When It Comes to Bath Soaks, Everyone Knows About Epsom Salts

You’ve probably seen plenty of packages and pouches labeled “Epsom salt soak,” promising muscle relaxation, stress relief, and even detoxification. But here’s the tea: none of those claims are strongly backed by science — and, even if they were, when bath soaks are a mix of Epsom salts with other ingredients, they don’t even include enough magnesium sulfate to make any real difference.

The Myth of the “Muscle-Soothing” Bath

Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate. It’s been used for centuries, first gaining fame in the 1600s from mineral springs in Epsom, England — naturally occurring waters people swore by for sore muscles and “detoxing” the body. Today, nearly all Epsom salts are lab-produced magnesium sulfate. Chemically identical, yes, but far removed from those historic “healing waters.”

The idea is that when you soak in an Epsom salt bath, magnesium gets absorbed through your skin to relax muscles and reduce inflammation. Sounds amazing, but there’s no solid scientific evidence that magnesium sulfate penetrates the skin in meaningful amounts. Most of the relaxation and muscle relief people feel actually comes from the warm water and buoyancy of the bath itself, combined with increased blood flow from the heat — not the salt.

🌿 Epsom Salts and “Detox” Baths

You may have heard that Epsom salts can “detox” your body, but unfortunately, this is very much just marketing. The “detox” sensation comes from bathing in warm or hot water, not magnesium sulfate:

• Warm baths (~98–104°F / 37–40°C): Increase circulation, relax muscles, hydrate skin, and ease tension.
• Hot baths (>104°F / 40°C): Trigger sweating, increase heart rate, and give a “flush out” feeling — but your liver and kidneys are still doing all the detox work.

The benefits people associate with detox baths — stress relief, relaxed muscles, and a feeling of renewal — come almost entirely from the hot bath itself, regardless of additives. Epsom salts may make water feel silky or carry fragrance, but they aren’t actually removing toxins from your body.

Where Epsom Salts Can Be Useful

That doesn’t mean Epsom salts do nothing. They can:

• Carry fragrance: Magnesium sulfate holds and disperses scent very well.
• Soften hard water: Giving your bath water a smoother feel.
• Exfoliate: Their texture works in scrubs or foot soaks for a tactile, sensorial moment.

In most bath soaks, however, Epsom salts are primarily a sensory enhancer or label-friendly filler, not a clinically-proven powerhouse.

Why We Didn’t Use Epsom Salts in The Skincare Soak

When we formulated The Skincare Soak, we wanted to go beyond relaxation and fragrance. We wanted visible skincare benefits and real results — the kind you can feel while soaking and long after you step out of the tub.

We tested Epsom salts and all the “traditional” soak bases. What we found: Epsom salts can be drying or irritating for sensitive skin. While it may feel soothing in the moment, magnesium sulfate can pull moisture from the skin and disrupt the barrier, leaving it tight, dry, or itchy.

Instead of trendy additives, every component in The Skincare Soak earns its place:

• Gentle, sulfate-free foaming agents that cleanse without stripping
• Beta-Glucan to deeply hydrate, protect, and plump
• Skin-loving botanicals like Meadowfoam Seed Oil and Mango Seed Butter that leave your skin moisturized, nourished, and glowing

Muscle Relief, Stress Reduction — No Salts Required

Worried you’ll miss out on muscle or stress relief by skipping Epsom salts? Don’t be. That magic is in the bath itself. Warm water naturally increases circulation, eases muscle tension, and calms the nervous system — giving you the tension-releasing, restorative benefits the moment you sink in.

With The Skincare Soak, you also get ingredients that are clinically proven to support skin health and deliver visible results. So you’re not sacrificing recovery or relaxation for skincare — you’re upgrading your bath to do it all.

Enjoy soft, hydrated, pampered skin while your muscles relax and your mind unwinds — no extra salts or additives needed.