Just when you thought you knew all the important ones among the seemingly endless number of salts -- from the Himalayan pink to the chunky rock -- a new variant comes along. The newest one to take the beauty world by storm is the Epsom salt. Well, technically, it's not really new because our research tells us that the ubiquitous Epsom salt has been around for decades and is used as a tried and tested remedy for many beauty afflictions by those in the know. So then why has it become the holy grail of wellness all of a sudden?
Unlike most salts we're familiar with like table salt or black salt, Epsom salt isn't your regular sodium based salt. It is composed of minerals and goes by the scientific name, magnesium sulfate. To up one's magnesium levels, Epsom salt is best used externally when absorbed through the skin. From aching muscles to rough skin, Epsom salt seems to be able to solve it all.
Here's how you can use it at home.
1. Clarify Your Scalp
If numerous products and the dusty climate have left your scalp grimy and greasy, Epsom salt can make an excellent scrub to remove any residue. Combine 3 tablespoons of Epsom salt with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of warm water and mix well. Before you step out of the shower, rub this mixture all over your scalp. Leave it for 10 minutes, then rinse off with cold water.
2. Treat Your Feet
After spending a day on the move, soak your blues away with Epsom salt. In a basin of warm water, add 4 tablespoons of Epsom salt, 4 - 5 drops of citrus oil, and 1 tablespoon of liquid soap. Soak your feet in it until it runs cold, scrub your feet and rinse them after.
3. Scrub Your Skin
The chilly winters are bound to leave your skin scaly and dry. Luckily, you can fix this with Epsom salt, a great product to help remove dead skin build-up. Mix 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt with 2 tablespoons of oats soaked in cold milk, to form a paste. After bathing, scrub this mixture all over the dry areas of your body -- like the knees and elbows -- as a final step. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then wash off with warm water.
4. Soothe Your Muscles
Treat the tired, aching muscles in your neck after a day spent in front of a computer by adding Epsom salt in your bath water. Simply dissolve half a cup of it in a single bucket of water and continue with your bath as usual. Alternatively, you can make a solution of 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt with 1 - 2 teaspoons of warm water, massage over the affected area and rinse with warm water.
5. Stop Itchy Bites
If mosquitoes and bugs frequently leave their mark on you, make a spray with Epsom salt to relieve the dreadful itchy sensation. In a spray bottle, mix together 4 tablespoons of Epsom salt with half a cup of water and 2 - 3 drops of lavender oil. Tuck it into your bag and shake well before spraying. More than enough reason to pop over to the chemist's and get yourself a packet of Epsom salt the next chance you get, don't you think?
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