The Benefits of Magnesium: Why It's an Essential Mineral for Vibrant Health

As a holistic skincare company with the cleanest ingredients nature has to offer, we pride ourselves on the transparency of every. single. ingredient. in our products. From soil to skin, what goes on your body matters.

So we love doing deep dives into our favorite ingredients to unpack the origins, sourcing, + all the benefits. Each ingredient has a unique role in our products – which is why we love to provide education about our intentional choices.

Up today: Magnesium. 

You’re going to love the benefits of magnesium – not just for your skin but for full-body health. Magnesium is a powerhouse ingredient that supports multitudes of systems and processes within your body + provides relief from aches and discomfort. 

Ready to learn about magnesium? 

Why We All Need More Magnesium

Magnesium is a naturally occurring mineral that helps with hundreds of reactions and functions within the body. 

But the value of magnesium isn’t a new concept. Magnesium was used in ancient cultures for:¹ 

• Mineral baths
• Herbal compresses
• Mud packs
• Steam/sweat lodges

In nature, magnesium is always found as a compound because it bonds easily with other elements. It’s typically found in natural minerals such as dolomite and magnesite, seawater, salt lakes, brines, or underground mineral salt deposits.² It’s the 8th most abundant element in Earth’s crust. 

So it’s interesting that so many people are deficient in such an abundant mineral, right? 

Magnesium Deficiency: A Public Health Crisis

Magnesium is naturally present in our bodies and many foods. Your skeletal system stores 50-60% of the magnesium in your body, and the rest is present in tissue, muscle, and bodily fluids.³

But we need to consume large amounts of magnesium – more than most of us get through food consumption – to achieve full-body wellness. It makes sense when you consider the standard American diet, which includes excess: 

→ Seed oil

→ Unhealthy fats

→ Processed foods

→ Gluten

→ Alcohol

→ Sugar

High levels of processing, preservatives, unstable cooking oils, and filler ingredients in the average American diet strip our foods (and our bodies) of essential nutrients, including magnesium. As a result, many people have a magnesium deficiency. 

Research shows magnesium deficiency is associated with many diseases, health risks, and ailments. To us, this suggests the benefits of magnesium could be insanely widespread. Some sources even say the prevalence of magnesium deficiency should be considered a public health crisis due to the importance of magnesium for overall health.⁴ 

Part of this magnesium deficiency could also be connected to declining soil health from farming practices, like tilling and using pesticides. The soil’s magnesium is essential for normal growth + quality (aka nutrient content) of crops.⁵

Foods that contain notable amounts of magnesium include:

• Nuts and seeds
• Dark green vegetables
• Dark chocolate
• Fatty fish
• Legumes

Unfortunately, it’s almost impossible to get enough magnesium through food alone. Many functional and holistic practitioners will recommend a magnesium supplement or magnesium-rich products to fill the gap.

Magnesium Supplements 

Considering what we know, a magnesium supplement seems like a benefit for most. However, there’s a wide range of magnesium supplements and applications, so it’s best to consult your healthcare professional for personalized advice. 

Some of the most common forms of magnesium you might see include names like: 

• Magnesium Citrate
• Magnesium Glycinate
• Magnesium Oxide
• Magnesium Chloride
• Magnesium Lactate
• Magnesium Malate 
• Magnesium L-threonate 
• Magnesium Sulfate

*Tip: It's worth mentioning that though magnesium is remarkable for its benefits, some forms are best for certain concerns. Look into the different forms to see which will better support your specific health ailment. 

Common uses + applications of magnesium include: 

• Pill form
• Powder stirred into a drink (often included in electrolyte mixes) 
• Topical lotion or oil infused with magnesium (like our Cycle Soothing Spray)
• Bath salts infused with magnesium

As the Britannica dictionary puts it, magnesium is one of the elements essential to all cellular life. That’s a powerful way to sum up the importance of this natural element. 

Let’s look at some of the specific, surprising, and incredible benefits of magnesium.

The Remarkable Benefits of Magnesium

Magnesium is a powerful natural ingredient used for various ailments or health concerns. It also provides foundational support for your body’s most essential systems/functions. These benefits of magnesium are far-reaching and substantial. 

