14 Best Bath Salts (Review) In 2021
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1. Epsoak Epsom Bath Salt
Key Features
Pure unscented Epsom salt
GMO-free
USP grade
Dissolves quickly
19lb pack
Our top choice for the best bath salts is the Epsoak unscented product. The Epsoak Epsom Bath Salt is made from Epsom Salt and absolutely nothing else. Thanks to its grain size, this bath soak dissolves very quickly in warm water so that you can experience the benefits of Epsom Salt in no time at all. Known for its healing properties, a soak in this bath can relieve muscle pain, detoxify your skin and relieve any aches you may have.
The Epsoak can also be used as a foot soak for 20 minutes or in the shower as an exfoliator. If you want to take it out of your bathroom, this product can also be sprayed on your flowers to give them added nutrients.
These salts are completely unscented, so if you like a product that will leave you and your bathroom smelling beautiful, this isn’t the best choice.
Pros
Pure ingredients
Dissolves quickly
Cons
If you like a pleasant scent, this isn’t a product for you
2. AmazonBrand – Solimo Epsom Bath Salt
Key Features
8lb pack
One year satisfaction guarantee
USP certified Epsom salt
Unscented
The AmazonBrand – Solimo Epsom Bath Salts are USP certified and are completely unscented, with no additives beyond the magnesium sulfate. Other versions of this bath soak are available if you want a scented option.
These salts can be used in a warm bath for relaxing or to treat minor sprains, bruises or aches. A soak with these will also leave your skin feeling beautifully refreshed. These particular salts are also marketed as a saline laxative; so if you like you can dissolve two teaspoons of this in a glass of water and drink as a digestive aid to relieve constipation.
The Solimo salts come in 8lb bags which are resealable, and these are easy to pour from. The brand also offers a refund within one year of purchasing in case you are not satisfied.
Pros
Small resealable pouch
Natural ingredients
One-year money-back guarantee
Cons
The unscented option may not be desired by everyone
3. Ancient Minerals Magnesium Bath Salt
Key Features
Bath flakes
Ideal for sensitive skin
Magnesium chloride
100% pure
No parabens or harsh chemicals
8lb pack
The Magnesium Bath Flakes from Ancient Minerals offer a great alternative to an Epsom bath soak with many similar properties. It can be used in a warm bath to encourage a night of deep sleep, relax your muscles, and relieve you of tension and stress.
These flakes are made from magnesium chloride, instead of the magnesium sulfate of Epsom salt. They are both very effective at adding magnesium to your body through the skin, but the chloride version is said to be better suited for topical applications and on sensitive skin. You can mix a paste of this product and apply it directly to irritated or painful areas for immediate results.
The magnesium used in the Ancient Minerals flakes bath soak is genuine Zechstein, which is extracted in its raw form. It is free from parabens, harsh chemicals, and fragrance.
The directions given with this product do suggest a very high ratio of flakes to water, which is not necessary. For full bath soaks, they recommend using a full 8lb pack, which is unnecessary and expensive. One or two cups in the tub will be more than adequate.
Pros
Effective topical application
Organic ingredients
Good for sensitive skin
Cons
The suggested amount of flakes you need is too high
4. Dr. Teal’s Epsom Salt Bath Soaking Solution
Key Features
Pure Epsom Salt plus essential oil
2 x 3lb bags
Lavender and Eucalyptus oil fragrance
Resealable bags
The Dr. Teal’s Epsom Salt Soaking Solutions give you two small packs of scented salts that can be dissolved in a bath or used as a scrub. You can also soak a washcloth in the solution and apply this to a bruise or sprain for soothing pains.
The bags in this set are only 3lbs, so very small compared to other products, however, you do get two different fragrances to try. The Relax and Relief pack has eucalyptus and spearmint essential oils added, which are designed to ease aches and pains and refresh your skin. The Soothe and Sleep pack has lavender oil which may also ease aches but is aimed to soothe you ready for a deeper sleep. Both bags have a strong aroma when you open them that might be overpowering for some, however, when dissolved in the water, the blend is pleasant and much more subtle.
All Dr. Teal’s Epsom bath salts a made with magnesium sulfate USP and seem to be very effective, but they do have a high price tag considering the small quantity you receive.
