Want to relax after a long day? Baths are a great way to soak away stress, but adding bath salts can upgrade your bathtime! Bath salts can soothe muscles, promote skin detoxification, improve circulation, and relieve inflammation. Plus, there are many bath salts with varying benefits and additional ingredients that target specific problems or goals. Some even offer scents to make your bath even more relaxing.
After researching the best bath salts and their benefits, our top pick is Minera's Natural Dead Sea Salt because it can moisturize, heal, or soften skin while providing powerful relaxation effects. Take a look at the rest of our favorites on our top 10 list, and read our buying guide for tips on finding the best bath salts for you.
When you're looking for bath salts, think about how you hope to feel both during and after your bath. Consider how often you take a bath or how big your bathtub is to help you choose an appropriate size.
$17.99
Amount | 5 lbs. |
---|---|
Grain size | Fine grain (course grain available) |
Key ingredients | Dead sea salt |
Best for | Skin conditions, detox, sore muscle relief, moisturization, relaxation |
$12.99
Amount | 2 lbs. |
---|---|
Grain size | Medium/fine grain |
Key ingredients | Sea salt, lavender essential oil |
Best for | Sleep, relaxation, sore muscle relief |
2 pack
$13.00
Amount | 3 lbs. each |
---|---|
Grain size | Fine grain |
Key ingredients | Epsom salt, pink Himalayan salt, bergamot and sweet orange essential oils |
Best for | Relaxation, sore muscle relief, aromatherapy |
Coconut Lime
$6.99
Amount | 3 lbs. |
---|---|
Grain size | Not specified |
Key ingredients | Epsom salt, shea butter, coconut and lime extract |
Best for | Aches and sore muscles, moisturization |
$16.95
Amount | 2 lbs. |
---|---|
Grain size | Not specified |
Key ingredients | Epsom salt, juniper berry, frankincense, niaouli, geranium, and lavender essential oils, vitamin C flakes |
Best for | Sitz baths, relaxation, aromatherapy |
2 pack
$16.88
Amount | 15 oz. each |
---|---|
Grain size | Fine grain |
Key ingredients | Table salt, menthol, eucalyptus, camphor |
Best for | Relaxation, congestion, |
$28.27
Amount | 28 oz. |
---|---|
Grain size | Not specified |
Key ingredients | Sodium carbonate, mustard seed powder, essential oils |
Best for | Sore muscle relief, swollen feet, relaxation, sleep support, detoxificaiton |
$24.95
Amount | 3 lbs. |
---|---|
Grain size | Not specified |
Key ingredients | Dead sea salt, magnesium flakes, vitamin C flakes, orange essential oil |
Best for | Sore muscle relief, inflammation, circulation |
$20.00
Amount | 17.63 oz. |
---|---|
Grain size | Not specified |
Key ingredients | Sodium chloride (table salt), valerian and hops essential oils |
Best for | Relaxation, detox, sleep support |
Ylang-Ylang & Vanilla
$18.00
Amount | 8 oz. |
---|---|
Grain size | Large grain |
Key ingredients | Pink Himalayan salt, ylang-ylang and vanilla essential oils |
Best for | Relaxation, aromatherapy, dryness |
Image | 1 ![]() Minera | 2 ![]() San Francisco Salt Company | 3 ![]() Dr. Teal's | 4 ![]() Tree Hut | 5 ![]() Better Bath Better Body | 6 ![]() Vicks | 7 ![]() Dr. Singha's | 8 ![]() Coach Soak | 9 ![]() Kneipp | 10 ![]() Herbivore Botanicals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Natural Dead Sea Salt | Sleep Lavender Bath Salts | Restore & Replenish Pink Himalayan Mineral Soak | Shea Moisturizing Epsom Salt | Sitz Bath Soak | VapoBath Bath Crystals | Mustard Bath Salts | Energizing Citrus Bath Soak | Dream Away Mineral Bath Salt Soak | Calm Soaking Salts |
Features | A Dead Sea Salt Bath for Healing | Relaxing and Fragrant Lavender Bath Salts | Citrus Essential Oils to Soothe and Alleviate Stress | Moisturizing Bath Salts With a Tropical Scent | Salts With Vitamin C for a Sitz-Style Bath | Bath Salts for Sick or Stuffy Days | Mustard Bath Salts for Numerous Benefits | Anti-Inflammatory Energizing Bath Salts for Sore Muscles | Sensory Bath Salts for Sleep Support | Enjoy a Warm, Relaxing Scent |
Price | $17.99 | $12.99 | $13.00 | $6.99 | $16.95 | $16.88 | $28.27 | $24.95 | $20.00 | $18.00 |
Amount | 5 lbs. | 2 lbs. | 3 lbs. each | 3 lbs. | 2 lbs. | 15 oz. each | 28 oz. | 3 lbs. | 17.63 oz. | 8 oz. |
Grain size | Fine grain (course grain available) | Medium/fine grain | Fine grain | Not specified | Not specified | Fine grain | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified | Large grain |
Key ingredients | Dead sea salt | Sea salt, lavender essential oil | Epsom salt, pink Himalayan salt, bergamot and sweet orange essential oils | Epsom salt, shea butter, coconut and lime extract | Epsom salt, juniper berry, frankincense, niaouli, geranium, and lavender essential oils, vitamin C flakes | Table salt, menthol, eucalyptus, camphor | Sodium carbonate, mustard seed powder, essential oils | Dead sea salt, magnesium flakes, vitamin C flakes, orange essential oil | Sodium chloride (table salt), valerian and hops essential oils | Pink Himalayan salt, ylang-ylang and vanilla essential oils |
Best for | Skin conditions, detox, sore muscle relief, moisturization, relaxation | Sleep, relaxation, sore muscle relief | Relaxation, sore muscle relief, aromatherapy | Aches and sore muscles, moisturization | Sitz baths, relaxation, aromatherapy | Relaxation, congestion, | Sore muscle relief, swollen feet, relaxation, sleep support, detoxificaiton | Sore muscle relief, inflammation, circulation | Relaxation, detox, sleep support | Relaxation, aromatherapy, dryness |
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Whether you regularly take baths or they're a rare treat, bath salts can enhance your experience by providing aroma and color therapy benefits, as well as leave you feeling relaxed by easing aches and pains.
