Magnesium Body Butter: What It Is and How We Make Ours

Magnesium body butter is a rich moisturizer with magnesium chloride whipped in, made for a bedtime rub. Many people use it before bed for restless legs and tired muscles. It supports sleep and deeper sleep as part of a nightly routine. Ours blends beef tallow with magnesium oil, about 20% of the jar, and a woodsy scent. We list every ingredient, and our 60-day guarantee covers you.

By , founder of Moose's Tallow · Updated October 8, 2026

Sleep Tight is for you if: your mind won't turn off, your legs feel restless before bed, you wake up at 2 to 3am wired, you want support without melatonin
What people ask

What is magnesium lotion for?

Magnesium lotion is a moisturizer with magnesium chloride added, usually rubbed into feet, calves or shoulders at night. Many people use it before bed for restless legs and tired muscles. It supports sleep and deeper sleep as part of a bedtime ritual. Sleep Tight pairs the magnesium with whipped beef tallow and a woodsy scent.

How to make homemade magnesium body butter?

Most recipes melt butters and oils, then whip in magnesium oil. The catch is that magnesium oil is a salt brine, so water and oil want to separate. Ours needs an emulsifier, BTMS-50, and a preservative to stay stable. If you'd rather skip the kitchen chemistry, we make ours in small batches in Lebanon, Pennsylvania.

Which is the best magnesium butter?

The best one is the one you like using, so check four things. Is magnesium chloride on the label? Is the base one your skin likes? Are the ingredients and amounts listed? Is there a return policy? Ours is whipped beef tallow with magnesium oil at about 20%, a woodsy scent and a 60-day guarantee.

Is magnesium lotion safe for babies?

Ask your pediatrician first. Ours contains essential oils and coconut, so show them the label. If they say yes, patch test a small spot and wait 24 hours before using more. Skip broken or freshly shaved skin.

Do magnesium lotions actually help with sleep?

Many people say yes. They rub it on before bed, and it supports sleep and deeper sleep as part of a calm bedtime routine. Ours has magnesium chloride at about 20% of the jar. Make it the last step of your night for a few weeks. Our 60-day guarantee covers you.

Will magnesium body butter tingle?

It can. Many people feel mild warmth or a light tingle for a few nights. It usually fades as your skin adjusts. If it feels strong, use a smaller scoop or apply over slightly damp skin. Skip freshly shaved or broken skin. Our label recommends a patch test before first use, especially on sensitive skin.

What are the side effects of magnesium body butter?

The usual one is that mild warmth or tingle. Some people react to a fragrance or ingredient, so patch test a small spot first. Sleep Tight contains sandalwood, frankincense, cedarwood and vanilla essential oils, plus coconut and beeswax. Avoid broken or freshly shaved skin. If you have a health condition or take medicine, ask your doctor first.
The timeline

What to expect

  1. Tonight
    A grape-sized scoop melts in your palms and goes on smooth, never chalky. You may feel a light warmth or tingle. The woodsy scent stays close to your skin.
  2. Week 1
    The tingle usually settles as your skin adjusts. Many people make it the last step of the evening, rubbed into feet, calves or shoulders.
  3. Week 4
    Skin on your legs and feet feels softer and well moisturized. A 4 oz tin is about 30 nights. By then you'll know if it earns a spot by your bed.
From real customers
Review photo from Jennifer V.
★★★★★✓ Verified

Greatly reduced my leg cramps while sleeping

I'm definitely sleeping better these days and wish I could've found Moose's Whipped Tallow "Sleep Tight Magnesium Body Butter" 10 years ago. This product has really helped with my restless legs in the evenings. It also has greatly reduced my leg cramps while sleeping at night. Thank you for a lot less sleepless nights.
Jennifer V.
Review photo from Katie H.
★★★★★✓ Verified

Rubs the tension away

Smells wonderful and has a smooth cream consistency. I rub it behind my neck before I go to bed because that's typically where I have the most tension. It has definitely been a game changer.
Katie H.
Moose's Sleep Tight Magnesium Whipped Tallow Body Butter tin on a cozy blanket
★★★★★✓ Verified

This works great

This works great. I rub my feet and my legs prior to getting into bed. The leg pain stays clam and quiet. I can even skip a day and the legs feel great
Judy D.

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Why people use it at bedtime

Here is how people use Sleep Tight, and what we put in it.

  • Many people rub it on before bed for restless legs and tired muscles.
  • It supports sleep and deeper sleep as part of a nightly wind-down.
  • Magnesium chloride is the second ingredient on the label, about 20% of the recipe.
  • The warm, woodsy scent stays close to your skin.
  • Massage it into legs, feet and shoulders, and take a few slow breaths.
  • You get the full ingredient list, plus 60 days to decide on your own skin.

What is in the jar

This is the real Sleep Tight recipe, in label order.

IngredientWhat it does here
Beef tallowThe whipped base, close to your skin's own oils
Magnesium chloride (and) waterThe magnesium oil
Fractionated coconut oilEasy glide
BTMS-50 and cetearyl alcoholHold the water and the oils together
BeeswaxFirms the butter and seals it in
AMTicide CoconutPreservative for the water in the jar
Sandalwood, frankincense, atlas cedarwood, vanilla absoluteThe scent, from essential oils
Vitamin E and rosemary leaf extractAntioxidants that protect the oils

How to use it

A little goes a long way. Here's the routine on our label.

  • Scoop a grape-sized amount with clean, dry fingers.
  • Warm it between your hands until it melts.
  • Massage it into legs, feet, shoulders or wherever you like.
  • Take a few slow breaths while you do. It's part of the ritual.
  • A light warmth or tingle is normal at first. Use less, or apply over slightly damp skin.
  • Patch test first, and skip broken or freshly shaved skin.
  • Keep it cool and dry. The shelf life is about 12 to 18 months.

How do we render tallow?

It starts at a local butcher shop in farm country, where one cow yields about 12 pounds of suet. That suet is the fat around the cow's kidneys, rich in vitamins A, D, E and K. Its fatty acids are ones your skin loves, so we render it slowly, by hand.

  1. Ground beef suet in a box, ready to render into tallow

    Day 1 & 2

    Two renders of tallow over low heat, six hours each

  2. Golden tallow bubbling gently in a stainless pot during the dry render

    Day 3 & 4

    Dry render for eight hours, cool & dry render again for another eight hours

  3. Warm oil poured over dried herbs in a large glass jar for the infusion

    Day 5

    Infuse tallow and oil with organic herbs over low heat for 12-24 hours

  4. Whipped tallow being mixed with beaters in a steel bowl

    Day 6

    Add in beeswax and scent (if applicable), cool, whip and fill by hand

Brian "Moose" Smith with his family and their dogs
A note from the maker

We make Sleep Tight in small batches in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. It is beef tallow, magnesium oil and four essential oils, and the label lists all of it. I'd rather you test it on your own skin than take my word. If it's not for you, the 60-day guarantee covers it.

Brian "Moose" Smith, Lebanon, Pennsylvania

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