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Byrdie / Lecia Landis
There are many ways to unwind at the end of a long day—a glass of wine, a good Netflix show, the latter—but arguably the most popular is taking a relaxing bath to let go of all our everyday stressors. On particularly challenging days, we love upgrading that experience by adding in some Epsom salts.
Although it may look like table salt, Epsom salts are intended to be dissolved in water and used to help with different conditions. Made with magnesium sulfate (or sometimes sea salt), one scoop of Epsom salts may help with problems like decreasing stress, helping you sleep better, and relieving muscle soreness. Some say it’s also beneficial in reducing pain, swelling, and inflammation.
However, the best part about Epsom salt is how easy it is to gain the benefits. Simply soak in a tub with the salts and await the benefits—it’s truly as easy as that.
What to Look for in Epsom Salts
Ingredients
While the common ingredient is magnesium sulfate, other alternatives work even better. “Some experts suggest looking for magnesium chloride rather than magnesium sulfate because it may be better absorbed, says Dr. Hadley King, an NYC-based dermatologist.
Avoid Essential Oils
"I would suggest avoiding essential oils within the Epsom salts, especially if you are sensitized or have a history of eczema or sensitive skin," explains King.
Ahead, the best Epsom salts to help upgrade bathtime.
Best Overall
LATHER Muscle Ease Bath Salts
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Contains a blend of essential oils
Helps relieve tight, itchy skin
Mild scent
Expensive
This product, a combination of Epsom salt, sea salt, and Himalayan pink sea salt, instantly helps evaporate pain in tired and sore muscles. The best part? The aromatic essential oils within them will also help soothe your mind to leave you pain and worry-free. Add 2 heaping tablespoons to your warm water bath to experience all the benefits.
Active Ingredients: Himalayan pink sea salt, sea salt, epsom salt | Scent: Mint | Size: 9 oz.
Best Budget
Tree Hut Moisturizing Epsom Salt
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Amazon
Moisturizes skin
Tropical scent
Contains nourishing oils
Contains fragrance
Priced at under $10, this Tree Hut Epsom salt is affordable without sacrificing quality. Composed of a combination of Epsom salt, natural shea butter, and coconut extract, it’ll moisturize and soothe parched skin in seconds. And we’d be remiss to mention its delicious coconut lime smell, which will transport you to an island far, far away with each use.
Active Ingredients: Magnesium sulfate, shea butter | Scent: Coconut lime | Size: 3 lbs.
Best Drugstore
Dove Renewing Care Foaming Bath Salts Peony and Rose
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Walmart
Floral scent
Softens skin
Inexpensive
Contains dyes
To target areas where you feel tired and sore, mix a bit of this bath salt into your tub. Scented with a delicate mix of roses, peonies, and jasmine petals, it’ll leave your skin feeling soft and smooth. Want to upgrade the experience even more? Mix it with your favorite bubble bath.
Active Ingredients: Sea salt, baking soda | Scent: Floral | Size: 28 oz.
Best for Pain
Solimo Epsom Salt Soak
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Can be mixed with other products
Nice packaging
Large bag
Has a bit of a scent
If you’re feeling under the weather or recently took a nasty spill, these Solimo Epsom salts may just be the solution you need. Known to target areas where you feel pain, this salt soak should be mixed directly with your shower gel and applied to the affected areas to achieve the best results.
Active Ingredients: Magnesium sulfate | Scent: Unscented | Size: 8 lbs.
Best Value
Epsoak Epsom Salt
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Amazon
Huge bag
Comes in different scents
Multipurpose product
Expensive
Arriving at a whooping 19-pounds, this bag promises countless baths and ample opportunity to experience all its benefits. When added to your bath, the grain size of these salts instantly dissolves, so there’s no need to freeze in your robe before hopping in (better yet, you won’t have to worry about your bath becoming freezing cold either).
Active Ingredients: Magnesium sulfate | Scents: Unscented, citrus, coconut, chamomile | Size: 19 lbs.
Best for Relaxing
HomeBody Full Spectrum of Possibilities CBD Bath Bomb Soak
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Ulta
Feels soothing to use
Pretty packaging
Great scent
Expensive
Picture this: You just got home from a super stressful day and decide to run a bath with some Epsom salts to relax. Which ones do you choose? This one from Homebody, of course! They’ll help your mind and body relax by melting away all the tension and stress from your muscles, thanks to their helpful inclusion of CBD.
Active Ingredients: 300 mg. CBD, chamomile, magnesium | Scent: Floral | Size: 14 oz.