Magnesium benefits various biomarkers of health. Here are just a few: 

• Healthy bowel movements 

• Supports bone health⁶ 

• Can help relieve menstrual cramps^7,8 

• Supports cardiovascular health⁹

• Helps to gently detox the body (dissolved in a bath)

• Promotes better sleep 

• Aids in Vitamin D metabolism + calcium absorption^10,1

• Supports muscle soreness from exercise recovery 

• Assists in glucose control and insulin metabolism + the risk for type-2 diabetes¹¹

• May help prevent/protect against strokes¹²

• Can help relieve PMS symptoms

• Supports a healthy stress response in your body 

• May help prevent migraines/headaches¹³

• Can help soothe anxiety and depression 

• Can help prevent a wide range of chronic diseases and discomforts such as:^14,8
• Alzheimer’s
• Cardiovascular disease
• Hypertension
• ADHD 
• Neurologic issues
• Fibromyalgia

And it doesn’t end there. Magnesium also has many beneficial properties that contribute to skin health. 

Magnesium Benefits for Skin

You know we love an ingredient with overall wellness and skin benefits. ;) Among the long list of roles it plays in overall health (which also supports healthy skin), magnesium can also help: 

• Visibly calm skin irritation
• Reduce excess oil in your skin¹⁵
• Aid in soothing inflammation¹⁶
• Reduce conditions like dermatitis¹⁷
• Moisturize the skin + improve skin barrier function¹⁶

The benefits of magnesium have been tried + trusted in the holistic health world for a long time, with great results. Which leads us to our own inventory of magnesium-infused products. 

Experience the Benefits of Magnesium With These PP Products

As a holistic skincare company crafting products that replenish + support health on a foundational level, magnesium aligns with our values perfectly.

But first, let’s address a common objection to topical magnesium.

The Benefits of Topically-Applied Magnesium 

Your skin acts as a defensive barrier to gatekeep the most harmful substances. At the same time, it retains nutrients and water. But, of course, absorption is also one of the functions of your skin. And while not everything you’re exposed to will absorb or soak into your skin, some topical products can penetrate through the skin’s layers, hair follicles, or sweat glands, and into your bloodstream. 

The absorption rate depends on factors like product composition, the area of the skin it’s applied, and whether the barrier is damaged.  

This concept of topical absorption is seen throughout dermatology and Western medicine practices:

→ Conventional medications administered via patches, creams, or skin contact. This includes products like nicotine patches or progesterone/estrogen creams.

→ Recent studies show that chemicals in conventional sunscreens are absorbed by your skin – and remain in your bloodstream at levels beyond the FDA threshold after ONE application! They even show the chemicals are present in your bloodstream three weeks later. Yikes.18

Topical magnesium is absorbed into the bloodstream, which means it could provide many of the same benefits as magnesium taken internally. This is why magnesium is included in several of our products. 

Primally Pure Products That Contain Magnesium

These are our favorite products bolstered with the benefits of magnesium for your wellness + skin health. 

Cycle Soothing Spray

This innovative spray provides topical relief from discomfort associated with PMS or your menstrual cycle. Our founder has been using her own version of this for years now. We’re so excited to have it finalized and ready for our community to enjoy! 

As Bethany says: “This stuff is a miracle product, and I don’t use that term lightly! It is like a secret weapon you can bring anywhere with you, and once you spray it on, you’ll feel the comfort and sensation immediately. It’s like wearing a blanket and being cozy on your period, even on the go, and especially at home.” 

It’s crafted with a magnesium oil base and a hand-picked blend of therapeutic, warming, and hormone-balancing oils that have been used for centuries. 

Our cycle soothing spray can help: 

• Soothe symptoms of menstrual cramps and minimize aches
• Balance the nervous system + bring calmness and ease to the body 
• Improve circulation 
• Boost overall homeostasis in a woman’s body
• Regulate melatonin levels, which support rest + better sleep

Use this spray for the PMS-related benefits of magnesium and the perfect blend of medicinal oils. Cycle Soothing Spray felt like the perfect name knowing there’s compelling evidence linking PMS symptoms to low magnesium levels.¹⁹ 

Everything Spray 

When our founder formulated this spray, she knew magnesium belonged in it for a few reasons. So many people are magnesium-deficient. Plus, topical application is the most bioavailable way to absorb/get more magnesium. 