Pros
Delightful scents
Benefits from both Epsom salt plus essential oil
Cons
High price
Small bags
5. Coach Soak Muscle Recovery Bath Salt
Key Features
Magnesium flakes
Essential oil
Four different scents
3lb bags
100% money-back guarantee
Designed for athletes
The Coach Soak Muscle Recovery Bath Salt is perfect for athletes as it aims to provide muscle relief, soothing, and relaxing your joints after exercise. They have combined quick-absorbing magnesium flakes with essential oils and nutrient-rich sea salts for a post-work treatment. You can use this in any format you like; for foot soaks, full baths, like a warm compress or to exfoliate your skin.
The magnesium used in this bath soak product takes the form of magnesium chloride, which is said to be absorbed more effectively than magnesium sulfate. You also find vitamin C crystals in this mix, which neutralizes any chlorine, and sea salts with a blend of 21 elements including sodium, calcium, and potassium.
The Coach Soak comes in four different scents, thanks to the essential oils used. You can choose your favorite from Calming Lavender, Energizing Citrus, Eucalyptus Tea Tree, or Cooling Peppermint.
Pros
Various scents
Added minerals
Cons
Small bags
Relatively expensive
6. SaltWorks Ultra Epsom Lavender Scented Bath Salt
Key Features
Lavender essential oil
USP grade Epsom salt
Naturally sourced ingredients
5lb bag
Zip top packaging
With the SaltWorks Ultra Epsom, you get pure USP grade Epsom salt, plus 100% natural lavender essential oil. It is created to give you a peaceful, deep sleep while relaxing and soothing your muscles. The SaltWorks Ultra Epsom Lavender Scented Bath Salt comes in a 5lb bag, which is resealable with the zip-top packaging, so it is a good size, easy to pour, and easy to store. This should give you a minimum of five bath soaks per pack.
You can use the Ultra Epsom Lavender bath soak by adding one or two cups to your warm bath, or as a foot soak by placing one cup into a bowl of warm water. Alternatively, make a warm compress to soothe bruises or skin ailments.
Pros
Great for moisturizing your skin
Easy to pour and seal
Dissolves quickly
Cons
The strong lavender smell might not appeal to everyone
7. Minera Dead Sea Salt
Key Features
19lb bulk bag
Fine grains
Dead sea salt
21 beneficial minerals
Untreated sea salt from Israel
Our premium pick for the best bath salts is the Minera Dead Sea Salts. These are 100% pure salts that are used in premium brand spas in the Dead Sea area and are imported from Israel.
The Dead Sea is well-known for its healing and detox properties, with thousands of people visiting the area every year to spend time in the sea for the treatment of psoriasis and eczema. This product takes the salts from the same region, and it contains a blend of twenty-one beneficial minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium and bromide. They are untreated and completely natural.
Due to the high level of mineral elements in the Minera product, it is suitable only for bathing. For the same reason, you will notice a strong mineral scent when you open the bag and may find small particles of earth elements in the mix. Not everyone will like this in the formula.
Pros
Treats skin conditions
High mineral concentration
Natural and untreated
Cons
Very large bag
The strong mineral scent may deter some people
8. Tree Hut Shea Moisturizing Epsom Salt
Key Features
100% pure shea butter
Epsom salts
Coconut and lime extract
3lb bags
Free from parabens and harmful chemicals
If you are looking for a moisturizing bath soak to calm your skin, then it is worth trying the Tree Hut Shea Moisturizing Epsom Salt. This is our value pick for best bath soaks.
This product is designed to soothe any aches you may have while nourishing your skin with shea butter. Shea butter is rich in vitamins, can help with collagen products, and protects your skin from drying out. The coconut and lime extracts also contain vitamins and antioxidants to benefit your body. The Tree Hut brand product is part of a range of coconut and lime extract products, so if you like you can match it with body lotions and body washes.
If you are concerned with only using natural ingredients, then this product won’t match your needs. The bags are also on the small side, so will not last for long.
Pros
Smells great
Added moisturizer
Part of a matching brand range
Cons
Not completely natural
Small bags
9. Village Naturals Therapy Mineral Bath Soak
Key Features
Set of three
Three different soaks
Attractive packaging
Sea salt and Epsom salt
Ten baths per jar
Essential oil and extracts
The Village Naturals Therapy Mineral Bath Soak comes in a set of three and looks beautiful. If you want a product that will look attractive on display in your bathroom, then these may be a perfect choice for you
Each jar holds 20oz, and you get three different colors/scents. Restless Nights Relief is a purple/pink shade with lavender and chamomile; Stress & Tension Relief is blue with menthol to calm you; Aches and Pains Relief is a green shade with eucalyptus, menthol, and spearmint. They will create a slight tint in your bath water, but they don’t stain or leave a residue.
