No bathtub? That is no reason to forego one of life’s greatest pleasures: Using some fabulously indulgent bath salts.
If you’ve ever experienced them, you know that it can be a true skincare meets self-care ritual.
If not, let us show you how to use bath salts without a bathtub — along with all of bath salts benefits for the skin.
Prepare to have super-soft and glow-y complexion, with a hefty side of relaxation thrown in for good measure!
But what exactly are bath salts?
Besides pure magic, you mean?
All right, back to science: Baths salts, as we know them today, were first discovered at a bitter saline spring at Epsom in Surrey, England, during a drought in 1648. Which is the reason they are also popularly known as Epsom salts.
So, what is in Epsom salts?
You may be surprised to know that this inexpensive and easily available ingredient is actually not a “salt” at all.
Rather, Epsom bath salts are a chemical compound made up of magnesium, sulfur, and oxygen.
When dissolved in water, they break down into magnesium and sulfate — both of which are extremely important for the human body.
This gives Epsom salts a huge variety of health and beauty benefits, including regulating the activity of over 325 enzymes, reducing inflammation, helping muscle and nerve function, preventing hardening of arteries, improving the absorption of other nutrients, and flushing out toxins.
Epsom salt uses #1: Ole Henriksen’s DIY shower smoothie
However, most of us simply associate Epsom salts benefits with long, leisurely baths. So, what’s someone without a bathtub to do?
Plenty, says celebrity skincare expert Ole Henriksen, who believes this versatile ingredient can be used in a number of other ways as well.
For instance, his DIY Epsom bath salt treatment — which is one of the best ways to use bath salts without a bathtub — exfoliates the skin leaving it luminous, soft and smooth.
It also helps removes dead skin, flushes out toxins, and allows for better absorption of skincare products.
Ingredients: 1 cup Epsom salts, 1 cup coffee grounds, 2 teaspoons eucalyptus oil, enough sesame oil to form a smooth paste
- Mix the Epsom salts and coffee grounds in a bowl
- Add the oils and stir thoroughly to create a smooth paste
- When in the shower, vigorously scrub your body with this paste for several minutes, from neck to feet
- Rinse and glow!
Looking for more non-bathtub centric uses of Epsom salts? Try these.
Epsom salt uses #2: Facial scrub
Want to exfoliate and deep cleanse the delicate skin on your face sans irritation?
Simply mix 1/2 teaspoon of Epsom salts with a cleansing cream. Massage, rinse with cool water and pat dry.
Added bonus: Since magnesium is easily absorbed by the skin, this will also boost your body’s mineral levels, thereby boosting energy, relieving stress, increasing serotonin levels and lowering blood pressure!
Epsom salt uses #3: Splinter remover
Another one of Epsom salts benefits is they increase osmotic pressure on the skin, which draws foreign bodies toward the surface.
So, to remove a splinter, dissolve one cup of Epsom salts in a tub of water and soak the affected area for 15-20 minutes; repeat as often as necessary.
Epsom salt uses #4: Foot soak
Soothe aches, remove odours and soften rough skin with this foot soak: Add 1/2 cup of Epsom salts to a pan of warm water. Soak feet for as long as it feels right. Rinse and dry.
Epsom salt uses #5: Fade bruises
Make a compress by soaking a washcloth in cold water mixed with Epsom bath salts (two tablespoons per cup) and apply to the skin.
Epsom salt uses #6: Hair volumiser
Looking for yet one more way to use bath salts without a bathtub?
For big, bouncy hair, mix one part hair conditioner to one part Epsom salts and work the mixture through your locks. Leave on for 20 minutes, then rinse and style as usual.
Have you ever used Epsom salts? What’s your favourite way to use bath salts without a bathtub?
Anubha Charan is a powerhouse in the luxury beauty industry, with over 15 years of expertise shaping the global beauty narrative. As the former Beauty Director at Marie Claire, she worked with the magazine's French headquarters to craft cutting-edge beauty content for international audiences.
Anubha's bylines have appeared in some of the world’s most prestigious publications, including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Travel + Leisure, WebMD, and Architectural Digest. She is also the co-author of Paris Bath & Beauty, a Simon & Schuster book on French beauty rituals.
Frances says
I have been very ill lately and run down. If your remedies work I will be extremely grateful. Thank you so much
For your help.
Danielle Morrison says
My body has been sore from muscle spasms and I just made your scrub. I am not buying another scrub ever. Thank you so much my body feel well not new but damn close lol.
anubha says
Thank you for letting me know… you made my day!