Bath salts may not be your ultimate beauty product choice, but did you know that it has an important role in maintaining body balance and overall wellness that you’d feel inside out?
The minerals and nutrients concentrated in your body are similar to the composition of bath salts. This means that they have the properties needed to protect, restore and maintain body equilibrium. While there is no question that bath salts should be a part of your beauty routine, there are other facts that you have to know. Read on as this article presents some useful information that you’d want to learn about bath sea salts.
What You Need to Know About Bath Salts
Bath salts are derived from ocean salts and while they have gained mainstream popularity only in recent years, these salts have already been used for thousands of years and are acclaimed for their cosmetic and health benefits.
While you may think that it doesn’t differ much from ordinary salt, the difference is in their mineral content. Unlike ordinary salt, sea salts are rich in magnesium, sodium, calcium and potassium–minerals that are essential for enhancing skin health and function, fighting off skin issues, and improving the skin’s natural protective barrier.
It is also important to understand that not all bath salts are created equal, particularly in terms of quality. And with the options found on the market now, bath salts can be in their purest form or could have undergone heavy processing.
So how do you choose the bath salt that is best for you?
Below are some of the tips that can ensure that you will not be deprived of the benefits that you are supposed to get from bath salts.
5 TIPS IN CHOOSING NATURAL BATH SALT
- Always opt for natural bath salts. Find bath salts that are made from real sea salt to ensure that you will benefit from the minerals and nutrients it contains.
- Choose crystalline bath salts. These bath sea salts are preferable as they will not dry your skin out. Rock salts are actually made up of sodium chloride which can strip off your skin’s moisture.
- Check grain size. Bath sea salts also differ in terms of grain size. Those with finer grains are the ones that are very effective when used as skin scrubs as they are can be dissolved easily.
- Know the differences in their colours. The hues of bath salts have significant meanings and they can affect the results you desire. Generally, bath salts with cool colours have soothing effects. On the other hand, those with warm hues come with energising effects.
- Find the right scent. Most of the time, bath salts are infused with herbs and essential oils. However, if you don’t prefer the scented ones, there are also plain and unscented bath salts that you can use.
The Right Bath Salt for Your Skin Type
Bath sea salts differ in types and what you’d want is to find the one that suits the needs of your skin. If you are a novice in finding bath sea salts, here is a guide to help you.
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For Dull or Tired Skin
- Rosemary or Peppermint bath salts have menthol component that provides a cooling sensation by boosting circulation on the skin’s surface, thus improving the appearance of the skin.
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For Stressed or Oily Skin
- Avoid untoward reactions by choosing lavender bath salts that are sensitive to your skin.
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For Dry or Flaky Skin
- Get your much-needed boost of moisture by choosing almond or orange bath salts to get the skin hydration you need.
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For Puffy Skin
- Get the help in driving toxins away from your body by using mineral or seaweed bath salts. They come with negative ions that draw minerals and nutrients into your bloodstream.
THE WONDERFUL BENEFITS OF BATH SEA SALTS
While you may find it necessary to invest in a good sunscreen, lipstick, toner or makeup, you cannot disregard the amazing uses of bath salts and how it can greatly improve your skin, and even enhance mind and body healing.
When it comes to beauty essentials, bath salts also deserve to have a spot in your beauty kit.
#1. AS A BALANCING MASK
Bath salts can ease skin breakouts and irritations because of their anti-inflammatory properties that balance the production of oil in the skin while keeping its layers properly hydrated.
#2. AS A NATURAL EXFOLIANT
Used it to gently slough off dead skin cells in order to achieve softer, smoother and moisturised skin.
#3. FOR A RELAXING BATH SOAK
Unlike other beauty products that will leave your skin dry, immersing in bath salt can actually restore the skin’s protective barrier to ensure that you will be kept moisturised.
#4. AS A SCALP TREATMENT
Want to have a healthy scalp? Aside from using natural beauty oils, you can also get rid of dandruff by using bath salts. Use it to effectively prevent fungal growth and the onset of dandruff.
#5. AS A FACE TONER
Be free from the bacteria that causes acne and breakouts as bath salts help clean pores deeply while balancing the production of oil.
