Apps
Home goods
Home electronics
PC
Camera
Beauty
Health
Food and drinks
Kitchen
Fashion
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior
Hobbies
Outdoor
Home, garden, and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Media
Games
Automotive
Gifts
Mobile devices
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.
mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
Table of Contents
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.
Those with psoriasis or other skin conditions like eczema or acne can benefit from dead sea salt. This salt contains beneficial minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium, and sulfur, among many others, that provide therapeutic benefits for skin and muscles.
A couple of reviewers don't like the smell of the salts. If you have a sensitive nose, you may want to look for a fragranced alternative or add your own fragrances. However, reviewers report softer skin and improved stubborn eczema or psoriasis. These bath salts also provide moisturization to reviewers with dry skin.
The smell of lavender is known for promoting relaxation and sleep. Combining it with the tension-melting power of sea salt provides relaxation for both your body and mind. It can be used as a body scrub, too.
A few reviewers say that it's difficult to dissolve these bath salts fully. However, most enjoy using these bath salts to relax and soothe muscle aches. The lavender smell is popular among almost all of the reviewers, striking a good balance between not fragrant enough and too fragrant.
This blend combines the benefits of mineral-rich pink Himalayan salt and Epsom salt. It's also infused with bergamot and sweet orange essential oils soothe aches and pains and relieve stress. Plus, the large three-pound bags are ideal if you take regular baths.
Some reviewers note that the bath salts were clumped in some of the packages they received, making them difficult to dissolve. Overall, however, reviewers rave over the relaxing citrus scent, saying that it isn't overbearing. Reviewers also love using these bath salts to relax and remove tension, especially in their legs.
Epsom salts target achy muscles while shea butter, coconut extract, and lime extract nourish and soften your skin. Thanks to these extracts, the bath salts also have a pleasant fragrance.
Those with sensitive skin or allergies should look closely at the ingredients, as a few reviewers report some irritation. But, reviewers love the scent, saying it left their bathrooms smelling good. Many also say these salts are effective in relaxing and relieving pain.
Some mention that they like this bath salt since it has the same muscle-relaxing effects as Epsom salts but left their skin more moisturized.
These bath salts are designed for sitz baths, but they can also be used as a whole-body soak. There are vitamin C flakes in this bath salt blend to neutralize chlorine and ammonia in bathwater, and the essential oil blend promotes calmness.
A few reviewers warn you to be careful if you have very sensitive skin, noting they experienced irritation. Overall, reviewers with hemorrhoids, Bartholin cysts, or those who are postpartum say these bath salts do a great job in improving and even healing their problems. They also like the relaxing scent.
Whether it's flu season or you're just feeling congested, Vicks Vapobath provides the airway-clearing, ache-soothing benefits of their classic Vaporub. These salts use a blend of menthol, eucalyptus, and Camphor to help you breathe a little easier.
Because of the menthol, some reviewers felt very cold in the bath or after bathing. However, they liked how these salts cleared out stuffy noses and helped them to breathe better. Reviewers loved these bath salts for cold and sickness relief, as well as for relaxing after a long day.
These unique bath salts use mustard seed powder. This ingredient is said to open pores to encourage the elimination of impurities. Meanwhile, a blend of wintergreen, eucalyptus, rosemary, and thyme essential oils provides a fresh scent.
Reviewers mentioned that these salts turn bath water yellow, so make sure to clean your tub to avoid staining. Otherwise, they enjoyed the subtle smell of the essential oils and didn't smell any mustard. Many used these bath salts when they are sick, achy, or just want to feel rejuvenated and relaxed. Plus, those with dry skin found relief.
These bath salts are made with magnesium flakes that are absorbed faster by the body than Epsom salts. Vitamin C crystals neutralize bathwater, while orange essential oil provides further anti-inflammatory benefits and an uplifting, energizing scent.
Some reviewers didn't experience as much pain relief as they had hoped for, but others mentioned that it took them a few soaks before they felt significant relief. Many reviewers enjoyed using these bath salts after workouts to soothe muscle soreness. Those with bad hips or knees also found relief bathing with these salts.
If you want a relaxing bath salt that's different from the usual lavender smell, these bath salts are for you. The combination of valerian and hops aids in stress relief and restful sleep, making this a choice for unwinding before bed.
A few reviewers warned that using too much resulted in a strong smell and slight staining of their tubs and skin. They suggested starting with a smaller amount. But, reviewers liked how these bath salts gave their bathwater a pretty blue color. They also provided reviewers with a restful night's sleep, as well.
If you want to add aromatherapy to your bath, this product is a great choice. It uses pink Himalayan salts to provide detoxification benefits and a variety of minerals. It also contains ylang-ylang and vanilla oils that have a calming soft floral scent.
A few reviewers had difficulty fully dissolving all of the salts, which led to some scratching when getting into the tub. Overall, the majority of reviewers loved using them to unwind at the end of the day. According to reviewers, these bath salts also had some skin-softening effects.
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.
The descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
Apps
Home goods
Home electronics
PC
Camera
Beauty
Health
Food and drinks
Kitchen
Fashion
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior
Hobbies
Outdoor
Home, garden, and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Media
Games
Automotive
Gifts
Mobile devices