The pristine source for Ancient Minerals magnesium products lies within a deep underground seabed in Northern Europe–nearly two miles beneath the surface—referred to as the Ancient Zechstein Sea. It is extracted from the earth by a process known as solution mining, and is globally the most coveted source of naturally occurring magnesium chloride in existence.

“Magnesium oil” is a term that was coined early in the development of transdermal magnesium therapy. Though applied in a manner similar to beneficial natural oils, magnesium oil in its composition is actually a highly concentrated solution of magnesium chloride in water. There are no actual oils present in our formulations.

Many manufacturers rely on the phrases “Pharmaceutical Grade” and “USP Grade” to convey a sense of quality to consumers. Both “Pharmaceutical Grade” and “USP Grade” refer to the same thing–the public standards set forth by the United States Pharmacopeia.

There are several aspects of magnesium chloride defined by USP standards, but arguably the most important and controversial is the standard set for maximum allowable heavy metal content. This standard designates how much mercury, cadmium, lead, and other toxic metals may be present while still receiving USP certification.

In the case of magnesium chloride, the USP standard allows for a maximum heavy metal content of 10 parts per million (ppm). Because transdermal magnesium chloride comes into direct contact with our skin, we should pay particular attention to the fact that these allowed elements are known toxins. Even as low as a single part per million of mercury can have negative effects.

What this means for you is that manufacturers can casually use the phrase “Pharmaceutical Grade” without telling you exactly what toxic heavy metals exist in the finished product, and at what levels–so long as these levels are below the USP limit.

By no means do we consider this an acceptable practice, and certainly not a suitable method to represent the purity of Ancient Minerals. For that reason, we refer to the “ultra-purity” of Ancient Minerals as being far beyond any pharmaceutical standard that exists in the world, period. We are completely transparent in our efforts to redefine purity. Genuine Zechstein® lab results are available proudly to all who seek them. For more information on these results, please feel free to contact us.

Some users of magnesium oil and magnesium gel with sensitive skin may experience tingling and/or slight irritation at the site of application due to the high concentration of magnesium chloride. This is completely harmless and varies based on a number of factors, including how much is applied and where it is applied to the body.

Diluting the magnesium oil 1:1 with pure spring water can reduce this effect, although this is a matter of personal preference. Those who experience this effect also report that the tingling lessens with each subsequent application.

Another option is to choose Ancient Minerals magnesium lotion or magnesium bath flakes, for use in foot soaks and/or full body soaks, which offer a gentler form of transdermal magnesium therapy, for those with extremely sensitive or broken skin.

No. The skin has a unique ability to self-regulate absorption, and therefore overuse is of little concern.

Avoid using Ancient Minerals magnesium gel, magnesium lotion or magnesium oil near mucus membranes such as the eyes and nose, which can cause some irritation.

In addition, though applying the magnesium oil and/or gel to broken skin or wounds can be highly therapeutic and cleansing, the high concentration of magnesium salts may cause discomfort. If you are using Ancient Minerals on broken skin or lesions (i.e. psoriasis, eczema, acne, etc.) it is strongly advised to begin with magnesium baths until the skin had a chance to start healing and become less sensitive to the higher concentration of magnesium chloride in the oil and gel.

Apply to clean skin. Avoid sensitive areas and mucus membranes. We recommend applying liberally to larger areas of skin such as your torso, legs, and arms, to help maximize absorption.

It is normal to experience slight itching or stinging during initial use. This should subside during the absorption process. For a lighter application, the magnesium oil is water-soluble and can be diluted with pure water to form a lower concentration for a lighter application. We recommend starting with a 1:1 ratio but the solution can be diluted even further.

You do not need to rinse off our magnesium after use. Rinsing off magnesium oil after use is a matter of personal preference. In roughly twenty minutes your skin can take full advantage of topically applied magnesium, and it may be safely removed at that point. Keep in mind, also, that Ancient Minerals magnesium gel is designed to stay hydrated on the skin, so rinsing off after use is recommended.

Despite the purity of our magnesium chloride products, we are unable to recommend, encourage, or supply instructions for internal use, as they are classified as topical supplements.

One of the many reasons that people seek out our products is because of their transdermal application. When applied topically, Ancient Minerals bypass the digestive tract and do not create the laxative effect that is so common when supplementing magnesium orally.

The trace minerals present in Ancient Minerals Oil are naturally occurring in the magnesium chloride used in our products. In our commitment to sourcing the highest quality ingredients available, we use only Genuine Zechstein Magnesium Chloride. This unadulterated, pure magnesium chloride is drawn from the ancient Zechstein Seabed, approximately 2 miles beneath the surface of the earth, where it is protected from modern-day pollutants. This is one of the cleanest sources of magnesium in the world and will naturally contain traces of minerals such as potassium chloride, sodium chloride, magnesium sulfate, and calcium chloride in very small quantities.

Our Ancient Minerals products are safe to use while pregnant or breastfeeding. That being said, if it's your first time using our products, you may still want to consult with your practitioner prior to using them.