After a long, hungover day at my serving job, I was dying for a relaxing bath. I trolled the isles of the CVS by my house (Um, apartment. That one is a tough one to break.) for a bath-bomb, but the magical item was nowhere in sight. So I remembered a conversation that I had with my college girlfriends during my last trip home and picked up some Epsom salt for $1.59. I dumped about 2 cups into the bath and paired it with my yummy smelling body wash for bubbles and I was all set. I was so happy with the results, that I googled Epsom salt and here is an exerpt from the green-living article I found.
When magnesium sulfate is absorbed through the skin, such as
in a bath, it draws toxins from the body, sedates the nervous
system, reduces swelling, relaxes muscles, is a natural
emollient, exfoliator, and much more.Adapted from the Epsom Salt Industry Council
Note: Check with a doctor before using if you have any health concerns.Relaxing and sedative bath: Soak in warm water and 2 cups of epsom salt.
Face cleaner: To clean your face at night, mix a half-teaspoon of epsom salt with your regular cleansing cream. Just massage into skin and rinse with cold water.
Homemade skin mask: Apply the mask to damp skin. For normal to oily skin, mix 1 tablespoon of cognac, 1 egg, 1/4 cup of non-fat dry milk, the juice of 1 lemon, and a half-teaspoon of epsom salt. For normal to dry skin, mix 1/4 cup of grated carrot, 1 1/2 teaspoons of mayonnaise and a half-teaspoon of epsom salt.
Foot soak: Soothe aches, remove odors and soften rough skin with a foot soak. Add 1/2 cup of epsom salt to a large pan of warm water. Soak feet for as long as it feels right. Rinse and dry.
Skin exfoliator: Massage handfuls of epsom salt over your wet skin, starting with your feet and continuing up towards the face. Have a bath to rinse.
Remove excess oil from hair: Epsom salt soaks up excess oil from hair. Add 9 tablespoons of epsom salt to 1/2 cup of oily hair shampoo. Apply one tablespoon of the liquid to your hair when it is dry; rinse with cold water. Pour lemon juice or organic apple cider vinegar through the hair, leave on for 5-10 minutes, and then rinse.
Remove hairspray: Combine 1 gallon of water, 1 cup of lemon juice, and 1 cup epsom salt. Combine, cover and let set for 24 hours. The next day, pour the mixture into your dry hair and let it sit for 20 minutes. Then shampoo as normal.
Hair volumizer: Combine equal parts of deep conditioner and epsom salt. Warm in a pan. Work the warm mixture through your hair and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse.
Soak sprains and bruises: Epsom salt will reduce the swelling of sprains and bruises. Add 2 cups epsom salt to a warm bath, and soak.
Splinter remover: Soak in epsom salt, it will draw out the splinter.
2 Comments
March 4, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Love it!! I started to whole Epsom salt thing in my baths during pregnany and do the same thing as you (adding the bubbles). It feels GREAT and is a total steal compared to the scented salts you find at the store that are like $10-$15 for about a quarter of the size (and that’s just at Target, imagine what it would be add a specialty store)! You can also add a fwe drops of scented oil that you can pick up at any craft store or The Body Shop to leave your body feeling as soft as a baby’s ass when you’re through
March 5, 2009 at 7:30 pm
I agree, it’s such a huge savings. I would love to learn more about essential oils. Here is a list of essential oils that promote emotional well being. In the long run, you’ll be taking the greener path and may even avoid throwing cash at big pharma for happiness in pill form. (I’m speaking for myself of course. Anti-anxiety and anti-depressants are VERY EXPENSIVE when paying out of pocket)