The Village Naturals do contain magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt) and sea salt, but there is also a long list of added ingredients, not all of which are natural.
Pros
Attractive packaging
Set of three different aromas
Cons
Long list of ingredients, not all natural
10. Dead Sea Warehouse Bath Salt
Key Features
5lb pack
All-natural
Dead Sea bath salts
100% unscented
Uncolored
Anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial
The Dead Sea Warehouse Amazing Minerals are salts extracted directly from the Dead Sea area of Israel and then hand cleaned in the USA.
As with other products from this area, the salts have incredible healing properties for a variety of skin conditions. A soak with these can also give you some temporary relief from any aches and pains due to the high mineral concentration.
The Dead Sea Warehouse gives you high-quality salt crystals that are uncolored and unscented but packed full of nutrients. They are presented in a reusable bucket which is perfect for scooping them into your bath. This product is best used as a soak, and although you can use it as a scrub, you may find the crystals and fragments too large.
Pros
Completely natural
Reusable bucket
Great for skin conditions
Cons
Not ideal for a scrub
11. Kneipp Arnica Mineral Bath Salt
Key Features
Bath salts with arnica
No sulfates, paraffin, or mineral oils
Thermal spring salt
Colour therapy
Essential oils
From Kneipp, the Arnica Mineral Bath Salts combine plant-based ingredients with arnica and thermal spring salt. This is designed to help with relaxing and soothing any sore muscles, thanks to the anti-septic, anti-inflammatory properties of arnica.
These crystals are also tinted with a yellow-orange hue, which gives the water a warm glow aimed to clear mental fatigue and calm your mind through color therapy. There is a long list of essential oils in this product, the majority of which are plant-based but there are few non-descript ingredients that may not be wholly natural.
The Arnica Mineral Bath Salts come in a little bottle that holds just 1lb, but you can expect to get up to 10 hot baths per bottle.
Pros
Colour therapy concept included
Only a small amount of product needed
Healing properties of arnica
Cons
Long list of ingredients
Colour may not appeal to everyone
12. AHAVA Dead Sea Mineral Bath Salt
Key Features
Dead Sea salts
Calming lavender fragrance
2lb jar
Produced in Israel
Dermatologist tested
Petroleum, allergy and GMO-free
The Dead Sea Salt Mineral Bath Salt from the brand Ahava comes from Israel and has been infused with lavender scents to encourage you to de-stress your mind while in the tub. Perfect for self-soothing at the end of the day.
The Dead Sea salts are very rich in minerals, so you get a good dose of magnesium, calcium, potassium, and numerous other elements to treat your skin. This product will calm you while giving you very soft skin.
Ahava brand products are skin-friendly, free from GMOs, mineral oils, parabens, and other nasties, although it does contain a little amount of linalool and hexyl cinnamal formula, so it is not just salt and lavender.
Pros
Refillable container
Delicate scent
Leaves skin feeling soft and smooth
Cons
Added ingredients
13. Spa Luxetique Epsom Salt Soaking Solution
Key Features
Pack of three
Natural essential oils and pure Epsom salt
Lavender, vanilla and coconut limes scents
Dissolves quickly
2lb tub
The Spa Luxetique Epsom Salt soaking solution gives you a high-quality formula of bath salts plus essential oils. You can create your own aromatherapy experience, matching the fragrance to suit your mood. Lavender is a favorite choice for relieving stress, whereas the vanilla comfort option is great for promoting relaxation. For a more uplifting, refreshing soak, then try the coconut lime scent. Whichever you choose, they will help any aches and pains, help you detox, and can double up as an exfoliating scrub. You can apply it with your favorite body brush to exfoliate your skin.
While you don’t get a huge quantity of each soak, the salts are beautifully presented in three jars of different colors, with a cute little wooden scoop.
Pros
Rich in nutrients
Pretty tub with scoop
Three different aromas
Cons
Not appropriate for use on the face
14. One With Nature 100% Pure Dead Sea Mineral Bath Salt
Key Features
100% pure dead sea bath salt
5lb tub
Fragrance-free
High in potassium, calcium and bromide
Can improve skin conditions
Great for detox
Suitable for children’s and sensitive skin
One With Nature uses the nutrient-rich Dead Sea salt and absolutely nothing else. The One With Nature 100% Pure Dead Sea Mineral Bath Salt can be used to detox, treat skin conditions, and restore the pH balance of your skin.
