Benefits of epsom salts and essential oils

Pull out a splinter

Trying to get out a stubborn splinter?  You can make it an easier job by softening up the skin around the splinter a bit using Epsom salt. Dissolve 1/3 cup epsom salt and 5 drop of lavender essential oil in 1 cup of warm water and stir until salt is completely dissolved. Soak the affected body part with the splinter for at least 10 minutes and carefully remove the splinter with tweezers or a sewing needle. This makes it so much easier to remove and the lavender helps soothe the pain too

Foot Scrub

Don’t you hate when the soles of your feet get all dry and flaky during the winter months?  One great way to soften up your soles again and soothe your irritated, dry feet is to make a magnesium scrub using epsom salts.  Mix a cup of epsom salt combined with argan or jojoba oil, liquid castile soap and a few drops of tea tree essential oilTea Tree essential oil is a good natural cleanser and is good due to its antimicrobial and antifungal properties. Your feet will be feeling better in no time.

Firming Facial Wash

Epsom salt can help firm the skin and exfoliate. Grind up epsom salt (in the blender or using a mortar and pestle) and add to rosehip oil.  Add 5 drops of tea tree essential oil. The epsom salts help exfoliate the skin. Tea Tree essential oil is a good natural cleanser and is good due to its antimicrobial and antifungal properties. Rosehip is well-known in the beauty world for its moisturizing and restorative properties.

Using smooth circular motions, gently massage onto your face (don’t wet skin first) for up to 2 minutes. This will also remove make-up very effectively. Leave the oil on the skin for up to 10 minutes to really deep clean pores. Soak a clean washcloth under hot tap water, wring it and place over your face until it cools. The steam from the washcloth will remove the oils and any impurities in the skin. Repeat if needed. There will still be a thin layer of oil on the skin and this is beneficial.

Though it sounds somewhat crazy at first, the idea of using natural oils to cleanse the skin gently actually makes a lot of sense.

Even Acne.org explains the benefits of oil cleansing:

Oil dissolves oil. One of the most basic principals of chemistry is that “like dissolves like.” The best way to dissolve a non-polar solvent like sebum/oil, is by using another non-polar solvent similar in composition: Other oils. By using the right oils, you can cleanse your pores of dirt and bacteria naturally, gently and effectively, while replacing the dirty oil with beneficial ones extracted from natural botanicals, vegetables and fruit that heal, protect and nourish your skin. When done properly and consistently, the OCM can clear the skin from issues like oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, blackheads, whiteheads and other problems caused by mild to moderate acne–while leaving your skin healthy, balanced and properly moisturized.

Volume-Boosting Hair Mask

Use epsom salt to a natural conditioner for a texturizing and strengthening boost for hair. Mix a natural hair conditioner with equal parts epsom salt and 5 drops of rosemary essential oil and work into your hair. Leave on for up to 20 minutes. Rinse well and dry for thicker hair! This hair serum also helps thicken hair. The epsom salt pulls moisture and natural oils out. Rosemary oil is one of the top essential oils for hair thickness and growth. It is used to increase cellular metabolism, which stimulates hair growth and promotes healing. When it comes to boosting your hair health, the benefits of rosemary oil also include preventing baldness, slowing the graying process and treating dandruff and dry scalp.

Relieve Itchy Skin and Bug Bites

Epsom salt is also effective for relieving itchy skin from bug bites or other reactions. Dissolve a tablespoon of epsom salt in a cup of water, add 2 drops of lavender essential oil and let it cool. Spritz on bug bites or itchy skin to help calm the itch. Besides it’s sweet fragrance, lavender is a natural antiseptic, with antiviral, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that help soothe and cleanse the skin.

Treating Sunburns

With the heat of summer come a number of less than desirable skin situations – sweat can trigger breakouts – and excessive sun exposure can lead to sun burns and dry and dehydrated skin.  Dissolve 2 tablespoons epsom salt in 1 cup of water and cool. Add 4 drops lavender essential oil and shake. Spray on skin to calm the pain of a sunburn. 

Lavender essential oil is one of the few essential oils that can be used directly on the skin without dilution. Besides it’s sweet fragrance it is also a natural antiseptic, with antiviral properties that help soothe and cleanse the skin of impurities. With anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, this flowering plant has saved many a skin from peeling sunburns, cysts, and signs of stress. It reduces the sting of burns and reduces redness. Thanks to its antimicrobial properties, it’ll speed up healing, allowing your body to recover faster. It can be used to treat sunburns, summer acne, moisturize hair or as a fragrant facial mist. Lavender works so well due to the presence of adaptogenic compounds that are great at amplifying the skin’s ability to transform and heal itself after sunburn. And because lavender oil is so rapidly absorbed by the skin you’ll quickly notice that the redness of your burn becomes reduced and your skin feels less aggravated when touched. Over time lavender oil also tones and firms the skin. This stimulates cell formation, improves circulation and promotes a healthy oxygen flow into cells. Your new skin cells will become flush with fresh oxygen and grow healthy and strong during the renewal process.

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1 comment

Shilpa

Shilpa

Can’t wait to try out!

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