It’s easy to get caught up in the bustle of the holidays. You’ve got parties, decorations and shopping on your mind – but in the midst of it all you definitely need to pen in some “me” time to keep your stress under control! Don’t think you need to head to an expensive spa for a top notch aromatherapy treatment—it’s actually easy to DIY your way into the chill zone with some Epsom salts. It’s super-easy to get at your local drugstore/pharmacy, and it packs a big punch!
Some people may remember it only as something their grandparents kept in the medicine cabinet, but there are many beauty & health benefits to Epsom salts. Whether you want to brighten and soften skin, enjoy at-home spa treatment or just need to soothe your sore muscles after a long shopping session or workout, here are some easy ways to use epsom salts to put your best face forward this holiday season!
For Pampering
One of the first budget cuts for many families is spa trips and expensive bath beads, but Epsom Salt can be used to create the ultimate at-home spa. A relaxing bath or exfoliating treatment will leave your skin radiant and glowing.
Glowing skin exfoliating treatment: Mix 1/2 teaspoon of Epsom salt with your face cleanser or cleansing cream, and then massage for a mini facial. Rinse with cool water. Pat dry. You can also use it as a rejuvenating body scrub by massaging handfuls of Epsom salt over wet skin to exfoliate the body.
Skin-softening mask: Blend 1/4 cup grated carrot, 1/2 teaspoon Epsom salts, and 1 1/2 teaspoons mayonnaise. Spread over damp skin, wait for 10 minutes, and remove.
Bathtime Bliss: After your holiday toast this year, save any leftover champagne and combine it with Epsom salt for a relaxing soak that detoxifies & soothes sore tight muscles, constricts pores and helps tone your skin. The carbon dioxide, or bubbles, in sparkling wine aids in tightening and constricting pores and gives the Epsom salts a little boost. Here’s how to make a Grapes of Bath Champagne Soak :
Combine half a cup of Epsom salt and 1 cup of powdered milk in a bowl, then add 1 cup of champagne. Warm 1 teaspoon of honey in the microwave for 30 seconds, then add it to the mixture. Pour into running bath water, and when the tub is full, add rose petals, hop in and relax.
Milky Oat Bath – Take a quarter cup of oats, mill them in a blender or a coffee grinder, and mix them with three tablespoons of Epsom salt and two tablespoons of organic powdered milk. Next, add the mixture to running bath water, then add 20 to 30 drops of the essential oil(s) of your choice. Soak, breathe deep and enjoy.
Homemade bath crystals: Mix 2 cups of Epsom Salt with a few drops of your favorite essential oils to create custom bath crystals. Add a few drops of food coloring or 1/2 tsp of glycerin if you like. Store in an air-tight container.
Pedicure Perfection: Dissolve half a cup of Epsom Salt into two quarts of warm water. Pour the water into a container and soak your bare feet for 15-20 minutes. You can also add a few drops of lavender oil for a refreshing scent. Massage the entire foot with Epsom Salt concentrating on the heels and ankles to remove any dry, rough spots. Then, rinse your feet off with clean tap water and dry them thoroughly.
After exercising
Epsom Salt– actually magnesium sulfate – can help people maintain optimum levels of both magnesium and sulfate. Sulfate helps form joint proteins and helps keep joints healthy, flushes toxins and improves absorption of nutrients. Magnesium helps regulate the activity of more than 300 enzymes in the body, performing more functions than almost any other mineral. Among the benefits: magnesium helps reduce inflammation to relieve pain and muscle cramps, helps muscles and nerves function properly and helps prevents artery hardening and blood clots.
To ease muscle pain and fading bruises : Add two cups of Epsom Salt to warm water in a standard-sized bathtub (double the Epsom Salt for an oversized garden tub) and bathe three times weekly, soaking for at about 10 -15 minutes. Also can be used to make compresses.
To soothe feet aching from a tough workout or a long day, add a cup of Epsom Salt to a tub of warm water and soak them.
As a stress reducer
Epsom salts not only help burn away stress, these salts also aid in replenishing magnesium in the body, which can make energy levels increase. A lift in magnesium relieves stress, increasing serotonin levels and lowering blood pressure. It’s a win all around!
Thanks to the Epsom Salt Council for providing me with these DIY tips with epsom salt
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