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The 2024 Met Gala was last night, and amidst the surprise of Sydney Sweeney’s black bob and Maria Sharapova’s gown made of Boll & Branch bed sheets, we also got the news that Jessica Biel bathed in a whopping 20 pounds of bath salts ahead of the event. Yes, you read that right—20 pounds of Epsom salts. In a TikTok Biel posted on the evening of May 5 (the day before the Met Gala), the actress can be seen dumping five four-pound bags of Dr. Teal’s Epsom Salts ($5) into her tub before her bath. She adds that she makes the water “as hot as you can take it” and soaks in her salty concoction for 30 minutes.
Relaxing? Sure. Expensive? Definitely. We promise, there’s no need to waste all your money on 20 pounds of bath salts, as one four-pound bag of Dr. Teals for $5 will certainly suffice. Before you literally pour all your money down the drain, scroll for everything you need to know on how to use bath soaks correctly, plus the best salts to make stewing in a tub exponentially more luxurious.
Best bath salts, at a glance
Best overall: Dr. Teal’s, Soothe & Sleep with Lavender Pure Epsom Salt Soaking Solution, $6
Best fragrance-free: Dr. Teal’s, Unscented Pure Epsom Bath Salt, $5
Best with Dead Sea salt: Maude, Soak No. 1, $18
Best blend: Bathing Culture, Big Dipper Mineral Bath, $25
Best with CBD: Not Pot, CBD Bath Soak, $25
Best for muscle relief: Tenoverten, The Recovery, $28
Best value: Yareli, Dead Sea Soak, $34
What are bath salts
“Bath salts are typically made from magnesium sulfate, also known as Epsom salt, or Dead Sea salt,” says Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology and assistant clinical professor at the NewYork Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center. “They dissolve in water bath water and are thought to have many benefits including stress relief [and] reducing joint pain, muscle stiffness, anxiety, and headaches, as well as skin conditions like dry skin and eczema.”
While more evidence is needed to support these claims, there’s no denying the pleasure that a dip in the tub can offer you; according to one small study1, drawing a warm bath can lessen stress and uplift the mood. And if bath salts can compound the joy you experience, then why not add them to the mix?
What to look for
When shopping for bath salts, you’ll usually have the option between ones made with Epsom salt or sea salt, both of which come with their own unique benefits. As mentioned, Epsom salt is made up of magnesium sulfate, which acts as an anti-inflammatory ingredient. “Magnesium helps reduce inflammation caused by E-selectin, which is a molecule that causes inflammation in the endothelial layer of the skin,” says New York-based board-certified dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD. She adds that, in reducing inflammation, magnesium can also improve overall skin health.
Sea salts, on the other hand, are rich in minerals that you wouldn’t typically find in Epsom salt. “Sea salts contain magnesium as well as many other mineral salts like potassium, calcium chloride, sodium, and bromide,” says Francesca Fusco, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Wexler Dermatology in New York. “For patients with inflammatory skin disorders like eczema, a soak in Dead Sea salts2 may reduce inflammation and enhance hydration,” she says, referencing a 2005 clinical trial3 published in the International Journal of Dermatology. Whatever your preference, you’ll want to ensure these ingredients—whether Epsom salt or Dead Sea salt—are listed at the top of a product list, says Dr. Garshick.
Many bath salts are also scented using synthetic fragrances, natural fragrances (like essential oils), or a combination of the two, but you may want to steer clear of additives if you have sensitive skin. “These can be irritating and pose a potential risk for an allergic reaction or contact dermatitis,” says Dr. Garshick. Otherwise, the right scent can work to elevate the experience. Lavender, for example, is a popular scent that can help you drift off to sleep, while energizing scents like ginger and eucalyptus can provide a jolt of energy.
How to *correctly* use bath salts
They’re pretty easy to use! Once you have your salts, simply pour in the recommended amount into warm bathwater. Dr. Garshick also recommends soaking for up to 15 minutes unless otherwise directed and using bath salts up to three times per week.
The best bath salts for full-body bliss
This bath salt with a lovely lavender scent...
Key ingredients: Epsom salt, lavender oil
This Epsom salt soak from Dr. Teal’s has Dr. Garshick’s stamp of approval for relieving stress and muscle pain—and I love it, too. Its lavender scent wafts from the bag, andit lingers when the salt is poured into warm bathwater. Be it from the Epsom salt, the soothing scent of lavender, or both, I leave my bathtub in a state of bliss, which makes drifting off to sleep much easier. One bag will last you a long time, and you can shop it in two sizes. The 3-pound option costs less than $6, making it budget-friendly and accessible for bathing enthusiasts of all budgets.
Scent: Lavender
Size: 3 lb. and 7 lbs.
Pros:
Scented with soothing lavender
Vegan and cruelty-free
Accessible and affordable
Comes in two sizes
Cons:
Not ideal for those sensitive to fragrance
This pick that's perfect if you're sensitive to fragrance...
Key ingredients: Epsom salt
If you’re sensitive to fragrance, Dr. Teal’s also offers a fragrance-free version of the Pure Epsom Salt Soak. The ingredient list is simple: it’s made with just Epsom salt and skips out on parabens and phthalates that may potentially irritate delicate skin. Plus, it’s vegan and cruelty-free. For a little under $5, you’ll receive a 4-pound bag, making it the most budget-friendly pick on the list. If anything, it only comes in one size—a trade-off for people who might want something smaller (or larger).
