Last updated: October 2026
Magnesium cream is a moisturiser with magnesium salt mixed in, usually magnesium chloride. Lotions, gels and body butters work the same way. Very little magnesium gets through healthy skin, so a cream isn’t a reliable way to raise your levels. It can still be a pleasant moisturiser and massage cream for an evening routine.
Below: what’s in them, the absorption research, what they’re good for, how to use and choose one, and who should check first.
What is magnesium cream?
Most magnesium creams, lotions, gels and body butters contain magnesium chloride, the same salt used in magnesium spray and magnesium flakes. A few use magnesium sulphate, better known as Epsom salt. The rest is an ordinary skin care base: water, plant butters such as shea, oils such as coconut, and often fragrance.
The difference between them is mostly texture. The NHS describes lotions as thin but not very moisturising, creams as quick to absorb, and greasy ointments as the most moisturising. Body butters sit at the rich end.
| Type | Texture | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Lotion | Thin, spreads easily | Large areas, hairy skin |
| Cream | Light, absorbs quickly | Daytime, hands, feet |
| Body butter | Thick, rich | Very dry skin, bedtime |
| Gel | Cool, non-greasy | Quick massage, legs |
These are cosmetics, not supplements. For the forms of magnesium you swallow, see types of magnesium.
Is magnesium cream absorbed through the skin?
Only in small amounts, as far as the evidence goes. The outer layer of skin is a barrier. Four studies are worth knowing:
- A 2017 review in the journal Nutrients concluded that the idea of absorbing meaningful amounts of magnesium through the skin is scientifically unsupported.
- A 2017 UK pilot study of an actual magnesium cream (25 people, 56mg of magnesium a day for two weeks) found blood magnesium rose a little more than with a placebo cream. The difference was only statistically significant in a small subgroup of non-athletes.
- A 2016 lab study on donated human skin found some magnesium does pass the outer layer, more with higher concentrations and longer contact, with hair follicles playing a big part.
- A 2026 lab study found almost no magnesium crossed intact skin, but far more crossed skin with a damaged barrier.
So a cream may let a trace of magnesium in, but nobody can say how much. The NHS says adults need 300mg a day (men) or 270mg a day (women), which most people can get from a varied diet. See how much magnesium per day. If you want to know what you’re getting, a drink or capsule with a stated amount is the reliable route.
Our Magnesium Glycinate Sleep Complex is a berry-flavoured drink powder with magnesium bisglycinate and citrate, giving 148mg of magnesium per serving, plus glycine, L-theanine, chamomile, passionflower, hops and oat straw. Magnesium contributes to a reduction of tiredness and fatigue and to normal muscle function. Our CBD Balm is our own rub for a massage: 600mg of broad spectrum CBD with peppermint, eucalyptus and juniper in a non-greasy base. The Reishi Mushroom Adaptogenic Complex is a reishi hot chocolate (reishi mushroom extract, organic cacao, maca, coconut milk powder and coconut sugar) for a warm evening drink; it contains a little natural caffeine from the cacao.
The FSA’s 10mg a day figure is precautionary advice rather than a legal limit, set while longer-term safety research continues. At Evopure we think it is a very cautious figure, and many adults use more. If you go above it, increase slowly, and check with your GP or pharmacist first if you take any medication.
All our products are for adults (18+). We don’t recommend our products during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
What is magnesium cream good for?
It’s best thought of as a moisturiser and massage cream that happens to contain magnesium.
- Dry skin. The butters and oils in the base do the moisturising. See dry skin; if you have eczema, stick with the emollient your GP or pharmacist recommends.
- Massage and winding down. A large review of massage trials found people with pain reported lower pain scores after massage than with no treatment, so the rubbing in may be what people notice. It fits well into a bedtime routine.
- Sleep. We found no trials of magnesium creams for sleep. For what the research says about magnesium you swallow, see magnesium for sleep.
- Pain, cramps and restless legs. Not proven. A 2025 trial found a magnesium gel did no better than a placebo gel for sore muscles after hard exercise. We cover this in detail in does magnesium cream help with pain?, and creams for restless legs in magnesium for restless legs.
- Nerve pain and neuropathy. We found no trials showing a magnesium cream helps. The NHS advises seeing a GP about numbness, tingling or burning pain in your feet or hands.
Some magnesium creams are sold through social media ads with names that promise relief. A product name isn’t evidence: there are no authorised health claims for magnesium applied to the skin.
Magnesium cream vs spray vs a magnesium drink
| Form | Magnesium you take in | What it’s like |
|---|---|---|
| Cream or butter | Unknown, likely small | Moisturising, less sting |
| Spray or oil | Unknown, likely small | Quick, can sting or itch |
| Bath flakes | Unknown, likely small | A warm soak |
| Drink, tablet, capsule | Stated on the label | Can upset the stomach at high doses |
Creams sting less than sprays because the base cushions the salt. For a soak, see Epsom salt bath. For a stated amount, see magnesium glycinate powder and our best magnesium supplement UK guide.
