Epsom Salt Bath Benefits With DIY Detox Bath Soak Recipe

Why Take an Epsom Salt Bath?

Why is adding Epsom salt to your bath so beneficial? Honestly, I have always been a shower person. Before, a couple of years ago, I don’t think I had taken a bath since I was a child. I sat in a salt bath pool on a trip to a spa with a couple of girlfriends a few years back, and I seriously didn’t want to get out. And after….my skin never felt so soft and rejuvenated, not to mention my body just felt beyond relaxed. Ever since I really try to soak more often. An Epsom salt bath helps me decompress and relieves my sore muscles. 

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Bath Benefits

 So before we get into the benefits of Epsom salt, let’s look at the amazing benefits of soaking in the tub for 20 minutes. 

• Opens Pores -The steam alone from a bath can open your pores and allow deep-down dirt to exit. The addition of Epson salt in a soak will draw the dirt and toxins right out of the pores, where it is trapped.
• Relaxes and Distresses -Baths help decrease stress as you sit and take some time to relax. Aside from that, the bath helps to lower cortisol levels. Cortisol is a stress hormone in the body that can cause things like acne and increased signs of aging, to name a few. Adding calming essential oils to your bath will also assist in stress reduction.
• Relaxes Sore and Tight Muscles -You are fully submerged in warm water in a bath. This alone will relieve the soreness of your muscles, as it increases circulation. Additionally, bath additives such as Epsom salt can help relieve aches and pains and soothe the skin. 

WHAT IS EPSOM SALT?

Epsom Salt gets its name from the springs found in the Epsom area of England. Epsom Salt is not a salt, in the way that you may think. It only gets its name on the count of its chemical structure. It is magnesium sulfate, a chemical compound that is thought to have numerous health benefits, from helping with insomnia to relieving constipation and muscle pain.

SO WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT EPSOM SALT ANYWAY?

When dissolving the Epsom salt in warm water, sulfate and magnesium ions are released and absorbed into the skin. Why does this matter? Magnesium is an important mineral in our body responsible for important biochemical reactions throughout our systems. A lot of people are depleted of this important mineral. Some things that magnesium is shown to be helpful for are: promoting sleep, decreasing pain and tension (especially where sore muscles are a factor), decreasing inflammation (achy joints in arthritis), relieving constipation, helping with depression, reducing water retention, and preventing migraines.   

THE BENEFITS OF AN EPSOM SALT BATH

As mentioned above, taking a bath with Epsom salt can be effective if you have pain caused by sore muscles, tension, or inflammation. Athletes use it regularly to manage sore muscles after a long workout. Folks with arthritis find that a good Epsom salt soak eases their joint pain. If you think that magnesium depletion may be the cause of other ailments, such as migraines, try soaking for 20 minutes regularly may be beneficial.

In addition to helping your body feel better and getting much-needed magnesium, Epsom salt benefits skin health. It can help exfoliate dead skin cells and soothe rough, dry irritation. I have a vision of my grandmother soaking her feet every day with Epsom salt as she suffered from eczema, and she always said that it was the only thing that truly helped her. With that being said, if you are not a big fan of baths, a foot soak may be something you want to consider. You are still absorbing the magnesium, and even better if you have rough, dry feet.

OTHER SALTS TO ADD TO YOUR SOAK

When we talk about “bath salts,” a few options make a great addition to a good bath soak mixture. is a wonderful exfoliant, and it, too, provides minerals that you may be depleted of, creating electrolyte balance in the body. It, too, provides exfoliation of dead skin cells, but it also draws toxins out of the skin, leaving it feeling clean and refreshed. Dead Sea Salt also exfoliates and cleanses and has shown some great success in assisting with acne and preventing skin aging. Dead sea salt is also rich in magnesium.

OTHER ADDITIONS TO YOUR BATH

You can add some other natural additions to your Epsom salt bath to make it as therapeutic as possible. Before adding other ingredients, it’s important to note the end goal is to your bath: Are you in pain? Are you just trying to replenish your magnesium? Do you want skin detoxing, or do you want just to chill out and relax?

