Exotic Sandalwood Spa Salts I was looking for a fun experiment to do with my girls, and I wanted to stir up a luxurious potion that all three of us could use, without worrying about skin-irritating chemicals.
I have become a big fan of Epsom Salts lately. Seems like I am creaking in more places than I ever did before! Epsom Salts or Magnesium Sulphate, is a great stress-buster and pain reliever and is effective in treating sore muscles. Plus, it also softens your skin, especially calluses. I made an Epsom salts soak for my daughter when she complained of intense pain in her legs after her ballet class. She was amazed at the instant relief she got.
I thought it would be a great idea to bring the spa to Mom on Mother's Day-- and what better way than to have Mom and kids to stir up a delicious smelling batch of Bath Salts? Plus, we can sneak in a bit of science!
Ingredients:
3 cups Epsom Salts
1 1/2 cups Sea Salt
2 tablespoons sandalwood powder (We used this in place of essential oils) or your favorite essential oils
Fresh rose petals
Airtight Jar
Mixing bowl
Spoon
Method:
1. Mix the Epsom salts and sea salt together in the bowl.
2. Mix well with a spoon.
3. Tear/chop up the rose petals into tiny pieces and add.
4. Add 2 tablespoons of sandalwood powder. If you use essential oils, mix well to ensure no clumps are formed.
5. Store in an airtight jar.
6. Now grab your favorite book and indulge yourself in a warm, gorgeous-smelling spa soak. You've earned it!
Happy Mother's Day!
You can try making different kinds of bath salts to suit your mood.
Lavender: Soothing, pain reliever
Chamomile: calming
Calendulla: healing
Peppermint: stimulating
Lemon: refreshing
So, what is the science behind the Bath salts?
Hard water has a high mineral content of usually calcium and magnesium, whereas soft water contains less of these minerals. Calcium and magnesium ions in the hard water react with soap, forming insoluble gray flakes or "soap scum" instead of a lather. You need more soap to get clean and the bathtub gets a grimy ring around it from the leftover soap scum. When you add bath salts, the calcium and magnesium ions in the water are replaced with sodium and potassium ions from the salt, allowing the soap to lather much more easily.
NOTE: If you already have soft water, you may not notice much of a difference in how well the soap lathers in the water with your bath salts and the water without the bath salts. However, the salt and essential oils will still have a beneficial effect on your skin.
Adding bath salts to your bath has to do with osmosis. Osmosis is the movement of water through a membrane (like your skin) to achieve equilibrium. Your body contains water and salt, whereas an ordinary bath contains mostly water and very little salt. So, water passes through your skin in an effort to balance the concentration of water and salt in you and in your bath. The excess water causes a "pruning" effect (your fingers and toes wrinkle). Adding bath salts to the water causes a more equal balance of salt and water in both you and your bath, so less water enters your skin and less "pruning" occurs. Salt is also draws toxins out of your skin and soothes sore muscles.
.
I have become a big fan of Epsom Salts lately. Seems like I am creaking in more places than I ever did before! Epsom Salts or Magnesium Sulphate, is a great stress-buster and pain reliever and is effective in treating sore muscles. Plus, it also softens your skin, especially calluses. I made an Epsom salts soak for my daughter when she complained of intense pain in her legs after her ballet class. She was amazed at the instant relief she got.
I thought it would be a great idea to bring the spa to Mom on Mother's Day-- and what better way than to have Mom and kids to stir up a delicious smelling batch of Bath Salts? Plus, we can sneak in a bit of science!
Ingredients:
3 cups Epsom Salts
1 1/2 cups Sea Salt
2 tablespoons sandalwood powder (We used this in place of essential oils) or your favorite essential oils
Fresh rose petals
Airtight Jar
Mixing bowl
Spoon
Method:
1. Mix the Epsom salts and sea salt together in the bowl.
2. Mix well with a spoon.
3. Tear/chop up the rose petals into tiny pieces and add.
4. Add 2 tablespoons of sandalwood powder. If you use essential oils, mix well to ensure no clumps are formed.
5. Store in an airtight jar.
6. Now grab your favorite book and indulge yourself in a warm, gorgeous-smelling spa soak. You've earned it!
Happy Mother's Day!
You can try making different kinds of bath salts to suit your mood.
Lavender: Soothing, pain reliever
Chamomile: calming
Calendulla: healing
Peppermint: stimulating
Lemon: refreshing
So, what is the science behind the Bath salts?
Hard water has a high mineral content of usually calcium and magnesium, whereas soft water contains less of these minerals. Calcium and magnesium ions in the hard water react with soap, forming insoluble gray flakes or "soap scum" instead of a lather. You need more soap to get clean and the bathtub gets a grimy ring around it from the leftover soap scum. When you add bath salts, the calcium and magnesium ions in the water are replaced with sodium and potassium ions from the salt, allowing the soap to lather much more easily.
NOTE: If you already have soft water, you may not notice much of a difference in how well the soap lathers in the water with your bath salts and the water without the bath salts. However, the salt and essential oils will still have a beneficial effect on your skin.
Adding bath salts to your bath has to do with osmosis. Osmosis is the movement of water through a membrane (like your skin) to achieve equilibrium. Your body contains water and salt, whereas an ordinary bath contains mostly water and very little salt. So, water passes through your skin in an effort to balance the concentration of water and salt in you and in your bath. The excess water causes a "pruning" effect (your fingers and toes wrinkle). Adding bath salts to the water causes a more equal balance of salt and water in both you and your bath, so less water enters your skin and less "pruning" occurs. Salt is also draws toxins out of your skin and soothes sore muscles.
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