Those with inflammatory skin conditions will know all about the healing benefits of a trip to the beach. It might be an afterthought for some, but the chance to enjoy sun, sea and sand is often a winning combination for those suffering from skin problems like eczema, psoriasis and acne.
It’s not just lower stress levels and vitamin D that help to promote healing; there are considerable benefits to be found in salt water bathing. So why limit yourself to your annual holiday when you could be supporting your skin’s natural healing process all year round? All you need is the right natural bath salts to turn your humble bathroom into a serene self-care spa.
In 2025, we’re ditching the ingredients we can’t pronounce in favour of stripped back and simplified skincare routines. And this movement should absolutely include bathing in salt water more frequently.
Regular salt baths can help to enhance skin health and tackle complex inflammatory skin conditions that might just be making your life miserable. Ditch the expensive skin care lines and invest in simplicity with all natural bath salts from MotherSage.
In this guide, we’re looking at the science behind the salt so you can make an informed choice about adding salt baths into your routine.
The Benefits of Natural Bath Salts for Skincare
You may have heard the saying “The cure for anything is salt water – sweat, tears or the sea". This quote is attributed to Karen Dinesen-Blixen, also known under the pen name Isak Dinesen. Bathing with salt and the use of salt scrubs are great for the skin for many reasons. While you might want to limit salt in your diet, the same restrictions don’t apply to your beauty routine.
Sea salt is rich in minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and calcium. Interestingly, the concentration of these minerals in sea water mirrors that found in blood plasma in humans. A nod to our aquatic origins, perhaps?
These minerals are known to help with hydration and maintaining normal skin cell turnover. Sea salt is also thought to offer anti-inflammatory and antibacterial benefits. Salt scrubs are also an effective method for exfoliating the skin, helping to remove dead skin and reveal healthy and glowing skin below.
For those with specific skincare concerns like eczema and psoriasis, bathing with salt can become an essential part of tackling flare ups. While excessive bathing can aggravate skin conditions, the addition of salt helps to boost hydration, reduce inflammation and heal open sores.
Relaxation and Stress Relief with Bath Salts
Another perk of skipping the shower in favour of a hot bath is the link between bathing and reduced anxiety and depression. Taking time to wind down with a warm to hot bath can have incredible benefits for the mind.
Just some of the mental health benefits of a hot bath include:
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Reducing stress by calming the nervous system
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Boosting levels of the happy hormone, serotonin
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The sulphates in bath salts deliver a detoxifying effect
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Increased circulation can help to make you sleepy, which aids in a good night’s sleep
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Increasing your core temperature helps to reinforce your circadian rhythm, leading to better sleep and a reduced risk of depression
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It’s the perfect chance to disconnect, as you won’t want to risk dropping your phone in the tub
Adding natural sea salts to your bath can deliver further health benefits. Ingredients like lavender are commonly included in bath salt blends to deliver further anxiety reducing benefits. A systematic review and meta analysis found that lavender is capable of delivering lower stress levels and is therefore recommended for anxiety reduction.
Spotlight on MotherSage Bath Salts
When choosing which products to put on or near your skin, it’s essential to be selective. This is particularly true for natural skincare products, as not all are created equally. Natural is not always synonymous with superior quality.
Alongside all-natural ingredients, it’s also essential to consider the origins of these ingredients. Natural products should also be organically derived to avoid the risk of contamination from heavy metals, pesticides and other nasties that may be found in some botanicals.
MotherSage Bath Salts tick all of the boxes when it comes to simplicity, natural ingredients, and superior quality. A base of Epsom and sea salt combines to create a skincare treat. Epsom salts are renowned for their anti-inflammatory properties. They are also rich in magnesium, which helps to relax muscles in preparation for improved sleep.
Organic lavender offers a mental health boost, helping to ease your anxiety and reduce stress. The addition of peppermint oil helps to boost blood flow and helps to stop to ease itching skin that is common with many inflammatory skin conditions.
Eucalyptus oil is another powerhouse ingredient that can help to improve breathing by easing congestion, which can help to improve sleep during the winter months when coughs and colds are all too common. This essential oil is also popular for easing muscle aches and cramps.
Integrating Bath Salts into Your Routine
The UK is officially a nation of shower lovers, with 3 out of 5 people preferring a shower over a bath. This is often why people struggle to incorporate bath salts into their skincare routine.
Adding a regular bath into your routine just once a week can deliver incredible benefits for your skin, your wider health and your mind.
Taking a bath in salt is also the ideal opportunity to switch off from the modern world and take a break from technology. The last thing you want to do is risk dropping your phone in the bathtub, so it’s an ideal opportunity to stop the doom scrolling and enjoy some downtime.
It’s best to take a bath right before bed, as it will help to prepare your body for sleep. Your core body temperature will rise, which releases serotonin and helps to relax your muscles (with the help of the magnesium in the Epsom salts).
When you get out of the salt bath, your core temperature falls, which lets your body know it's time to sleep. This is triggered by your circadian rhythm, which can become disrupted in those living with depression. Something as simple as taking a bath can therefore help to regulate this essential cycle, leading to improved rest.
What Do the Experts Say on Salt Baths?
Not sure if this method is right for you? It’s a very good idea to be selective about the treatments you try, particularly if you are addressing specific conditions such as eczema or psoriasis.
Thankfully, there are plenty of sources to back up the claims that salt baths can be great for your skin health. This video explains the benefits of Epsom salts clearly and without hype:
You can also hear from our customers, who are the best advocates for our brand:
Final Thoughts on Natural Bath Salts for Skin
It can be a long journey of trial and error to discover what works best for your skin. Shifting the focus to self care and prioritising your mental and physical wellbeing is a great place to start. You can then start to build a routine that works best for you.
Adding something as simple as a weekly bath with MotherSage Bath Salts might seem like such a small step, it might be difficult to see how it could possibly be of benefit.
Through regular use, you will notice improvements in all corners of your life, from improved sleep to better skin hydration levels. We encourage you to dig deep into the research into these natural ingredients such as Epsom salts, lavender oil and peppermint oil to better understand how they can support your skin barrier.
We also encourage you to read more about the benefits of something as simple as a hot bath for moods and sleep quality. It’s often the case that going back to the basics will help you to find a way forward.