Stinging Nettle Magnesium Lotion

Stinging Nettle Magnesium Lotion Recipe

You’ll need a scale to weigh out the ingredients.

Ingredients:

Oil/Wax Group (oil phase)

• 34 g (1.2 oz) nettle infused oil (17%)
• 10 g (0.35 oz) unrefined hemp oil (5%) – added after heating
• 11 g (0.39 oz) emulsifying wax (5.5%) – I use Mountain Rose Herbs brand

Water/Liquids Group (water phase)

• 64 g (2.26 oz) magnesium oil (32%)
• 79 g (2.79 oz) distilled water (39.5%)

Cool Down Phase

• 2 g Geogard ECT (ecocert approved preservative) or 2 g Optiphen Plus (not natural, but paraben-free and formaldehyde-free)
• optional essential oils: up to 40 drops cypress essential oil + up to 20 drops lavender essential oil

Alternate nature-derived preservative idea: Use 8 g (4%) Leucidal SF Complete and decrease the water amount to 73 grams (36.5%) (This preservative is a weaker option, but considered most natural of the choices; shelf life will be reduced to a month or two.)

Directions:

1. Combine the infused oil and emulsifying wax in a heatproof jar. (I use small canning jars.)
2. In a separate heat proof jar, combine the magnesium oil and water (or liquid aloe) and cover this jar lightly with lid to prevent evaporation.
3. Place both jars down into a saucepan containing a few inches of water.
4. Heat the pan over medium low until the wax is completely melted.
5. Remove from heat and stir the hemp oil into the hot oil/wax mixture.
6. Pour the magnesium oil/water mixture into the oils/wax mixture.
7. Mix until the lotion cools to under 104 degrees F (it’s okay to take an arm break now and then if hand-stirring), then add the essential oils and preservative and mix well.
8. Pour into jars and keep uncovered until completely cooled, to avoid condensation inside the lids.
9. The lotion usually thickens up overnight.

Shelf life if made with Geogard ECT is about 3 or 4 months. If made with Optiphen Plus, shelf life will be closer to 6+ months. If made with Leucidal SF Complete, shelf life may be up to one or two months.

If you don’t want to add a preservative, store in the fridge and use within a few days. You can also try freezing in small portions for future use. (I’ve successfully frozen many kinds of lotions and creams, but can’t be certain how magnesium lotion will freeze – you’ll have to experiment!)

Mixing Tips: I often use a fork and arm power to mix up lotions with Mountain Rose Herbs emulsifying wax, but you can also use a hand mixer with a single beater and a tall narrow container. If you use an immersion blender (stick blender), mixing time will be significantly reduced- do not overblend with an immersion blender or you may “break” the emulsion.

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A Version with Beeswax:

This recipe was designed especially for emulsifying wax which can support a high rate of water-based ingredients.

Beeswax formulations require a completely different ratio of oils/wax and water. So you can’t just swap in beeswax for the emulsifying wax.

If you’d like to make a beeswax version of this recipe:

1. Go visit my recipe: How to Make a Lotion for Leg Cramps & Growing Pains.
2. Substitute the arnica and comfrey infused oil with nettle infused oil and hempseed oil instead.
3. Add a few drops of cypress (or cedarwood, or juniper) and lavender essential oil.