Bath salts are obtained from sea salt or rock salt. Although the popularity of this product in the West has increased, particularly in recent years, the use of salts in the bathroom is not a recent invention but dates back to thousands of years ago.
Different cultures have always used it both for cosmetic properties, both for the health benefits. Many people believe that bath salts and common salt are the same things, but they are wrong! These products contain different minerals.
Unlike cooking salt, bath salts are rich in magnesium, sodium, calcium or potassium, and it is thanks to their composition that they improve the health of the skin, strengthening its protective barrier and alleviating some pathological conditions.
Here we had selected some of the best bathing salts that are given below.
What to Look for Before Buying Bath Salts?
What Are Bath Salts and What Are They Used For?
Bath salts are soluble inorganic substances which, used in a hot bath, have beneficial and relaxing properties for the body. They often combine with other ingredients, for example, with essential oils, depending on the desired effects.
Although they have a similar name, bath salts and table salt have different chemical compositions. Depending on the origin, they are divided into sea salts and rock salt.
Why Use Bath Salts?
Quality bath salts contain many essential elements for our body, such as magnesium, sodium, iron or calcium. Salts rich in minerals, combined with hot water and essential oils, can relieve muscle and joint pain due to fatigue or arthritis.
Sodium, in combination with water, helps keep the skin hydrated and can help in the presence of certain pathological conditions, such as eczema or psoriasis. In addition, the aromatic properties of many bath salts contribute to mental relaxation and can be very useful for people suffering from insomnia.
How Do You Prepare a Tub or Basin with Bath Salts?
The preparation of a tub to take a bath or a basin to make a foot bath and a fairly easy procedure. First of all, in the case of the tub, you will need to put the cap on. At this point, the salts are added, right under the jet of water, in order to facilitate their dissolution and release of the aromas.
The amount of salts to use depends on your tastes and the type of bath you want to do, however on average about 100 g are used. The water temperature must be the maximum temperature you can comfortably withstand. When the tub is full, turn off the tap, immerse yourself and enjoy the experience.
Do Bath Salts Have Other Uses?
Actually yes, they can have many other uses. If you believe that they can only be used to take a bath, they will seem like a rather useless product – but this is absolutely not the case! In fact, you must know that they have many different uses, useful for your health and for your appearance.
- You can use them as a face mask if you combine them with a small part of water until you get a paste.
- Combined with equal parts of water or a carrier oil (such as olive oil, coconut oil, or almond oil) you can get an exfoliator for the body.
- By dissolving the bath salts in hot water and allowing the mixture to cool, a face tonic with antibacterial properties is obtained, perfect for skin with acne.
- In combination with baking soda, they can be used for dental hygiene, thanks to the whitening and disinfectant effect.
- They can also be used to treat nails and cuticles. I should simply dissolve the salts in hot water and dip your hands in it for a few minutes.
What Kind of Bath Salts to Choose?
As you can see, each type of bath salt has different properties – although some are common. So, you can choose what is best suited to your needs and your routine. In any case, we advise you always to choose natural products, or as natural as possible, which do not contain synthetic ingredients and perfumes.
People who want a remedy for muscle and joint pain should choose Epsom salts. Dead Sea salts are recommended for people with skin problems or people who simply want to improve the appearance of the skin. The Himalayan salts, on the other hand, are the most suitable for a relaxing bath before bed.
How Can I Use Bath Salts without A Bath?
Nowadays it is less and less common to have a bathtub in the house: we live in a busy world, we don’t have time to stop for a moment, and it is undeniable that taking a shower is much faster than taking a bath.
But don’t worry, because it is not essential to have a bathtub to be able to benefit from the properties of bath salts. You can use bath salts in the shower as body exfoliators, preparing a thick paste by combining the salts with oils.
With the steam of hot water, the salts will dissolve, and you can experience the beneficial properties of the salts and their flavoured vapours. Of course, you can also soak your hands or feet to relax after a long day.
Do Bath Salts Have Contraindications?
Bath salts as such have no contraindications. However, in case of sensitive skin or circulation problems, we advise you not to make too frequent or long baths, which can dehydrate the skin or give a feeling of heaviness in the joints.
It is not advisable to take baths with very hot water – with or without bath salts – more than once a week, and more you must try not to wastewater! At the same time, the bathroom should not exceed half an hour. When you get out of the tub, remember to apply cream or moisturizing oil to prevent your skin from drying out.
Purchase Criteria
Taking a bath with salts is a very relaxing experience, which can relieve muscle pain and leave a wonderful sensation on the skin. Of course, with all the salts on the market, it can be difficult to choose, but there are criteria that you must consider when deciding to buy bath salts:
- Composition
- Aroma
- Colour
- Crystal size
- Origin
Composition
Without a doubt, the most important factor in the choice of bath salts is the composition. We always advise you to choose 100% natural products, which are less dangerous for your skin and are less likely to cause allergies. In addition, they are the most effective.
If you are looking for flavoured bath salts, we recommend choosing salts enriched with essential oils. We also remind you that you can buy unflavored bath salts and personalize them by adding a few drops of the essential oils you prefer.
Aroma
We have already briefly explained that each aroma has different properties. Nowadays we can choose from a really wide range of perfumes: herbal, floral and fruity are the most common. In addition to the good smell, you can enjoy the beneficial effects.
If you like to vary the effects of your baths, it may be convenient to buy odourless bath salts and combine them with different essential oils. You can consult the properties of used oils individually, but remember that, by combining different oils, you can enhance their psychic, healing and medicinal effects.
Colour
Bath salts can have different colours, due to particular chemical composition (for example, the Himalayan salt is pink due to the high concentration of iron) or to dyes – natural or synthetic.
The coloured salts tint the bathwater; which – in addition to the aesthetic side – can enhance the effects of salts. We always recommend choosing salts coloured with natural dyes, such as herbs or flowers.
Size of The Crystals
When we think of bath salts, we imagine big salts but it is not necessarily so! On the market, there are bath salts with small, medium, large or very large crystals. Depending on the use, one or the other dimension is convenient.
For example, if we want to prepare an exfoliant for the body, combining the salts with oil, we will choose salts with small crystals. To prepare a bath with salts in a tub, large crystals are fine. Finally, to put your hands or feet to soak, it is better to use salts with medium-sized crystals, to facilitate dissolution.
Origin
We have already mentioned the most famous origins of bath salts: Epsom, the Dead Sea and the Himalaya. As you have learned by now, these salts have different composition, properties and purity index – the Himalayan salts are the purest because they come from a rock formed at very high pressure.
When you go to buy bath salts, try to make sure that the declared origin is the real origin of the salts. Some manufacturers falsify labels and try to sell common salt, with properties similar to Epsom salts, such as Epsom salt. Always read the labels with due attention!
