Epsom Salts vs Bath Salts: How to Make the Right Choices When Buying
When you are taking a relaxing bath and letting the worries of the world wash away nothing says relaxation quite like bath salts. Once the go-to bath product of the 60s and 70s they are making a comeback! But what is the difference between normal bath salts and Epsom salt?
Epsom salts are natural products containing magnesium and sulfate. Bath salts are a blend of salts, oils, fragrances, and colorings and often will also contain at least some Epsom salts within the blend. Both are used for therapeutic bathing experiences.
Do you buy Epsom salts or bath salts? They are both made of magnesium sulfate, but they are not the same thing. Epsom salts can be used for a variety of purposes and in many different ways. Bath salts are typically only used to create a relaxing bath experience. We will go through the differences between each type of salt, how much should be added to your water, and what is contained within each one so that you can make an informed decision on which product is right for you!
Each have unique benefits, so let’s dive in to this comparison and see where and how to use bath salts, either pre-made or natural Epsom salts.
Different Uses; Or The Same?
It may seem odd that both bath salts and Epsom salts are so similar that they would then be used in different spaces and times from each other. Usually, people make the mistake of thinking that they can use both interchangeably, not caring at all about why someone might prefer one over the other.
Taking a deeper look at the overall effects of the fragrant-smelling salts, or the effects of the Epsom is interesting.
You will find that Epsom salts are better for use in a bath, whereas the pre-made or natural versions of Bath Salts can be used as an exfoliant.
The reason that these two products have different uses is that they contain different amounts and types (or lack) minerals like magnesium sulfate which help with muscle aches from exercise!
The benefits to using one over another depend on what you need at any given time; so it’s important not only to know how each product works but also why someone might prefer them too: either by preference alone when choosing between baths vs showers OR if there was some sort of injury involved where your muscles would benefit more than just being able to make sure all those toxins get out through sweat during hot yoga classes.
Epsom Salts
You might find a bowl of Epsom salts in the run-of-the-mill home, or maybe not!
While the salts are certainly not expensive, the repeated usage and the fast decline of what is left in the bowl will be. However, if you want perfectly soft skin for your day-to-day life then plain Epsom salt will work.
Adding a bit, or a lot, of Epsom salt to your bath, will ensure that you can relax in the water and enjoy the effects of the salt to their fullest. However, there will be no scent, oils, or even colors to the bath.
Epsom salts quickly dissolve in water and once your body is submerged your skin will quickly start to relax, enjoying the effects of the salts.
How much Epsom salt for a bath?
A single cup of Epsom salts would be sufficient for a standard bath tub size.
No cups on hand? The right amount to use is about a handful of Epsom salts for every bath. Look out of you’ve got big hands, but be generous if those puddies are small.
They will dissolve quickly and completely. Add to running water and stir as it fills. A 20-minute soak will leave you feeling as good as new.
Bath Salts
Bath Salts are a great way to relax and unwind after an exhausting day. They provide many health-related advantages such as improving your skin’s elasticity or relieving muscle pain from exercise by drawing out toxins in our body through sweat glands on their surface area .
Scented and colored bath salts are of a different composition as explained but will likely contain at least some Epsom salts for the softening effect.
Often colored they will tint the water and usually are scented with essential oils or natural herbs.
Be aware that they may have other chemicals for color and scent use too, so try to find natural and organic bath salts where possible.
Cheaper brands can often leave undissoved grains on the bottom of the bath which may be uncomfortable, so I would advise spending that little extra to purchase better quality products that dissolve completely with organic ingredients too.
You should be aware that bath salts can be more expensive than Epsom salts as they are often made with essential oils and natural ingredients.
CAUTION: Bath Salts should be used sparingly if your skin is sensitive because of the fragrances that may irritate some people’s skins – especially those who have eczema-prone dryer types.
How to quickly make your bath salts?
You can produce your own bath salts both quickly and cheaply, in most cases saving money on the purchase price of bath salts in retail outlets.
Making your bath salts is easy and quick, with the first step being to choose the base of your salts, deciding what type of salt you will be using.
You can choose between Epsom salt, sea salt, or only plain salts for the bath, whichever you choose this should be the first thing in your bowl as you will be mixing everything else into them.
Once your salt is ready you need to choose what type of mix you will have, sea salt mix, salt, and baking soda, salt, clay, and borax mix, or just a basic bath salt set.
Each of these have their benefits and will dissolve at vastly different rates, however, once you have chosen the second ingredient, you must move onto the last few.
Fragrances can be anything from herbs, oils, colorants, or flowers, and they should be mixed sparingly as they are liquids.
Once you have everything together in a bowl you stir it with either a wooden or metal spoon until everything has been mixed properly.
Placing the salts on a pan in the oven, you have to dry everything out, once done simply store the salts in an air-tight container and use them as needed.
You never know, share your bath salts around and demand may grow for you to start your own bath salts business.
What is in Epsom salts?
Simply put Epsom salts are naturally occurring crystals of magnesium and sulfate that have formed magnesium sulfate crystals. These easily dissolve in hot water and if mixed exactly right with water will soften your skin to levels you may never have thought possible before. This is why you can usually find Epsom salts in larger packages, with a long list of claims of what the salts can do to your well-being.
The exact reason why Epsom salts have such a softening effect on your skin can be extremely difficult to pinpoint, which is why you will usually find that there are claims that the salts are good because you may lack magnesium. While others claim that there is a reaction between your skin and the salts in the bathwater that sheds off any dead cells. Whichever it may be, it has been found that the salts are harmless to your skin if you only bathe in them.
However, while dead sea salts are harmless once ingested, the same cannot be said for Epsom salts, they should be kept far away from children or those that may ingest them.
What is in bath salts?
Bath salts can easily be the most uncomplicated things you can use in the bath, while also being the most complicated and intricate things you may use.
Bath salts always start with the salts that are being used, these are usually Epsom salts but can be dead sea salts as well. Combined with the salt will be fragrances, colorants, and in some cases oils or herbs. Together bath salts are aimed at creating a full-body relaxation, with the senses relaxed as well.
This is why you will usually find bath salts in packets, ready to simply be thrown in, but not a lot for sale all at once. Using too many bath salts can quickly become extremely overwhelming and cause many people to be uncomfortable. Further, if the balance of fragrances, salts, and oils are not perfect not everything will dissolve in the water.
Undissolved salts, oils, or fragrances can make the bath physically uncomfortable as the softer parts of your body are suddenly rubbing against some extremely hard elements. However, the most complicated part in creating bath salts is choosing fragrances that complement each other, not having two that constantly fight each other for attention.
Conclusion
Bath salts or Epsom salts are the best things you can add to your bath as they make you feel comfortable, relaxed, and ready for almost anything that life may throw at you. Just be sure that you are using the right types, as many people can be allergic to the additives in bath salts, while pure Epsom salt is entirely safe to use.
Whatever you do, just always be sure that your salt is fully dissolved before sitting down in the bath, things can become uncomfortable quite quickly.
