We recommend using your magnesium within 30-60 days of opening it. Our ingredients each have a shelf life of at least a year; however, we do not use artificial preservatives and the essential oils in our balms will eventually start to evaporate once the jar is opened. Use your balm while it’s at its freshest and most effective!

Magnesium itself tends to be a very safe mineral that is extremely difficult to overdose on. It is generally safe except for cases of kidney disease, as the kidneys are the organs that filter out extra magnesium that the body can’t absorb.

The bigger safety concern is essential oils. If you are taking medications or have health conditions, it is always wise to check with your doctor before using products with essential oils. We made sure that our Little Buffalo Balm was safe for little ones, but oils like the wintergreen in our Recovery Balm are very potent and can interact with some medications (ex: some diabetes medications).

Many essential oils that are safe for humans are NOT safe for pets! (Not only topically, but even used in diffusers.) Therefore, we do not recommend using any of our magnesium balms on pets. Our Simply Balm does not contain essential oils and could be used on dogs or cats; however, you want to make sure you don’t apply it to any areas that your pet could lick. Our butters and oils contain a lot of fat (which is why they’re so lovely and emollient!) and ingesting it could cause digestive issues.

If you are planning to use your balm on the soles of your feet (Sleep, Immunity, Little Buffalo, or Simply Balm), we recommend ½ tsp on the sole of each foot for an adult. At 1 tsp per day, a 2 oz jar would last 12 days and a 4 oz jar would last 24 days. You may find you need less, or you may use more if you’re using your balm for massage. 

If you’re just using Recovery Balm or Immunity Balm topically on areas experiencing pain or congestion, your jar may last quite a bit longer - a little goes a long way!

We get this question the most regarding our Recovery Balm. Because this balm is generally used in much smaller amounts than the Sleep or Immunity Balms, for example, you’re generally ok to apply it 2-3 times a day! (Again, please check in with your healthcare provider if you have any questions about safety and interactions.)

Because we use raw unrefined shea butter (to keep all of the good stuff in its natural state!) it is not filtered as thoroughly as refined shea butter, which is ivory or white and looks more like a mass-produced product. Flecks are from the shea nut. Nothing is wrong with your balm - that’s the natural state of its ingredients! :)

First off, magnesium is not only very safe but also highly recommended for pregnancy, as it can help a great deal with everything from insomnia to leg cramps to back pain to possibly even preeclampsia! (Just never use it in place of treatment by a medical professional...) 

However, there is very little research available on the safety of many essential oils, so that is where the caution comes in. Essential oils can be very effective, but that also means they can be powerful and should be taken seriously!

Here’s what we recommend:

1st Trimester: 

Use only Simply Balm, which contains magnesium but no essential oils. The 1st Trimester is a crucial time for safety and caution.

2nd-3rd Trimester:

It is generally agreed that lavender oil is safe for the middle and later stages of pregnancy, so Simply Balm OR Sleep Balm are both okay to use. 

Breastfeeding:

And… back to Simply Balm. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news! Essential oils used by mom may show up in breastmilk, so if you’re breastfeeding it’s better to be safe. 

We do not recommend Recovery Balm or Immunity Balm at any point as they both contain some strong oils that essential oil companies caution against during pregnancy and breastfeeding. We do not recommend Little Buffalo Balm during pregnancy or breastfeeding, but as soon as your little one is over 6 months and is weaned feel free to go ahead and use it on your kiddo (and yourself). 

And, as always, if you have any safety questions, we always encourage you to speak to your healthcare provider! 

Again, this question mostly depends on the age of the child and the essential oils in the balm!

Simply Balm: 6 months and up

Little Buffalo Balm: 6 months and up (but this one contains herbs that may be more helpful for little ones than the Sleep Balm)

Sleep Balm: 6 months and up

Immunity Balm: 6 years and up

Recovery Balm: 10 years and up

No! Our full spectrum CBD may legally contain up to 0.03% THC, but because we’re working with whole-plant extracts rather than isolates, that percentage will vary and is often even lower. That said, if you have a job that requires drug testing, there is a possibility that THC will show up on the test from full spectrum CBD.

We started this business because of our migraines and insomnia, and found magnesium to be a powerful ally. That said, everyone’s body is different and we are not able to guarantee that it will work the same for everyone. Many of the issues people use magnesium for (migraine, sleep, cramping, etc.) have multiple possible causes and magnesium deficiency may only be one of the factors in what you are dealing with! Consulting with your healthcare provider (or functional medicine provider or herbalist) may be able to offer some more insight!