#6. FOR ORAL HYGIENE
Bath sea salts mixed with baking soda can act as a teeth whitener as it helps with stain removal to achieve whiter and brighter teeth. Aside from that, fluoride is naturally sourced from bath salts that assist in teeth and gum care. Lastly, it can also be used as a disinfectant that can prevent gingivitis and kill the bad breath causing bacteria.
#7. AS A SKIN SOFTENER
Restore the skin’s softness by using bath salts as a skin conditioner and exfoliant that can hydrate, heal and facilitate skin rejuvenation.
#8. FOR A RELAXING FOOT BATH
Are you bothered by the smell of your feet? Wash your feet by creating your own footbath by using bath salts combined with a half cup of water. This will help you get rid of the unwanted smell and is also an effective solution to keep your feet fresh and free from toenail fungus.
#9. AS A SKIN CURE
Bath sea salts can be used for the speedy healing of skin cuts and wounds by reducing inflammation.
#10. FOR STRESS RELIEF
Bath sea salts are effective for stress relief and for wellness promotion. This is explained by the negative ions that are created when salt is heated in water. Once these negative ions connect with a positively charged body, a much-improved sense of wellness is achieved and stress is reduced.
#11. AS A NAIL TREATMENT
Get softer cuticles and stronger nails by using bath salts as a nail treatment. Mix it with lemon and baking soda to achieve nails that look healthy and without the stains.
#12. FOR LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE
When you often deal with worries concerning an elevated blood pressure, bathing in water with bath salts can help. These sea salts can help lower blood pressure level by slowing down blood circulation.
TYPES OF BATH SEA SALTS AND WHAT THEY CAN DO TO YOUR BODY
Now that you have learned some of the awesome benefits of bath sea salts, it’s time to know your options to find what will work best according to your needs. There is a wide variety of bath salts that are available in the market. And while you may notice that they vary in size, texture and colour, you also have to know that bath sea salts come in different sizes and a variety of uses.
EPSOM SALTS
Uses: For the relief of muscle pain and cramps
They look like tiny crystals that are similar to table salt, but it has a different chemical composition which includes magnesium, oxygen and sulphur. These salts are most effective to get rid of unwanted body toxins, for skin exfoliation, stress relief, and for the management of muscle pain.
NOTE: Epsom salt bath is preferred by people who are into sports. However, this is not a good choice for people with sulphur sensitivity.
DEAD SEA SALT
Uses: For bath soak and body scrub
As its name suggests, Dead Sea salts originally came from the Dead Sea, which has long been acclaimed for its therapeutic properties. Its chemical composition is basically made up of magnesium, potassium, calcium chloride, and bromides–chemicals that are responsible for its healing benefits, which include stronger nails and bones, improved circulation, anti-ageing benefits, skin moisture balance, greater body energy, and immune system boost.
NOTE: Even with its healing properties, Dead Sea salt bath should be used with caution to avoid untoward reactions.
HIMALAYAN BATH SALTS
Uses: For skin and body detox
Also known as ‘Pink Gold’, Himalayan salts come with a pink colour and are hand mined from the ancient ocean beds of the Himalayan Mountains. These crystal salts have trace elements of iron which explain its pink colour. Furthermore, Himalayan salts contain lower magnesium levels than other bath sea salts which made them a more popular choice than Epsom and Dead sea salts. It has healing benefits which include improvement of body circulation, lowering of blood pressure level, balancing of the body’s pH.
Aside from the most popular types of bath sea salts, there are other variants that are known for their amazing benefits and basically differ in terms of the therapeutic ingredients and scents that they are infused with.
ARE YOU READY TO INCLUDE BATH SALTS IN YOUR BEAUTY REGIMEN?
Clearly, bath salts can bring improvements that reflect from the inside out. You can’t just ignore the benefits that you can harness the moment you start immersing yourself in a relaxing bath.
The best part?
There is already a wide range of bath salt beauty products that can provide you with a luxurious experience that is comparable to what expensive spa treatments offer. With a huge selection of bath salts that you can use as a part of your regular routine, there is no excuse for getting a beautiful glow and improving your overall sense of well-being.
