of calcium, prevent congestive heart failure, promote restful sleep, ease muscle cramps and spasms, decrease insulin resistance, end cluster and migraine headaches, enhance circulation, aid in weight loss and so many other common health ailments. More importantly it also helps to ease fibromyalgia and chronic pain. Which is something I can fully attest to. (Discover more benefits of magnesium here.)

With these things in mind and the more frequent medical care my grandmother needs, I thought that magnesium and arnica would make an incredibly suited body butter for my grandmother.

In addition, I also included neem oil in my homemade magnesium and arnica body butter recipe. Neem oil has analgesic properties and is also a strong anti-viral. I had used neem oil previously in a lavender body butter I’d made for my grandmother a few Christmases back for her shingles flare up. She indicated that the body butter I made her had helped her immensely, therefore I really wanted to include neem oil in this recipe as well. (And yes, neem oil smells pretty rank. But I pinky swear that the lavender and blood orange essential oils I use in my recipe to scent the body butter completely mask the smell. Plus they smell AMAZING together!)

Why arnica?

Arnica is traditionally used as an external herbal medicine for bruises. It is approved by the German Commission E for topical use when applied for inflammation, bruises and joint pain.

In anticipation of creating my homemade magnesium and arnica body butter recipe I infused arnica flowers in sweet almond oil for just over two months using the solar infusion method. (Herbs, oil and a sunny window.) If you don’t want to wait on a solar herbal oil infusion, you can speed up the process using heat. One way to do this is to make your herbal oil infusion using the crock pot oil infusion method.

To do this simply fill a mason jar with dried arnica flowers and cover with sweet almond oil. Next, place the mason jar in the crock pot half filled with water so that the jar is 3/4th of the way covered. (You can place a tea towel on the bottom of the crockpot with the mason jar on top if needed to keep the jar from moving around.) Turn the crock pot onto low heat and allow the arnica and oil filled mason jar to infuse for 10-12 hours. Remove the mason jar from the crockpot and strain the oil from the arnica flowers. Then transfer the oil into a glass amber bottle for storage.

Alternately, if you are pressed for time, you can also purchase solar infused arnica herbal oil from Mountain Rose Herbs here. While the arnica in this product is infused in olive oil, it is still a suitable substitution for sweet almond oil.

Magnesium and Arnica Body Butter Recipe

Ingredients:

3 oz. refined shea butter
.25 oz. natural cocoa butter
.5 oz. arnica infused sweet almond oil
.2 oz. magnesium hydroxide powder
.1 oz. 100% natural neem oil
.1 oz. emulsifying wax
.1 oz. arrowroot powder
2 mL lavender essential oil
1.5 mL blood orange essential oil

Instructions:

My homemade magnesium and arnica body butter recipe yields one 4 oz. jar of product.

Using a digital scale, weigh out the shea butter, cocoa butter and emulsifying wax into a medium sized Pyrex glass measuring cup. Heat at 40% power in the microwave until melted. (Alternately, you can use a double boiler.)

Now weigh out the neem oil and arnica infused sweet almond oil and stir into the melted butters and wax.

Next, using a graduated transfer pipette, measure out the lavender essential oil and stir into your body butter ingredients. Do the same with the blood orange essential oil, using a fresh pipette to avoid cross contamination.

Now weigh out the arrowroot powder and magnesium hydroxide powder and whisk into the body butter until it is thoroughly combined.

Pour your magnesium and arnica body butter into a clean, sterilized 4 oz. glass salve jar. Allow to cool completely.

Once your body butter has cooled and completely solidified, screw on the cap and label as desired.

If you are making my magnesium and arnica body butter recipe to sell, you’ll need to label your jars appropriately to meet state and federal laws. If you’re unsure about the rules and regulations regarding labeling cosmetics, I highly recommend the book, Soap and Cosmetic Labeling: How to Follow the Rules and Regs Explained in Plain English, by Marie Gale.

For more ways to increase your magnesium intake, also be sure to check out my Natural Lavender Cream Deodorant Recipe with Bentonite Clay.

In addition, you may also like my Natural Home Remedies and Herbal Health Care board on Pinterest as well as my DIY Bath and Body Pinterest board.

For more from Soap Deli News blog, be sure to follow me on Pinterest, G+, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’, and Instagram for more gift ideas and DIY projects. Or sign up to receive new posts to your email via FeedBurner so you never miss a post.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes Tagged With: arnica, bath and body, body butter recipe, crafts, diy, home remedies, home remedy, lavender, magnesium, natural, skin care