Bath salts are a must have for those who just love a good, soothing, comforting, and relaxing bath, but that’s certainly not all they’re used for. Learning how to use bath salts in the shower opens up a whole new world of aroma, exfoliation, and relaxation.
Exfoliation Is Important
The skin is an organ that’s similar to an onion. There are many layers that make up the skin, and skin cells are constantly turning over and regenerating in a process called turnover. For younger individuals, skin turnover can take as little as 4 weeks, but it can take up to 7 weeks as a person ages. The very top layer of skin, the layer you see, is called the epidermis. Laying on the surface of the epidermis is something you can’t usually see all too well, but it’s still there – between 10 and 30 layers of dead skin cells.
These dead skin cells that sit on the surface of the epidermis can leave skin looking dull, feeling rough, or even appearing dry. For those who like to pamper themselves with lotions, oils, and other moisturizers, these products may have trouble soaking into the skin if it needs to get through 30 layers of microscopic dead skin cells first.
Dead skin cells will fall off naturally, but that takes time. By the time the very top layers of dead skin shed off, there’s new layers of dead skin cells ready to take their place. This is where exfoliation comes in to play.
Exfoliation is a process that uses a tool, chemical, or granular substance (like epsom salt) to help along the removal process of dead skin. By gently rubbing an exfoliator onto the skin, these layers of dead skin are sloughed off of the surface of the skin, thus removing the dullness and roughness to reveal softer, smoother, and more absorbent surfaces. Exfoliated skin is skin that feels good, and it’s skin that’s ready to be nourished with all of your favorite products.
Benefits Of Exfoliation
Exfoliation has a number of very real and very easy to notice benefits. Some of these include:
- Cleansing pores – Clogged pores can make skin look uneven, bumpy, or it may even lead to blemishes. Much of the debris in clogged pores is a combination of product buildup and dead skin cells. Exfoliation helps to provide a deep cleansing skin treatment while taking away dead skin cells that may otherwise end up clogging pores.
- Helps your skin to be more absorbent – For those who like to moisturize with oils and creams, exfoliation is key to making sure you get the full benefit of your additional products. Exfoliated skin is absorbent skin ready to soakup all of the good stuff in skin soothing or nourishing creams.
- Younger looking radiant skin – The build-up of dead skin cells leaves behind a dull and perhaps even discolored look. Regular exfoliation helps to reveal the fresh rejuvenated skin hiding just underneath.
The Role Of Bath Salts
When you’re using USP grade epsom salt and all-natural ingredients, bath salts can be your bath companion and your shower companion at the same time. In the bath, the salts may be added to the water to provide an aromatic and soothing experience. In the shower, you still get to enjoy the aromatherapeutic properties, but in a new way as a skin exfoliator.
To exfoliate the skin using bath salts, first choose a soak blend that matches your current mood for the day. If you’re exfoliating at night, a lavender-based blend may be the pick you’re looking for. If you’re exfoliating during a morning shower, something that uses fresh scents like cypress, lemon, or peppermint can help to wake you up.
Exfoliation in the shower can take place before or after washing the skin, but before may be more beneficial. If your shower products use natural oils or moisturizers, using them on exfoliated skin may help these ingredients to work better. Additionally, using the wash after exfoliation can help to wash away any dead skin cells left behind.
When you’re ready to exfoliate, take a small palm full of your favorite epsom salt soak. On damp skin, gently rub the palm full of soak onto your skin, making soft circular motions all over the area you wish to exfoliate. Exfoliation shouldn’t be uncomfortable and great pressure does not need to be used. Once you’ve rubbed your skin with your soak of choice, it’s time to rinse away the residual soak and any skin cells that may be left behind on the skin’s surface.
Exfoliation can also be done in the bath as you enjoy your soak. Simply take a palm full of soak, rub onto the skin, and rinse the skin before removing yourself from the water. After exfoliating, wash, pat dry, and care for the skin as normal. Epsom salt is an excellent and effective exfoliation tool for the legs, chest, arms, hands, feet, and back.
Best Soaks For Exfoliation Treatments
When you use an epsom salt exfoliator, it’s important to only trust all-natural USP grade and certified products. By doing so, you’re able to feel confident that you’re doing the very best for your skin. Choosing your soak is simple, and it merely takes getting acquainted with the feelings you wish to invoke through aroma.
For a relaxing scrub, Deep Relaxation is a perfect choice. This simple soak is comprised of USP grade epsom salt, fractionated MCT coconut oil, Vitamin E oil, Vitamin C crystals, and pure lavender essential oil. For pre-bedtime pampering sessions, it provides just the sort of soothing that welcomes a great night of sleep.
For a morning scrub, you’ll want something bright and zesty. Detox Bath Soak uses essential oils of lemon and ginger to create and aroma that uplifts, motivates, and energizes. Alongside USP grade epsom salt, fractionated MCT coconut oil, Vitamin C crystals, and Vitamin E oil, the essential oils help to bring about the perfect start to your day.