Made from the southern area of the Dead Sea, where says the mineral content is highest, one or two scoops of this can be added to warm, but not overly hot water for a truly relaxing soak in pure ingredients. There are no colorants, no additives, and no perfumes.
This One With Nature product comes in a 5lb tub which is reusable and will last for a while. It is produced by a family-operated mill at the Dead Sea.
Pros
Pure ingredients
Good size quantity
Ideal for skin conditions
Cons
Not the best choice if you want a scented or aromatherapy bath
Features To Consider With Bath Salts
Ingredients
There is a wide variety of ingredients in bath salts. Pure salt varieties use just one ingredient, whereas others can have numerous nutrients, extracts and colors added.
If you suffer from allergies or skin conditions, then it is best to avoid the products that have a large list of ingredients, as these are more likely to irritate you. Having said that, if you want scented, moisturizing salts, there are some options made entirely from naturally sourced ingredients and no chemicals, which may be suitable for your skin.
For pain relief, then many people say soaks with added ingredients of arnica, menthol or eucalyptus are most effective.
Form
The best form for a bath salt soak is a personal preference, but you do have a choice. Some soaks come in a powder form, which will froth when added to water. Others give you large crystals, which will dissolve in warm water. You may also find that some salts have been put into a 'bathbomb' form, which looks beautiful and disintegrates when in water.
Scent
The scent is an important aspect to consider when buying the best bath salts, and the term un-fragranced can sometimes be misleading.
Pure Epsom types of salt will have no fragrance or scent, so won't necessarily leave you or your bathroom smelling beautiful, even though they are very effective for bath soaks.
Pure Dead Sea salt is un-fragranced, but due to its origins and high concentration of elements, it may have a strong earthy smell.
If you want to have a pretty fragrance in your bath soak, then you will need to source products that have an essential oil or perfume added.
Use
If you are looking for salts purely to put in a bath or footbath, then choosing salts that dissolve quickly will be your best option.
However, if you want to use them for some beauty therapy and exfoliate your skin, then crystals that don't instantly dissolve in warm water would suit you better.
For aromatherapy and color therapy use, then look for soaks that come with added oils and fragrances. You will still get the salt properties to ease aching muscles but with a few added benefits. These are good for a deep sleep bath soak.
Bath Salt FAQ
Q: What does soaking in bath salts do?
Salt has various health benefits thanks to its cleansing, antiseptic and healing properties. It can be used to exfoliate your body, but soaking in warm water with it can help to relax both the body and mind.
By soaking in bath salts, your muscles can be soothed, your skin hydrated and your body detoxified. There is also a belief that it can relieve internal swelling. These baths work as your body is able to draw trace minerals from the salt into its bloodstream, balancing itself out.
So if you would like a chemical-free cure for insomnia, a stress reliever or just moisturized skin, try adding salt to your tub for a therapeutic soak.
Q: Are Epsom salts the same as bath salts?
Bath salts should contain an active ingredient called magnesium sulfate, and if they contain only this type of magnesium, they may be called Epsom salt. True Epsom salts don't have any other added ingredients. If bath salts have other elements in their composition, they should not be called Epsom salt.
Q: How long are you supposed to sit in bath salt?
How long you should sit in bath salt depends on what you want to achieve from your time in the tub. For soothing sore muscles and to unwind and release stress, around 20 minutes to 30 minutes is recommended, but if you like a long soak then that's fine. When treating skin conditions such as eczema and itchy skin, a soak of between 15 and 20 minutes is sufficient.
Q: How do you make a bath salt soak?
A bath soak is incredibly easy to make. Most products will have guidelines so that you can get the right ratio of salts to the water, but generally speaking, you would use about 1 to 2 cups of salt for one warm (not too hot) bath. Simply add the salt to the running water, so they dissolve quickly, and once your tub is full, climb on in for some relaxing time.
Q: Can I soak in bath salts every day?
The best bath salts are perfectly safe to use every day. However, you should pay attention to the condition of your skin. Some people with very sensitive skin may find that having a frequent soak may start to irritate them. If this is the case, it may be best to limit the bath salt soak to twice a week and use showers in between.