Magnesium is involved in many bodily functions that benefit your skin. As the name implies, it really can do everything (okay, almost ;)). We love that the addition of magnesium can help support mitochondria, cell function and repair, lower cortisol, and balance hormones. (All excellent things for skin health!)

Beyond the magnesium, our Everything Spray is crafted with a blend of organic soothing + balancing ingredients to support numerous inflammatory skin conditions. And, of course, to maintain skin health. 

Bath Salts 

Our Bath Salts contain magnesium in the form of Epsom salt (aka magnesium sulfate). It’s paired with a hand-picked blend of clays rich in minerals and nutrients for your skin. It also includes other therapeutic ingredients.

Once dissolved into the water, the magnesium absorbs into your skin and delivers a multitude of restorative and relaxing benefits.

• Supports stress 
• Soothes soreness throughout the body 
• Relaxes tense muscles 
• Helps to repair + strengthen skin cells

So kick back and take a hot bath to gently detox and indulge in this potent form of magnesium therapy.

Since most people are magnesium deficient, we could all use an extra dose of this magical mineral. As part of our expertly crafted formulas, magnesium plays a key role in the effectiveness of these products – and the results. 

Magnesium: The Mineral You Need More Of 

Do you have a magnesium deficiency? There’s a possibility, considering what we know. 

And with over 300 critical roles within the body, this is an essential mineral you don’t want to overlook for full-body health. As we always say, full-body health is intricately linked to skin health – it’s all part of a bigger picture for wellness + radiant health. 

How do you feel about the benefits of magnesium after reading this post? 

Browse our magnesium-rich products here so you can be one step closer to optimal health. 

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Sources: 

1. Dr. Axe | Magnesium Oil: Does It Really Improve Magnesium Absorption?
2. International Magnesium Association: About Magnesium 
3. Medical News Today | Why Do We Need Magnesium? 
4. National Library of Medicine | Subclinical Magnesium Deficiency: A Principal Driver of Cardiovascular Disease and a Public Health Crisis
5. National Library of Medicine | Current Understandings on Magnesium Deficiency and Future Outlooks for Sustainable Agriculture 
6. National Library of Medicine | Magnesium and Osteoporosis: Current State of Knowledge and Future Research Directions 
7. International Journal of Women’s Health and Reproduction Sciences | Effectiveness of Magnesium on Menstrual Symptoms Among Dysmenorrheal College Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial
8. National Library of Medicine | Magnesium and Pain
9. BMJ Journals | Magnesium for the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease
10. Science Daily | Low Magnesium Levels Make Vitamin D Ineffective
11. National Library of Medicine | Magnesium and Type 2 Diabetes
12. National Library of Medicine | The Effect of Magnesium Intake on Stroke Incidence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis With Trial Sequential Analysis
13. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain | Magnesium in Migraine Prophylaxis—Is There an Evidence-Based Rationale? A Systematic Review 
14. National Library | Magnesium in Prevention and Therapy
15. National Library of Medicine | Separation of Wax Esters From Steryl Esters by Chromatography on Magnesium Hydroxide 
16. National Library of Medicine | Bathing in a Magnesium-Rich Dead Sea Salt Solution Improves Skin Barrier Function, Enhances Skin Hydration, and Reduces Inflammation in Atopic Dry Skin
17. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research | Effect of Topical Application of the Cream Containing Magnesium 2% on Treatment of Diaper Dermatitis and Diaper Rash in Children: A Clinical Trial Study
18. JAMA Network | Effect of Sunscreen Application on Plasma Concentration of Sunscreen Active Ingredients: A Randomized Clinical Trial
19. National Library of Medicine | Plasma Copper, Zinc and Magnesium Levels in Patients With Premenstrual Tension Syndrome

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