Why Should I Use Sea Salt Scrubs?

Sea salt has grown in popularity in a variety of different forms of skincare products: exfoliators, bath products, etc. Sea salt is made by taking water from the oceans or saline lakes and letting the water evaporate, table salt on the other hand is mined from salt deposits in the earth and heavily processed to produce the salt we use in our food.

As I was sitting by the beautiful salty waters of California reminiscing over the first time I felt salt water’s magical abilities to help you relax when I encountered a beach for the very first time in a coastal city in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. My mother used sea salt to exfoliate her skin, she was such a smart lady.

I came across a couple of articles that highlight the amazing properties of sea salt that I feel could have been written by my mother and thought I would share them with you. 

According to Jonae Fredericks for Livingstrong, “Sea salts and Epsom salts, or magnesium sulfate, both commonly used in the beauty industry, contain minerals that can help to enhance the skin. The magnesium in Epsom salts can reduce inflammation, while sulfates flush out toxins, according to the Epsom Salt Council. Sea salt, derived from evaporated seawater, is also chock full of minerals beneficial to the skin.” We added naturally anti-aging, vitamin and fatty-acid rich superfruit oils to our Brazilian Glow™ RedClay Mask and Scrub + Rice Bran & other powerful actives to organic sea salt which will breathe new life into tired skin. Here are some of the most amazing benefits of scrubbing with sea salt as described by Jonae:

Sea Salt Uses: To Exfoliate & Detox

Sea salt is a natural detoxifier, as the salt absorbs the toxins from the skin. apply a salt scrub to your skin and leave it on for one minute before you get into the shower. Massage the salt off gently in the shower as you bathe. This will not only help detoxify your skin, gently rubbing the skin in circular motions with a salt scrub removes dead skin cells in a process known as exfoliation. Dead skin cells harden with age. The longer they lie on the surface of the skin, the harder they get. This layer of skin will become thicker and thicker until it is finally removed. Layers of dead skin cells can make the skin look dry and flaky; exfoliation with a salt scrub reveals the moist, shiny skin hidden underneath.

Sea Salt Invigorates and Cleanses

The abrasive action associated with salt scrubs invigorates the skin and helps to improve circulation. Improved circulation gives skin a natural glow. Scrubbing with salt also helps to remove bacteria from the skin and unclog pores. Salt has antiseptic qualities, and when applied to the skin it may help kill bacteria and reduce inflammation along with any itching and pain associated with bacterial-related skin disease.

Sea Salt Regenerates

Exfoliating with a salt scrub not only removes dead skin cells and increases circulation, but it also encourages regeneration. Sloughing away dead skin cells promotes the growth of healthy new cells. This regeneration process tightens the skin, giving it a firmer and younger-looking appearance. Skin regeneration also reduces skin discoloration, evening out skin tone and improving texture.

If the above was not enough to convince you, the healing benefits of Sea Salt go far beyond according to Don Amerman and Brenda Barron. I am sure you will love to read through as much as I did.

Improves Circulation and Has Antiseptic Effects

Increased circulation, antiseptic effects, soft skin without a greasy feel and reduction in fluid retention are just some of the additional benefits of sea salt for the skin. Since sea salt does not go through the same manufacturing processes as table salt, the minerals from the sea remain, giving sea salts different colorings depending on where they are from. Many of these minerals also provide nutrients and benefits to the skin.

And the benefits go far beyond skin health….

Sea Salt Reduces Stress

Ancient Greeks and Romans used warm seawater as a therapy to help them relax. This is now called thalassotherapy, a word derived from the old Greek word Thalassa, which means sea. According to Health-Benefit-of-Water.com, sea salt bath therapy provides psychological benefits and improves quality of sleep.

Sea Salt Promotes Cell Health

In “Sea Salt’s Hidden Powers,” author Jacques de Langre, a California-based biochemist, reports that sea salt contains 92 trace minerals, 24 of which have been scientifically proven to be essential to the maintenance of optimal health. According to de Langre, deficiencies of these trace minerals can cause dire consequences for the body’s cells, which lose the ability to control and balance their ions. Resultant cell damage can lead to muscle spasms, brain damage or nervous disorders. Unlike table salt, sea salt allows liquids to pass readily through body membranes, such as blood vessels and the kidney’s glomerulus. If sodium chloride levels in the blood get too high, fluids in adjacent tissues are drawn to that salt-rich blood, after which cells can more readily reabsorb this saline fluid, eventually moving it to the kidneys for removal. Table salt doesn’t facilitate this easy exchange of liquids and minerals and can lead to fluid buildup in the joints, edema and kidney problems.

Sea Salt Reduces Joint Pain

Offered at many high-priced spas, sea-salt baths can help to ease the pain of aching joints and muscles. But you can treat yourself to this soothing procedure without paying a high price for the privilege. To help wash away the discomfort of arthritis and other types of joint or muscle pain, herbalist Jude C. Todd recommends adding several cups of sea salt to a tubful of hot bath water. To get maximum pain relief, soak in this sea-salt bath for at least 20 minutes daily, suggests Todd, author of “Herbal Home Remedies.”