Epsom Salts Are Back

Most of you probably remember the big box of Epsom salts from Grandma’s house that she used to use to soak her feet and once in a while, for its gastro properties too.  Well these amazing salts are not just for grandma anymore—Epsom salts are back and they are filled with purpose.  First the basics.  Epsom salts or magnesium sulfate salts are absorbed through the skin when you bathe in them and impart several benefits, including the relaxing effects of magnesium (great for folks who have trouble falling asleep at night) and the detoxifying effects of the sulfur.  What exactly does that mean?  The sulfur absorbed through the skin is used by the liver’s biochemical detox-pathway which rids your body of everything toxic, from the aspirin you took last week to the car exhaust you breathe every day.

But beyond that, Epsom salts are really grand for home skin care treatments.  They are great for exfoliating along with a few drops of essential oils such as lavender or chamomile mixed in.  Add a bit of water or almond oil to the salt and apply your new scrub in the shower for glowingly beautiful skin free of old cells.  You can even utilize these guys for a facial by mixing a tsp of Epsom Salt into a deep cleansing cream; you reap the benefits of this mineral deep inside your skin as I mentioned before.  Just massage the mixture onto your skin and then rinse with cool water. You can use them for a pre-soak before a pedicure or use them in your bath—just mix two cups of Epsom Salt with a few drops of essential oil like with the scrub, for custom bath crystals.  Just fill your bathtub with water at a comfortable temperature that you enjoy and as you’re filling the tub, add two cups of Epsom Salt to the water (or more for larger tubs). Soak for at least 12 minutes, three times a week for best results.