I used to love taking relaxing salt baths when I first got married. Now, most days, bath time just involves me washing many tiny fingers, toes and heads of hair. No complaints, but definitely not as relaxing!
Benefits of Salt Baths
Salt baths are great for much more than just relaxation. Of course, a soothing salt bath is great for that too, but the benefits go well beyond just being a soothing end to a stressful day. They make a great DIY gift!
Benefits of salt baths include:
- Stress relief
- Reducing muscle aches
- Improving circulation
- Headache relief
- Speeding up wound healing (don’t use on direct open wounds)
- During illness, especially respiratory illness
- To help mineral absorption and improve sleep in children
- For acne, eczema or other skin problems
- Improving skin hydration
Skin Boosting Ingredients
Bath salts can be as simple as just using a salt or magnesium salt on its own. Options include:
- Epsom Salts– Magnesium sulfate (epsom salt) is an inexpensive way to get the benefits of magnesium in a bath.
- Magnesium Flakes– Magnesium chloride flakes are another way to add the benefits of magnesium. I especially love using epsom salts or magnesium flakes since the magnesium has many added benefits of its own.
- Dead Sea Salt– Contains 21 minerals and is great as a base for bath salts. People flock to the dead sea for the health benefits and using dead sea salt is a way to get the benefits at home. I love this pre-made moisturizing dead sea bath salt soak.
- Baking Soda– We’ve used baking soda in detox baths for years. It isn’t recommended for everyday use, but adding a little baking soda to a bath once a week or so is a great way to keep skin clear.
From there, any array of optional ingredients can be added for additional benefits:
- Essential Oils– Any essential oil that is safe for skin use can be added to a salt bath. Since oil and water don’t mix, add the oil to the salt and then add to the water.
- Spices– Sounds crazy, but many kitchen spices can be added to a bath for a soothing effect. Most common are cinnamon and ginger powder.
- Oils– Adding oils to the salts helps moisturize skin and stops the drying effect of the salt. Some people find salt on its own too drying. Mixing in a little oil (like coconut, almond, jojoba or argan) can help.
Bath Salts- Ingredients
- 2 cups epsom salts
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- 1/4 cup dead sea salt (optional)
- 30 drops of lavender essential oil (Optional- use the code “WellnessMama” at this link to save 10% on the essential oils I use)
- 10 drops of peppermint essential oil
- 2 Tablespoons oil of choice (coconut, almond, jojoba, argan, etc)
Bath Salts- Instructions
- Mix all ingredients in a medium size bowl.
- Store in an air-tight jar and use 1/4 cup per bath.
Pre-Made Bath Salts
There are some great options for pre-made bath salts if you aren’t a fan of making your own. I personally like this dead sea salt based bath salt since it is moisturizing and smells great (without artificial scents or perfumes). Make sure to choose a bath salt that is perfumes, dyes and synthetic chemicals.
Other Ways to Use Salt and Magnesium:
- In soothing bath fizzies (here is my favorite recipe)
- or After-birth bath fizzies
- In natural detox bath recipes
- In homemade magnesium oil
- To make homemade magnesium body butter
Ever take a salt bath? What do you put in yours? Tell me in the comments below!
How much does the bath salts make cause I want to make it for Christmas gifts
I was really excited to make this recipe until I read the comments about the possible reaction between the salt and baking soda. (Cleaning up shards of glass from an exploded jar is definitely not relaxing…not to mention dangerous if you are in the room when it explodes.) The baking soda and sea salt seem a little redundant in addition to the Epsom salts. Epsom salts alone are excellent for pulling heavy metals and toxins from the body, plus they give you a good dose of magnesium. I think I will just mix the Epsom salts and essential oils and store in a glass jar. Then when I use some in a bath, I could also sprinkle some baking soda directly in the bath water if I so choose.
I had mixed the baking soda in with the epson salts as well in a thick glass jar. Although it didn’t explode it did get hard as a rock within a week. I added boiling water hoping it would dissolve but it stayed in hard chunks. I decided to keep two pretty jars – one with epson salt and one with soda and mix a scoop of each in my bath. I’m glad I only gave one as a gift to my mom (hers did the same thing) and not to anyone else. Live and learn.
I made these salts and put them in airtight jars to give as gifts. They were ok but then became so hard we had to use a knife to cut them out. What do you think happened?
I signed on specifically to warn about air tight glass jars! I just saw the post from May 15 warning of what just happened to me. It WILL explode. I made the salts early May (before the 15th), and I have only opened the jar once since, and that was also in May. I used a tall, thick walled jar and it exploded. I cannot even imagine if I (or my cat) had been in the bathroom at the time. It ripped up the wall, since it was so close, and bent the wire shelf it sat on. PLEASE use caution with the storage container!!!
Thanks for the great recipe. Just a warning on something worth checking up on : I’ve read of a few instances where the combination of salt and baking soda stored in glass jars have exploded sending shards of glass flying all over! Apparently as a result of pressure build up emitted by the combination of the two. Might be worthwhile checking up on that!
Hi Katie,
Have a silly question, can I use dead sea salt? Is it just the same as sea salt? Is there any difference?
Dead sea salt is great for this (not so great for eating though)
Hi Katie, I am new to using essential oils, I would like to know if it is safe to use Epsom salts & baking soda bathsalt for my children to bath in? Is it okay to use peppermint oil for their bath too? They are 5 and 7 years old. Could I ask what the benefit of Epsom salt & baking soda is in the bath salt, or can I opt for sea salt & the oils on its own?
Peppermint shouldn’t be used with children under 6 years of age.
Katie, I made a few batches to give away as gifts, but realized that it went hard and cakey in the jar. What would have happened to it?
Hi I love all the information I have made so many changes to our life in the last few months because of all I have learned from you, so thanku. However I wanted to make some bath salts for gifts and I cant find the recipie I thought it had cocnut oil added do u have that one?
Hi Katie, I absolutely love your blog and am so thankful for your time to share all your delicious and healthy tips and tricks!
I am planning to make these as Christmas gifts and am wondering how much per bath you suggest using {for adults}? Thank-you!