How to Use Epsom Salt

What Is Epsom Salt?

Epsom salt is also known as magnesium sulfate. It’s a chemical compound made up of magnesium, sulfur, and oxygen.
Despite its name, Epsom salt is a completely different compound than table salt. It was most likely termed “salt” because of its chemical structure.
It resembles table salt and is often dissolved in baths, so you may also know it as “bath salt.” While it looks similar to table salt, its taste is distinctly different. Epsom salt is quite bitter and unpalatable.

How Does It Work?

When Epsom salt is dissolved in water, it releases magnesium and sulfate ions.
The idea is that these particles can be absorbed through your skin, providing you with magnesium and sulfates — which serve important bodily functions.
Despite claims on the contrary, there is no good evidence that magnesium or sulfates are absorbed into your body through the skin.
Yet the most common use for Epsom salt is in baths, where it is dissolved in bathwater.
It can also be applied to your skin as a cosmetic or taken by mouth as a laxative or magnesium supplement. However, because of its laxative effects, it might not be an ideal choice as a magnesium supplement if your goal is to prevent deficiency.

What Are The Benefits Of Using Epsom Salt?

There are many different ways to use Epsom salt, and there are just as many advantages to using it.

Epsom salt benefits – at a glance

Supports magnesium levels

Helps with relaxation

Helps to make the skin look smoother

Helps to relax tired muscles

Boost magnesium levels

There’s a lot of widespread discussion about Epsom salt bath benefits, particularly concerning magnesium absorption.

According to research by the University of Birmingham, prolonged soaking in Epsom salt can increase blood magnesium concentrations.¹¹

Help with relaxation

Magnesium can help our bodies produce melatonin, which is the hormone that promotes better sleep.¹²

Smoother skin

To create your own scrub, combine one cup of Epsom salt with half a cup of coconut oil.

This will exfoliate your skin and help remove dead skin, revealing softer and smoother skin.

Relax tired muscles

Epsom salts have a relaxing effect on your body, so can help to relax tired muscles after a long day.

How to use It

Bath

The most common use is taking what’s called an Epsom salt bath.

To do this, add 2 cups (about 475 grams) of Epsom salt to the water in a standard-sized bathtub and soak your body for at least 15 minutes.

You can also put the Epsom salt under running water if you want it to dissolve more quickly.

While hot baths can be relaxing, there is currently no evidence of the benefits of Epsom salt baths alone.

Beauty

Epsom salt is a beauty product for skin and hair. To use it as an exfoliant, place some in your hand, dampen it, and massage it into your skin.

Some people claim it’s a useful addition to facial wash since it may help cleanse pores.

Just a 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 grams) will do the trick. Combine it with your own cleansing cream and massage onto the skin.

It can also be added to conditioner and may help add volume to hair. For this effect, combine equal parts conditioner and Epsom salt. Work the mixture through your hair, leave it for 20 minutes, and rinse.

These uses are entirely anecdotal and unsupported by any studies. Remember that it works differently for everyone and that you may not experience the reported benefits.

Laxative

Epsom salt can be taken by mouth as a magnesium supplement or laxative.

Most brands recommend taking 2–6 teaspoons (10–30 grams) daily, dissolved in water, as a maximum for adults.

Approximately 1–2 teaspoons (5–10 grams) is generally enough for children.

Consult with your doctor if you need a more individualized dosage or if you want to increase the dose beyond what is listed on the package.

Unless you have a doctor's consent, never ingest more than the upper limit of intake stated on the package. Taking more than you need could lead to magnesium sulfate poisoning.

If you want to begin taking Epsom salt by mouth, start slowly. Try consuming 1–2 teaspoons (5–10 grams) simultaneously and gradually increase the dose as needed.

Remember that everyone’s magnesium needs are different. Depending on how your body reacts and what you use it for, you may need more or less than the recommended dose.

Additionally, when consuming Epsom salt, make sure to use pure, supplement-grade Epsom salt that does not have any added scents or coloring.

Where Can I Bulk Buy Epsom Salt?

You can choose offline stores or online shopping platforms such as Amazon or AliExpress if you purchase in small quantities. However, we recommend contacting the manufacturers directly if you plan to make a bulk purchase. Manufacturers not only offer customization options but also provide more competitive prices. Boyamy Cosmetics Co., Ltd. accepts wholesale and OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) orders for bath salts. Feel free to Contact us for further discussions and collaboration.