Scent: Fragrance-free
Size: 4 lbs.
Pros:
Ideal for people who are sensitive to fragrance
Free of parabens and phthalates
Vegan and cruelty-free
Most budget-friendly option on the list
Cons:
Only one size available
This bath soak crafted from hand-harvested salt crystals...
Key ingredients: Dead Sea salt
If you want to bring the sea to you, consider Maude’s bath soak. Its primary ingredient is mineral-rich Dead Sea salt, which, as Dr. Fusco previously mentioned, works tolessen inflammation andsoothe dry skin. There are three scents to choose from, each with a distinct vibe to elevate your bath experience. The first is No. 1, a warm blend of amber, clove, and tonka bean. Then there’s No. 2, which combines pink pepper with California lemon and cedarwood. The last option is No. 3, a fresh fragrance with a woody base of sandalwood and Haitian vetiver.
Scent: No. 1 (amber, cedar leaf, clove, lemongrass, medjool date, tonka bean), No. 2 (pink pepper, gurjun balsam, California lemon, Virginia cedarwood) and No. 3 (eucalyptus, sandalwood, cassis, Haitian vetiver)
Size: 4 and 8 oz.
Pros:
Helps soothe skin
Free of parabens
Vegan and cruelty-free
Available in multiple scents
Comes in two sizes
Cons:
Pricey
This mineral bath that leaves your skin silky smooth...
Key ingredients: Epsom, Pacifica, Dead Sea, Himalayan salts, French green clay, jojoba oil
Bathing Culture’s Big Dipper Mineral Bath contains notone but four types of bath salts—namely, Epsom, Pacifica, Dead Sea, and Himalayan salts. The relaxing blend is rounded out with French green clay to gently slough off dead skin cells and moisturizing jojoba oil to leave your limbs soft and smooth. As for the scent, it’s made from 100 percent naturally derived ingredients and evokes thelush scent of a redwood forest. A bonus: The product comes in an attractive glass jar with an aluminum lid that can be recycled or reused infinitely.
Scent: Cathedral Grove
Size: 8 oz.
Pros:
Combines four types of salt
Helps to exfoliate and moisture skin
Free of sulfates, parabens, and phthalates
Vegan and cruelty-free
Recyclable packaging
Cons:
Only one size available
This relaxing pick that makes muscle tension a thing of the past...
Key ingredients: Epsom salt, Dead Sea salt, CBD
Not Pot’s bath salt soak combines Epsom and Dead Sea salts with 300 milligrams of CBD, making itthe ideal wind-down at the end of the day. You can select from two options—the Muscle Soak, which contains peppermint that provides a cooling sensation to alleviate muscle aches, orthe Sleep Soak, which is infused with lavender tooffer you some peace of mind. Even though it skips out on synthetic fragrances, it’s formulated with fragrant oils, so keep that in mind if you’re sensitive to essential oils. While there is only one size available, the 24-ounce bag should last you up tothree baths.
Scent: Peppermint or lavender
Size: 24 oz.
Pros:
Contains Epsom and Dead Sea salts
Infused with 300 mg of sustainably sourced CBD
Vegan and cruelty-free
Comes in two options
Cons:
Only one size available
This option that hydrates your skin and improves firmness...
Key ingredients: Sodium chloride, magnesium sulfate, colloidal oatmeal
If your muscles are as tight as a fist, you might want to try Tenoverten’s bath soak, which is recommended (and used) by Isabella Boylston, a professional ballet dancer based in New York. “The bath ritual is honestly as much about relaxing my mind as it is about my physical body,” Boylston previously explained, and the bath soak delivers on several fronts.
It’s made with Epsom salt and arnica extract—two ingredients that help Bolyston relieve muscle aches—and a bevy of skin-soothing ingredients, like colloidal oatmeal, jojoba oil, and aloe. There is also the scent (a blend of eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils), which is meant to be reminiscent of “a spa day,” said Bolyston. In addition to being vegan and cruelty-free, the formula is also eight-free, so it’s formulated without harsh chemicals like formaldehyde and xylene.
Scent: Eucalyptus and peppermint
Size: 16 oz.
Pros:
Aids in muscle recovery and relaxation
Helps to moisture skin
Eight-free formula
Vegan and cruelty-free
Cons:
Only one size available
These soothing flakes that dissolve so fast in warm water...
Key ingredients: Dead Sea salt
If you want the most bang for your buck, consider this option from Yareli. It packs Dead Sea salt flakes imported straight from Israel in a 15-pound bag, and it’ll only set you back just a little over $33. What’s more, the product is EWG-verified, vegan, cruelty-free, and made with no unnecessary ingredients. It’s also available in 3- and 5-pound bags, and in six options, including an unscented version, which is ideal for those who are sensitive to fragrance. If anything, it might leave behind some residue after your bath—a tradeoff for those who want something that is as easy to clean as it is to use.
Scent: Unscented, almond, eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary mint, tea tree
Size: 3, 5, and 15 lbs.
Pros:
Largest option on the list
EWG-verified
Vegan and cruelty-free
Available in multiple scents, including unscented version
Comes in three sizes
Cons:
May leave behind residue in bathtub
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