The most common question we get about our Magnesium Tallow Lotion is a simple one: what type of magnesium is in it? The answer is just as simple. We use one form and one source: magnesium chloride from the Dead Sea. No magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt), no magnesium oxide, no blends. Below is the full nine-ingredient list, what each ingredient is doing in the jar, and a straight answer to why a tallow lotion contains water and a preservative.
What type of magnesium is in Magnesium Tallow Lotion?
Magnesium chloride, sourced as Dead Sea magnesium chloride flakes. The Dead Sea is one of the most magnesium-rich bodies of water on earth, and its magnesium has been harvested for skin care for a very long time. The flakes dissolve completely in the water phase of the lotion, so the mineral is evenly distributed through every pump rather than sitting as grit.
Magnesium chloride is the form used in nearly every topical magnesium product you will find, including magnesium oil sprays and bath flakes. It dissolves readily, it is gentle enough for daily skin contact when buffered in a lotion, and it is the form people mean when they talk about "transdermal magnesium." That is why we chose it, and why we use nothing else.
Magnesium chloride vs. the other forms of magnesium
Magnesium comes bound to different partners, and each pairing has a different job. The label on a supplement bottle and the label on a lotion are not describing the same thing.
| Form | Where you usually see it | In our lotion? |
|---|---|---|
| Magnesium chloride | Topical products: lotions, oils, flakes | Yes, from the Dead Sea |
| Magnesium sulfate | Epsom salt for baths | No |
| Magnesium oxide, citrate, glycinate | Oral supplements (capsules, powders) | No |
If you have tried a magnesium oil spray and found it stung or left a salty film, that was almost certainly magnesium chloride too. The difference is the delivery, not the mineral. We cover that in Magnesium Oil vs. Magnesium Lotion.
The full ingredient list, explained
Nine ingredients, in the order they appear on the label. Nothing hidden behind a "fragrance" line, because there is no fragrance.
- Beef tallow. The base of everything we make. Rendered in-house from cattle we raised or processed ourselves at our facility in Springtown, Texas. Tallow's fatty acid profile (oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids) closely resembles the lipids in human skin, which is why it absorbs well and moisturizes without clogging pores.
- Organic olive oil. Softens the tallow and keeps the lotion spreadable at room temperature.
- Organic sunflower oil. A light oil that helps the lotion absorb without a greasy finish.
- Magnesium chloride (Dead Sea). The functional mineral, and the only lotion in our lineup that carries one. See above.
- Arrowroot. A plant starch that gives the lotion a silkier, drier feel and helps buffer the tingle some people notice with topical magnesium.
- Vitamin E oil. A natural antioxidant that helps protect the oils in the formula and conditions skin.
- Non-GMO emulsifying wax. Oil and water do not mix on their own. An emulsifier binds the tallow-and-oil phase to the water phase so the lotion stays smooth instead of separating in the jar.
- Distilled water. This is what makes it a lotion rather than a balm. The water is also what the magnesium chloride dissolves into. Without it, the flakes could not be evenly distributed through the formula.
- Optiphen Plus. A paraben-free, formaldehyde-free preservative. Any product that contains water needs one to stay safe on your shelf and on your skin. We would rather tell you that plainly than pretend a water-based lotion can go without.
Why a tallow lotion contains water and a preservative
This is worth spelling out because it confuses people, and because some earlier writing on this site got it wrong. A whipped tallow balm is oil only, so it needs no water and no preservative. A lotion is different: the lighter, faster-absorbing texture comes from blending oils with water, and in this formula the water is also how the magnesium chloride gets into the mix. Once water is present, a preservative is not optional. It is what keeps the jar free of mold and bacteria over months of use.
If you want a completely water-free tallow product, our whipped tallow balms are that. If you want magnesium in a lotion you will actually use nightly, this is the trade-off that makes it work.
What you will not find in it
- No synthetic fragrance. The lotion is unscented, and the faint natural smell of the ingredients fades within minutes.
- No parabens or petroleum derivatives.
- No artificial colorants.
- No filler ingredients added for appearance or slip.
Will it tingle?
Some people notice a mild tingle the first few times they use any topical magnesium. In this lotion the magnesium chloride arrives buffered by tallow, oils, and arrowroot, which is why most people find it far more comfortable than a spray. The sensation typically fades with regular use. Apply to legs, arms, or the bottoms of the feet rather than freshly shaved or broken skin.
Where to get it
The Magnesium Tallow Lotion 16oz is $32 for one jar, $54.99 for two, or $89.99 for four, with free shipping on every order. If you want to try it first, the 2oz travel size is $16 with the identical formula.
Dry lips too? The same tallow is the base of our five-ingredient Tallow Lip Balm 4 Pack ($16), unscented and petroleum-free, made in the same small batches.
Magnesium tallow lotion is a cosmetic product and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.