What Our Editors Say
"Homebody's bath soaks are the whole package. They calm my mind, muscles, and even my skin. Food-grade, biodegradable glitter also makes for a beautiful bathing experience!" — Kathryn Vandervalk, Editorial & Strategy Director
Best for Sore Muscles
Saje Muscle Melt
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Saje Natural Wellness
A little goes a long way
Contains blend of nourishing oils
Good value
Could be more hydrating
Struggling with sore muscles? Use this Saje bath salt asap. Created with a combination of Epsom salt and sea salt, just 2 to 5 tablespoons is all you need to decompress and restore your hard-working muscles—especially after a grueling workout. For best results, soak in them for 20 to 30 minutes and close the door so you can truly relax sans kids, noise, or distractions.
Active Ingredients: Sea salt, magnesium sulfate | Scent: Herbal | Size: 10.6 oz.
Best for Pre-Bed
OSEA for Parachute Sleep Time Bath Salt
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Parachute
Beautiful packaging
Feels relaxing to use
Scent isn't overpowering
Can take time to dissolve
If the bath itself doesn’t make you sleepy, these bath salts certainly will. Crafted with a blend of lavender and essential oils, this natural sleep aid will have you curling up under the covers and catching zzz’s asap.
Scent: Lavender | Size: 16 oz.
Best Aromatherapy
Dr. Teal's Soothe & Sleep Foaming Bath with Pure Epsom Salt
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Amazon
Easy to use
Inexpensive
Bubbles up nicely
Contains sulfates
Created in a bubble bath form, this aromatic Epsom salt soak will instantly reinvigorate your mind and body. Pour a generous amount under warm water for a cozy, renewing bath that’ll evaporate all your everyday stressors and worries.
Active Ingredients: Magnesium, sulfate | Scent: Lavender | Size: 34 fl. oz.
Best Purifying
Elemis Cellutox Herbal Bath Synergy
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Contains unique actives
Softens skin
Great scent
Expensive
This bag of bath salts merges algae, juniper, lemon, and more and leaves your skin soft, smooth, and refreshed from toxins and pollutants. You’ll revive your mind and body and leave feeling refreshed and renewed to take on tomorrow’s challenges. Reviewers throughout the site share huge transformation stories after using this salt once or twice a week.
Active Ingredients: Sea buckthorn, sea fennel, algae extract | Scent: Herbal | Size: 10 count
Best for Achy Joints
Astura Muscle & Joint Relief Bath Salts
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Invigorating scent
Good value
Multiple varieties available
May irritate sensitive skin
In addition to evaporating muscle aches, this salt with eucalyptus, peppermint, and sage essential oils eases achy joints. Just soak for 20 minutes and wait for your muscle and joint pain to fade away. You’ll feel the difference immediately and save yourself money on a fancy in-spa massage.
Active Ingredients: Dead Sea bath salts, eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil | Scent: Mint | Size: 16 oz.
Best for Expecting Moms
The Honest Company Me Moment Soaking Salts
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Unscented for sensitive skin
Dissolves quickly
Good value
Could be more hydrating
The ones who can benefit most from Epsom salts are moms, so it makes sense that a brand would finally create one. Created just for moms, this bag of mineral-rich Dead Sea salts is safe for current moms and moms-to-be to use. Just make sure your water isn’t too hot, and you’re good to go.
Active Ingredients: Sea salt, magnesium chloride | Scent: Unscented | Size: 2 lbs.
Final Verdict
Epsom salts not only upgrade your bath experience, but also provide you with a whole slew of benefits—like reduction of pain, muscle soreness, and more. Composed of Epsom salt, sea salt, and Himalayan pink sea salt, Lather Muscle Ease Bath Salts (view at Lather) are our overall favorite as they relieve sore muscles and leave your mind worry-free post usage. Looking for a natural sleep remedy? OSEA for Parachute, Sleep Time Bath Salt (view at Parachute) is your best bet. Its blend of relaxing lavender and essential oils will have you sleeping like a baby in no time. If you’re looking to spend a little less, Tree Hut Shea Moisturizing Epsom Salt, Coconut Lime (view at Amazon) lives up to its hype—and smells like you just arrived on a tropical vacation.
Make sure you follow Epsom salts with a moisturizer, says King. They can be extremely drying on the skin if overused or not used properly.
How We Researched
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
Why Trust Byrdie?
Rachel Dube has written for some of the biggest digital beauty publications. During her career, she has tested hundreds (if not thousands) of products and remedies to everyday problems. While searching for ways to naturally relieve muscle and joint pain, she came across Epsom salts and has since been using them weekly.
According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough Epsom salts from Black-owned and/or Black-founded businesses to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.
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