Grain size doesn't affect the benefits of bath salts, but there are a few advantages to differing sizes.
Smaller grain bath salts tend to dissolve more easily. You can also use them as a body scrub before baths or anytime you want some exfoliation. However, they can be tedious to clean up if you accidentally spill them.
For a more sensory experience, try larger grain bath salts. They absorb colors and scents more easily due to their size, so many bath salts fall on the larger side for this reason. However, they tend to be more difficult or take more time to dissolve fully in your bath.
Bath salts can use a variety of salts, and each type has unique benefits and characteristics.
Epsom salts are a crystallized form of magnesium sulfate, so they aren't technically real salts. Magnesium is an important mineral for muscle and nerve function, so many people use Epsom salts to soothe muscle tension and stiff joints by reducing inflammation.
Admittedly, the research behind the use of Epsom salts to increase magnesium levels in the body is rather inconclusive, but it remains a popular and widely-used option for baths.
Himalayan pink salt is found in the rivers and valleys of the Himalayan Mountains and has a pink color due to its iron content.
Himalayan pink salt has nutritional and mineral benefits as well; it contains 84 different minerals, including magnesium, potassium, iron, and calcium. These can aid in pain relief and relaxation.
It also has antimicrobial properties, making it a good choice if you have body acne, psoriasis, eczema, or generally inflamed or irritated skin.
Sea salts are the byproduct of the evaporation of seawater, so they are minimally processed. Trace minerals like magnesium, calcium, zinc, iron, and potassium remain in the salt, making sea salts great for baths.
It is said that where the salt is harvested has impacts on the benefits it provides. For example, salt harvested from the Dead Sea (called Dead Sea salt) is one of the highest quality sea salts and is especially beneficial to those with arthritis or achy joints.
Naturally harvested salts tend to retain more beneficial minerals and antioxidants than commercially manufactured salts, otherwise known as dendritic salt. This isn't to say that dendritic salt is harmful to use, but it may not provide as much of the benefits that other salts may provide.
However, dendritic salts are able to hold onto scents and colors. Consider this type of salt if you want to add ambiance to your bath.
It is important to note that using iodized table salt can cause adverse reactions, especially for those with sensitivities, due to its highly refined nature and added iodine.
Bath salts are powerful, but combining them with other synergistic ingredients can enhance the benefits of your bath through aromatherapy, moisturization, and additional anti-inflammatory benefits. Look for added ingredients like essential oils or moisturizing agents, such as oils or shea butter.
Essential oils like lavender, valerian, vanilla, or floral scents can bring about feelings of calmness and relaxation, helping to ease you into a restful sleep after a bath.
On the other hand, citrus or ginger essential oils can make bathtime a source of energy and rejuvenation. Feeling stuffy? Try eucalyptus, mint, or other spicy or herbaceous essential oils that can open airways for congestion relief.
Baths can be part of a consistent self-care routine that helps you feel happy and healthy. Here are some of our favorite products that can help you curate a perfect bath time.
Bath salts have powerful physical and mental benefits, from improving circulation to releasing stress. They can even have some healing benefits and provide relief from symptoms of health conditions.
Keep in mind the grain size, type of salt, and additional benefits you're looking for. Otherwise, stay true to what you want out of your bath and let yourself fully unwind!
Author: Rachel Ikegami
Get the most out of your bath with some bright colors, too! This Lush bath bomb is officially recommended by singer, actor, writer, and advice blogger Ciara Harris for your well-deserved self-care time.
7oz.
$7.95
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