Epsom Salt Is A Must-Have Beauty Ingredient

Epsom Salt Is A Must-Have Beauty Ingredient

Epsom salt is ubiquitous in the beauty world. You’ll hear about it in scrubs, bath soaks and hair treatments. But what is it and why use it? Epsom salt is a mineral compound called magnesium sulfate, so it’s not really a salt.

What it does for the body, though, is to help with a variety of bodily functions like reducing inflammation, reliving pain (you may have heard of athletes using it as a pain-relieving soak), helping muscles function better and flushing out toxins, just to name a few benefits. Even better, it soaks in well through the skin. Read on to find out how to use this natural health miracle in your beauty routine.

Exfoliation

Like the sea salt or table salt people usually associate Epsom salt with, this mineral makes a great exfoliation scrub. Either combine it with a natural base like coconut oil or honey, or add it to your cleanser. The moisturizing oil and honey are a great option for dry skin, or go for the cleanser if you have oily skin. Simply rub it on your skin for a minute or two to get rid of those dead skin cells, and then rinse. Similarly, you can also use the mixture on callused feet, rough elbows and chapped lips for smoother skin.

Have A Soothing Bath

Epsom salt is great in baths, since it helps relieve sore joints and muscles, bruises or sprains. It also adds moisture to skin and is reputed to have a calming effect on the nervous system. Add a couple cups of Epsom salt to a running bath. You can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil for added soothing aromatherapy benefits. Soak for at least twenty minutes.

Give Hair Volume & Texture

A very popular method for using Epsom salt is to use it in hair sprays and as an additive to hair care products. It’s a great natural hair texturizer. Once per week, combine Epsom salt with your conditioner (equal parts of each) and leave in for 15-30 minutes. That will purify the hair of oils.

To get wavy hair, like you’d get from commercial texturizing sprays like Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray, Epsom salt can help. Simply combine a couple tablespoons of Epsom salt with eight ounces of hot water. Stir and put the mixture into a spray bottle. Spray it into damp hair and scrunch for waves. Then let hair air-dry. Optional additives for more texture include a splash of lemon juice and a pinch of sea salt, though make sure to regularly moisturize and deep condition your hair, as these can be drying.