Bath salts are great for your relaxing moments. They help you get rid of dead cells and moisturize your skin, while also reducing stress. They are also inexpensive and easy to prepare even at home for your personal use or as a gift idea.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Choose the Ingredients
Step 1. Find the right salts
Although practically all bath salts are based on Epsom salts, you can choose another type or another blend to enjoy different benefits or to give a different look to the preparation. Sea salt gives a fine texture, Himalayan pink salt is used to increase the mineral content.
Step 2. Choose an essential oil
You can always create odorless salts, but adding essential oils creates a pleasant scented atmosphere when taking a bath. Choose a floral, fruity or woody one to fully relax and recharge your mood.
- The most used are lavender, rose and lilac oil. These are useful for fighting stress and do not have too intense aromas, making bathing a pleasant experience.
- The strongest scents are that of eucalyptus, citrus and mint. Their function is invigorating and invigorating, they help concentration.
- Mix different scents to create a unique combination. Add just a few drops to keep the fragrance well balanced.
Step 3. Consider adding dried leaves / flowers
You can decide to enrich the salts with aromatic herbs or dried flowers. Try rosemary, thyme or mint which have a rather grainy texture. Alternatively, use previously dehydrated rose or lavender petals. You can leave them whole or grind them in a blender before adding the salts.
Step 4. Choose the color
This is not a fundamental step, but the color gives a professional look to the preparation, just add a few drops of food coloring. Choose the shade that best matches the scent, such as purple with lavender or green with eucalyptus.
Method 2 of 4: With Sea Salt
Step 1. Weigh the ingredients
You need 200g of sea salt, 200g of Epsom salts and 5ml of essential oil of your choice. You can consider adding dried herbs or flower pods if you want to intensify the scent; in this case, grind them in the blender until you get a powder.
Step 2. Incorporate the ingredients
First, in a bowl, mix the salts together. Then slowly add the essential oil making sure it blends evenly so that it comes into contact with all the salt.
Step 3. Store the bath salts
Store them in a sealed container. When you need to use them, just pour a couple of tablespoons into the bathtub full of hot water and wait for them to dissolve. Enjoy your relax!
Method 3 of 4: With Sodium Bicarbonate
Step 1. Weigh the ingredients
You will need 200 g of Epsom salts and as many bicarbonate, 30 ml of liquid glycerin and the essential oil. If you wish, also add dried flowers or dehydrated aromatic herbs to make the salts more beautiful and fragrant.
Step 2. Mix the ingredients
Start by incorporating the baking soda and Epsom salts together. Add liquid glycerin and mix well. You can now add as much essential oil as you like, but make sure it comes into contact with all the other ingredients.
Step 3. Store the salts
Pour them into a sealable container. Add a few tablespoons to the tub full of hot water to enjoy a relaxing, hydrating bath with a powerful soothing effect.
Method 4 of 4: With Clay and Borax
Step 1. Weigh the ingredients
You need 400 g of Epsom salts, 400 g of borax and 100 g of powdered kaolin clay. You must also get an essential oil according to your taste. The clay and borax work together to soften the water and your skin, allowing the other minerals to act on your health, such as relieving muscle contractures and reducing tension.
Step 2. Mix the ingredients together
Pour them all into a large bowl and mix them carefully. Slowly add the essential oil making sure to incorporate it well.
Step 3. Store the bath salts
Transfer them to a large jar with a lid. Sprinkle a couple of tablespoons of this in a tub full of hot water and let them free you from stress!
Advice
- If you are preparing the salts for storage or as a gift, let them sit overnight to dry completely. If you don't, the mixture will become so hard that you won't even be able to get it out of the jar. Once left to rest in the well-covered bowl overnight, mix them well to get rid of any lumps.
- Using edible flavors such as mint extract works great for scenting bath salts.
- Add the salts just before entering the tub. If you put them on too soon, the heat of the water will evaporate the scent of essential oils.
- If the salts are a gift, include in the package a "measuring spoon", a card with the ingredients and instructions for use. For example, you can write: "Add two tablespoons of salts to a tub of hot water".
Warnings
- Due to the high humidity of the bathroom, the salts may compact. Use the spoon to break up the lumps before using them or shake the jar frequently.
- Be careful to add essential oils that may irritate the skin. Lemon, lemongrass, mint and Canadian tea are at risk. Ask a professional for advice before using them.
- Do not add glycerin if you find that too many lumps are forming. Glycerin moisturizes the skin but also absorbs moisture. The salts will become hard as stones.
- Pregnant women, especially those in the third trimester, should not use bath salts, as well as those suffering from high blood pressure or edema (swelling).
- Do not add too much essential oil, it could irritate the skin.
