We get a few dozen press releases for new beauty products every day and most of them we dismiss pretty quickly because they appear to be the same old stuff repackaged with outrageous claims and a high price tag. But, we recently received one on Epsom salts which caught our eye because it provides some common sense beauty tips that also make sense technically and that can be applied VERY inexpensively. While some people may find salt too drying for their skin, we still think these tips are worth sharing, especially for the DIY fans in the crowd. (And, no, we weren’t paid off by the Epsom Salt Council of America to promote their product.)
Glowing skin exfoliating treatment
Mix 2 cups of Epsom Salt with 1/4 cup of petroleum jelly and a few drops of lavender essential oil. Use the mixture to gently scrub away dry skin patches.
Microdermabrasion Facial
Mix 1/2 TSP of Epsom Salt into cleansing cream for a deep-pore cleansing. Massage on skin. Rinse with cool water. Pat dry. (Note: I’m not crazy about this one because salt can destabilize some emulsions and may interfere with the delivery of other ingredients.)
Bathtime Bliss
Add two cups of Epsom Salt to the water in a standard-sized bathtub; soak for at least 12 minutes, three times weekly. For an extra treat, add a few drops of eucalyptus oil for a refreshing scent.
Pedicure Perfection
Dissolve a half cup of Epsom Salt into two quarts of warm water. Pour the water into a container and soak your bare feet for fifteen to twenty minutes. For an extra treat, add a few drops of eucalyptus oil for a refreshing scent. Massage the entire foot with Epsom Salt concentrating on the heels and ankles to remove any dry, rough spots. Then, rinse your feet off with clean tap water and dry them thoroughly.
Stress relieving soak
Add two cups of Epsom Salt to the water in a standard-sized bathtub; soak for at least 12 minutes, three times weekly. For an extra treat, add a few drops of eucalyptus oil for a refreshing scent.
Image credit: http://www.public-domain-image.com/studio/slides/salt-and-pepper.jpg
You can learn more by following Epsom Salts on Facebook.
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Ah, too late. Last month, I bought a huge box of Epsom salts because I wanted to add magnesium to my life (I already use milk of magnesia as a deodorant). I couldn’t figure out what to do with the stuff so I gave it to a neighbor. There is some type of magnesium cream (gel?) available at health-food stores but it’s outrageously expensive.
Does Epsom salt and Sodium Chloride have the same chemical makeup? On the Comedogenic Ratings link you provided in another post http://www.beneficialbotanicals.com/facts-figures/comedogenic-rating.html Sodium Chloride has a rating for 5…is it ok to use it on your skin as a scrub without clogging your pores and causing acne?
Thanks
Hallie: Epsom “salt” is magnesium sulfate.
I use epsom salt as the only exfoliant in my scrubs for the extra magnesium. It probably doesn’t do much good (from a rinse off product) but I have a better mentality with it than salt, sugar, etc.
You really do have to find a brand that agrees with you, though. The individual particle sizes and shapes can vary dramatically!
This is good to know. I have tried everything from Burts Bees but way to oily. I’ve tried every product too at whole foods almost. I do the at home facial with the Riiviva Microdermabrasion tool for my acne scarring and it’s terrific. Its here at http://www.riiviva.com.
Do you have any recommendations as to what avenue to take for mositurizing with out all the oily residue that happens when I use oils. Thanks
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