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Instalab ResearchThis is the core question, and the answer is not encouraging for magnesium spray. A 2017 scientific review focused specifically on transdermal magnesium (sprays, oils, baths, and flakes) concluded that claims of superior absorption through the skin are scientifically unsupported. The evidence for meaningful absorption through intact skin is very weak.
The marketing language around these products often promises "near 100% absorption" and better tolerance than oral forms. But those statements are not backed by controlled human trials.
One small trial that spray proponents frequently cite involved just 9 participants who used magnesium oil sprays combined with foot baths for 12 weeks. The study reported increases in hair magnesium levels, but it had serious limitations:
A separate randomized study tested a magnesium-rich lotion applied repeatedly over 3 days and found that it did not change blood magnesium levels compared to a placebo. Importantly, no toxic magnesium levels were seen either, which tells us two things: the spray likely isn't getting much magnesium into your bloodstream, but it also isn't causing harm at typical cosmetic doses.
Oral magnesium is the clear winner here. Systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials consistently use oral (or intravenous) magnesium when demonstrating clinical benefits. No spray-based study has shown the kind of reliable, measurable improvements that oral supplements regularly deliver.
Not all oral forms are equal, though. Organic salts like magnesium citrate, lactate, malate, gluconate, aspartate, and bisglycinate are generally better absorbed than magnesium oxide. Newer microencapsulated forms can produce sustained increases in blood magnesium with fewer gut side effects compared to oxide.
A daily dose of around 200 mg of chelated magnesium (such as citrate or lactate) is considered safe and sufficient to raise serum magnesium above the optimal threshold of roughly 0.85 mmol/L over 20 to 40 weeks. Most studies use a range of 200 to 400 mg per day of elemental magnesium.
Magnesium is involved in over 300 enzyme reactions in your body. It's essential for how your cells produce energy (ATP production), DNA and protein building, nerve signaling, and muscle contraction. Low magnesium is linked to a surprisingly long list of health concerns:
Before reaching for any supplement, it's worth knowing that many whole foods are rich in magnesium:
You can also boost absorption by soaking, fermenting, or sprouting grains and legumes (this lowers compounds called phytates that block magnesium uptake). Adequate vitamin D helps absorption too. On the flip side, highly processed foods, sugary drinks, and excess alcohol increase how much magnesium your body loses through urine.
If your goal is to correct or prevent magnesium deficiency, prioritize magnesium-rich foods and a well-absorbed oral supplement in the 200 to 400 mg per day range. Citrate, lactate, and malate are good forms to look for.
If you enjoy using magnesium spray for relaxation or how it feels on your skin, there's no strong reason to stop. It appears safe at typical cosmetic doses. Just don't count on it as your primary magnesium source.
If you're at higher risk for low magnesium (for example, if you take diuretics or proton-pump inhibitors, or if you have diabetes or are pregnant), relying on sprays instead of proven oral supplementation could mean your deficiency goes undertreated. Talk to your clinician about evidence-based oral magnesium.
The honest summary: magnesium sprays are widely marketed but lack solid clinical evidence for raising body magnesium levels. They're fine as an add-on, but oral magnesium and a good diet remain the evidence-based path to keeping your levels where they should be.