How to use magnesium cream or body butter
- Patch test first. Put a little on the inside of your arm and leave it for a day before using it more widely, especially with fragranced or essential oil products.
- Apply after a warm shower or bath, on clean, dry skin. Follow the amount on the label; brands give it in ml or pumps.
- Smooth it in gently. The NHS advises smoothing moisturisers in the direction your hair grows, rather than rubbing hard, to avoid blocking hair follicles.
- Expect a slight tingle on dry or freshly shaved skin. That’s the salt, not a sign it’s “working”. Stop if you get a rash or burning.
- Wash your hands afterwards and keep it away from your eyes.
Using more won’t get you more magnesium. The NHS also warns that fabric with moisturiser on it catches fire more easily, so keep away from flames and cigarettes after a rich butter.
How to choose a magnesium cream
- Magnesium stated per 5ml. Good labels say how much is in a set amount. For example (checked October 2026): NEOM says its magnesium body butters contain 88mg of magnesium per 5ml, as magnesium chloride; BetterYou says 5ml (4 pumps) of its Magnesium Body Lotion gives 120mg. That’s what’s in the cream, not what you absorb.
- Texture. A lotion or cream for quick use, a butter if your skin is very dry.
- Fragrance. Essential oils smell lovely but can irritate sensitive skin. Choose fragrance-free if you react easily.
- A UK seller. Buy from a brand with a UK address and clear returns, and ignore labels promising to fix pain or nerve problems.
Prefer a cooling rub for after the gym? Our guide to CBD balm explains how balms differ from magnesium creams.
Who should check first?
- Children and babies. Ask your GP or health visitor before using magnesium creams on children.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Check with your midwife or GP. NEOM, for example, advises speaking to a healthcare professional first if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding or on medication.
- Broken, cracked or eczema-prone skin. Don’t use it on broken skin: far more magnesium crosses damaged skin, and the salt stings.
- Diabetes or numb feet. Diabetes UK advises a daily moisturising cream for feet, but not between your toes, and talking to your healthcare team about which one to use.
- Kidney disease or regular medication. Ask your GP or pharmacist before adding any magnesium product.
Magnesium body butter as a gift
Magnesium body butters are a popular Christmas gift: they look and smell like a treat, and most of us have dry winter skin. Give one as a pampering present rather than a health product. For a bedtime-themed gift, it pairs well with a warm evening drink such as reishi cacao. More ideas in our wellness gifts and sleep gifts guides.
If you want magnesium you swallow, our magnesium drink guide compares cans, waters and powders.
FAQs
Does magnesium cream actually work?
As a moisturiser, yes. As a way to raise your magnesium, there’s little evidence: studies suggest only small amounts get through healthy skin. Magnesium from food or a supplement you swallow is the reliable route.
Is magnesium cream good for sleep?
There are no trials of magnesium creams for sleep. Some people enjoy rubbing one in as part of a wind-down, and a calm, screen-free routine can help you settle.
Can you use magnesium cream every day?
Most adults can, if it doesn’t irritate their skin. Patch test first and stop if you get a rash or itching.
Is magnesium cream safe for children?
Ask your GP or health visitor first. Many products are designed for adults, and children’s skin can react to fragrance and essential oils.
Can I use magnesium body butter when pregnant?
Check with your midwife or GP first, especially if it contains essential oils. Some brands advise speaking to a healthcare professional before use.
Is magnesium cream better than tablets?
Not for getting magnesium. Tablets, capsules and drinks state how much you’re taking; creams don’t tell you how much your body absorbs, which is likely small.
Sources
- Gröber U et al (2017). Myth or reality: transdermal magnesium? Nutrients. PMID 28788060.
- Kass L et al (2017). Effect of transdermal magnesium cream on serum and urinary magnesium levels in humans: a pilot study. PLoS One. PMID 28403154.
- Chandrasekaran NC et al (2016). Permeation of topically applied magnesium ions through human skin is facilitated by hair follicles. Magnesium Research. PMID 27624531.
- Camili V et al (2026). Does magnesium permeate the skin? An ex vivo investigation of magnesium ion delivery through intact and barrier-disrupted skin. European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics. PMID 42372834.
- Coates AM et al (2025). No effect of topical application of a commercial magnesium gel on exercise recovery in active individuals. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. PMID 40537122.
- Crawford C et al (2016). The impact of massage therapy on function in pain populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis, part I. Pain Medicine. PMID 27165971.
- NHS. Vitamins and minerals: others (magnesium).
- NHS. Emollients.
- NHS. Peripheral neuropathy.
- Diabetes UK. How to look after your feet.
- Product details from NEOM and BetterYou, checked October 2026.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Evopure makes the Magnesium Glycinate Sleep Complex, CBD Balm Muscle and Joint Support and Reishi Mushroom Adaptogenic Complex.
