Collection: Magnesium Chloride Flakes

Functional, Actives & Additives

MgCl₂,Zechstein Seabed

Magnesium chloride flakes are harvested from ancient underground seabed deposits, most notably the Zechstein seabed in the Netherlands, formed from a landlocked sea that evaporated approximately 250 million years ago. Unlike Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate), magnesium chloride is believed to be more bioavailable when absorbed through the skin, making it the preferred form of transdermal magnesium for both deodorant applications and therapeutic bath and body formulas.

At Le Silo Bleu, we use the flakes as they are or dissolve them in water to create a magnesium chloride solution which can be used in sprays.

Often they are also used in natural deodorant formulas, where magnesium's natural antimicrobial properties provide odor control without the skin irritation associated with baking soda at higher concentrations.

How It Works

Magnesium chloride works as a natural deodorant active through two mechanisms: its alkaline pH creates an environment unfavorable to odor-causing bacteria, and its magnesium ions have direct antimicrobial activity against the bacteria responsible for body odor. Unlike antiperspirants, it does not block sweat glands; it simply addresses the bacterial cause of odor rather than the sweat itself. When dissolved in water and applied to the skin, it is absorbed transdermally, contributing to the body's magnesium levels.