Baking Soda can be effective in detoxing your skin. It pulls dirt and toxins from your pores. Baking soda has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, making it effective for some in helping acne. The issue with it is its drying effect on the skin. Depending on the end goal, this may be what you want, such as a skin rash that needs to dry up. It is alkaline, so it breaks down the natural acidity of our skin, providing a protective layer. Another downfall to baking soda is that many people with sensitive skin have negative outcomes, such as skin break-out. I do find that it is very effective in foot soaks, however. It’s great at killing bacteria that cause odor.

Kaolin Clay may be a better option for detoxing the skin. It has the same drawing effect as baking soda but is not as drying. This clay is also non-pour clogging, so it will not cause further break-outs, and it removes dead skin cells as it soothes irritated and inflamed skin.

It’s a great idea to add some moisturizing to your bath, especially if you make this a regular part of your self-care routine, which I highly suggest you do. Daily showering alone can also strip our skin away of the natural oils it needs. Adding ingredients that detox the skin may lead to some dryness. Natural carrier oils are a great addition and are very skin nurturing, such as;  jojoba oil (mimics the natural sebum in our skin), coconut oil, Sweet almond oil, and vitamin E oil.

ADDING ESSENTIAL OILS

Essential oils are the perfect addition to your bath soak, making it a truly therapeutic experience. Some essential oils hold certain properties that will help you reach that end goal that you have in mind. The following is a list to use as a guide as to pure essential oils you may want to add based on your personal preference:

Relaxation – Lavender, Clary Sage, Neroli, Bergamot, Ylang Ylang, Patchouli

Pain Reduction- Lavender, Ginger, Juniper Berry

Immunity Boost – Sweet Orange, Frankincense, Lavender, Tea Tree

Skin Nourishing – Patchouli, Frankincense, Rose,  

Ailing cold or Flu – Black Spruce, Cedarwood, Tea Tree, Sweet Orange

MAKING YOUR DETOX BATH

There are 4 main ingredients to create a relaxing, cleansing detox bath, plus essential oils for additional therapeutic benefit.

• ¼ cup of Pink Himalayan Salt– recharges your body with the natural minerals it holds while it helps in exfoliation.
• 1/2 cup of Epsom Salt or magnesium sulfate drain the toxins from the skin and helps the sea salt exfoliate, promoting new, healthy skin growth.
• 1/4 cup Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)- eliminates bacteria and soothes skin irritation. You can substitute this with Kaolin clay for sensitive skin.
• 1 tsp. Vitamin E oil– has wonderful antioxidant properties and skin benefits, including anti-aging effects. You can use another carrier oil based on your preference.
• Medium size bowl
• Whisk
• Measuring spoon or medicine cup with ml measuring scale. If you use a spoon, grab a small container, like a shot glass, as you will add essential oils to the vitamin E or other carrier.
• 8 oz glass jar or container to store your finished soak in.

The following essential oils are all skin nourishing, as well as emotionally balancing and relaxing. You can add oils from the list above or make your blend. You will need approximately 20 drops total for your 8 oz soak. For this recipe, I added 8 drops of lavender, 6 drops of Patchouli, and 6 drops of Frankincense.

• Lavender – is perfect for any skin type and offers skin-healing properties. The aroma is relaxing and helps to reduce tension.
• Patchouli– Very nourishing to the skin, especially with its healing properties. The aroma is calming and grounding.
• Frankincense– helps skin to repair itself.  Aroma reduces tension and helps to keep one centered and grounded.

Combine the pink Himalayan salt, baking soda or clay, and Epson salt in a medium bowl, whisking together until even. Measure a tsp. or 5 ml of vitamin E oil. You then add you’re essential oils to vitamin E. Finally, pour oils over the salt mixture. Using the whisk, combine oils into the salt mixture evenly. Scoop into your container or jar when finished, keeping closed when not used. It is always best to store anything with essential oils in a dark, dry place for added product life. Read our post on The Basics of Essential Oils for more care.

Add 6-8 heaping tablespoons of your soak into a hot bath and relax!!

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Be sure to leave a comment on different variations of essential oils you might use or if you have any questions!!