Dead sea salt scrub

Dead Sea is famous for its beneficial waters rich in minerals. This sea contains 27% salt, as opposed to other seas that have about 3 percent salt. Because of this property, no living creatures live in it. In addition, the salt found in Dead Sea is not the same as the other salts, which contain mostly sodium chloride. In this sea, salt is made of magnesium, potassium, calcium, bromines and chloride.

Benefits of Dead Sea Salts

Even though Dead Sea is not very friendly for living creatures, its salt has been collected and used for different purposes for more than 2, 000 years. If used as a scrub, Dead Sea salts, which stimulate the skin, muscles and nerves, exfoliate and purify the skin, making it look shinier, smoother and more subtle.

In addition, these salts can improve certain skin conditions, like dry skin and psoriasis.

A study performed in 2005 involved subjects who took baths with 5 percent Dead Sea salts for 15 minutes each day for six weeks. This treatment significantly improved their problems with atopic dry skin. This is because increase the function of skin barrier, reduce roughness and improve hydration. