Beach season is still in full swing. In fact, I am going this weekend! I can hardly wait. That means lots of fun and lots of sun. If we are not careful, there could be a lot of sunburned skin. Have you ever received a bad sunburn at the beach?
Here’s an unusual idea that could prove useful: Epsom salt. Doctors say it can help treat sunburn (https://www.epsomsaltcouncil.org/news/articles/reduce_itching.php), and it also helps with summer beauty, as you’ll see in the two news releases below, which quote experts who have worked with celebrities:
- One quotes a celebrity skin care guru (https://www.epsomsaltcouncil.org/news/articles/summer_skin_care_tips.php) who says you should exfoliate before going out in the sun to rev up circulation, facilitating the elimination of toxins or impurities that may be trapped in the skin. In addition to detoxification, Ole Henriksen says exfoliation leaves the skin luminous, smooth and soft in texture, and it removes any excess dead skin, allowing for better absorption and easier application of sunscreen or lotion.
Here’s Henriksen’s recipe for an at-home dermabrasion resurfacing treatment he calls the “Shower smoothie:”
~Ingredients: 4 oz. of Epsom salt, 4 oz. coffee grounds, 1 TSP eucalyptus oil and enough sesame oil to form a smooth paste.
~Mix the Epsom salt and coffee grounds in a medium bowl, then add the oils and stir thoroughly until you have a smooth, but not runny paste.
~Get in the shower, get wet and turn off the water. Use the entire palm of each hand to vigorously scrub your body for several minutes, from your neck to your feet.
~Afterward, just rinse and glow. Your skin will feel smooth, and you’ll notice an immediate lifting and constricting of the skin.
- The other quotes an award-winning celebrity manicurist (https://www.epsomsaltcouncil.org/news/articles/experts_share_summer_beauty_tips.php) who recommends bi-weekly pedicures to ease aches and pains, reduce swelling and disinfect blisters or lesions.
Marsha Bialo’s suggestions:
~Give your feet a comfortable place to rest by folding a bath towel and positioning it at the bottom of a bucket.
~Mix half a cup of Epsom salt with some warm, soapy water to soften skin and calluses and dry out the bacteria from blisters.
~Remove old polish with a cotton pad soaked with nail polish remover, cut nails straight across with clippers then file them square to remove sharp edges.
~Soak for five minutes, dip a file into the water and use it to smooth your heels, the balls of your feet and the outer edges of your pinkie toes.
~Add Calcium Gel Fortifier or Ridge Filling Base Coat by China Glaze followed by a bright, summery coat of polish, and then finish with Seche Vite top coat for a lasting shine.
My thoughts: All of these ideas are amazing! Who knew that Epsom Salt could have such amazing uses? I love Epsom salt! I use it for a number of things. My favorite, of course, is to add it to my bath and just soak in it to soften up my skin. I also make my own amazing body scrub by mixing it with coconut oil and some drops of essential oil.
I am excited to put some of the ideas I have learned (above) to the test. I will definitely be prepping my skin before I apply my sunscreen when I am at the beach so that it will be more effective in protecting my skin from the sun’s harsh rays.
Learn more at www.facebook.com/epsomsalt or www.epsomsaltcouncil.org
Disclaimer: I received product samples to facilitate this post. All opinions are my own.