DIY beauty - with salt!

Are you in desperate need of a new look for fall but hate expensive and complicated beauty products? Give yourself a total-body makeover with Epsom Salt!

Epsom Salt is a great at-home beauty product that is easy to use, easy to afford and easy to find. As a gentle face mask, an exfoliating skin treatment or a bath salt, Epsom Salt can help transform your beauty routine. Whether you want to slough off rough patches of skin, increase the volume in your hair or remove toxins from your body, Epsom Salt is inexpensive and effective. Many people don’t know much about it, other than the fact Grandma had it in her cupboard. Try these recipes to give your beauty routine a boost this season.

For acne free skin: The change of seasons can sometimes trigger unexpected breakouts. For a fresh, blemish-free complexion, mix 1/2 teaspoon of Epsom Salt into cleansing cream. Gently massage on skin in circular motions to remove any dry skin cells and to help unclog pores. Rinse with cool water and pat dry. Apply your favorite moisturizer with SPF 15 or higher.

For kissable lips: Use the mixture to gently scrub away dry skin on the lips and around the lip area, leaving lips rejuvenated and smooth. Mix a few tablespoons of Epsom Salt with a teaspoon of petroleum jelly. Apply to lips and rub lightly to exfoliate. This also helps lipstick to last longer and give lips an instant plump.

For silky smooth skin: Try this body scrub to remove the surface layer of dead skin cells. It can also help to lessen the appearance of cellulite. Mix two cups of Epsom Salt with 1/4 cup of petroleum jelly and a few drops of lavender essential oil. Use the mixture to gently slough away dry patches. Exfoliate weekly to keep skin looking glowing and fresh.

For happy feet: Suffering from tired, aching feet? Let Epsom Salt come to the rescue! Dissolve a half cup of the mineral into two quarts of warm water. Pour the water into a container and soak your bare feet for fifteen to twenty minutes, once or twice a day. For an extra treat, add a few drops of eucalyptus oil for a refreshing scent. Then, rinse your feet off with clean tap water and dry them thoroughly. Massage the entire foot with Epsom Salt concentrating on the heels and ankles to remove any dry, rough spots.

For clean, healthy looking hair: A clean scalp is the first rule of achieving healthy hair. To remove excess oil from your hair and to keep it healthy, shiny and voluminous, add nine tablespoons of Epsom Salt to 1/2 cup of shampoo. Apply one tablespoon of the liquid to your hair when it is dry; rinse with cold water. Pour lemon juice or organic apple cider vinegar through the hair, leave on for 5-10 minutes, and then rinse.

For mind and body: For a relaxing soak, add two cups of Epsom Salt to the water in a standard-sized bathtub; soak for at least 12 minutes, three times weekly. For an extra treat, add a few drops of eucalyptus oil for a refreshing scent. Breathe in deeply and relax. Epsom Salt – actually magnesium sulfate – is one of the best-kept secrets in beauty and stress relief. It’s perfect for those seeking a naturally occurring health product that’s easy to use, easy to afford and easy to find. Epsom Salt can be bought for pennies a pound from your local grocer, hardware or drugstore. For more on this “new” old-fashioned remedy and its many uses – please see www.epsomsaltcouncil.org.