Healthy, Sun-Kissed Skin with Epsom Salt

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer – and prolonged sun exposure – making proper skin care crucial. Here’s how experts recommend using Epsom Salt to treat your skin to a little pre- and post-sun TLC. (And how to help recover if you get too much sun.)

Note: For human use, the Epsom Salt Council recommends only Epsom salt with the USP designation.

Pre-sun:

Celebrity skin care guru Ole Henriksen recommends exfoliating skin before sun exposure to trigger circulation and facilitate the elimination of toxins or impurities that may be trapped in your skin. This leaves skin smooth and soft, removes excess dead skin, and allows for better absorption and application of sunscreen or lotion.

Here’s his recipe for an at-home dermabrasion resurfacing treatment:

Shower Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 4 oz. Epsom Salt
• 4 oz. Coffee grounds
• 1 tsp Eucalyptus oil
• Sesame oil (enough to form smooth paste)

Instructions:

1. Mix the Epsom Salt and coffee grounds in a medium bowl, then add the oils and stir thoroughly until you have a smooth, not runny, paste.
2. Get in the shower, wet your skin and turn off the water. Use the palm of each hand to vigorously scrub your body, from neck to feet, for several minutes.
3. Rinse your body and enjoy your glow. Your skin should feel smooth and lifted.

Post-sun:

After a day outdoors, cosmetologist Linda Ashbrook suggests soaking in Epsom salt for 20 minutes to relax tired muscles and soften dry skin. Add a few drops of aromatherapy oil, such as lavender or frankincense, to make it more relaxing. Adding Epsom Salt to your bath helps retain moisture, eliminate toxins and relieve stress.

Soothing Facial Mask

Ingredients:

• 1 tbs Epsom Salt
• 1 tbs honey
• 1 tbs olive oil
• 3 drops lemon juice (for oily skin)

Instructions:

1. Mix all ingredients and apply to face.
2. Leave on for 5-10 minutes.
3. Rinse in a warm shower to wash away any impurities that have been drawn out from the Epsom salt.
4. Moisturize with lotion and enjoy soothed, smooth skin.

Relief from Mild Sunburn

Outside of taking an Epsom salt bath, doctors say there are two ways to use Epsom salt to reduce itching and dryness caused by mild sunburn. This can be especially helpful for hard-to-reach places or spots you accidentally skipped over when applying sunscreen:

1. Make a compress by soaking a cotton washcloth in cold water mixed with two tablespoons of Epsom salt per cup. Then press to affected area.
2. Create a paste by mixing one teaspoon of Epsom salt into one cup of hot water and then chilling the solution in the fridge for 20 minutes. Clean and pat dry the affected area, and then apply the paste.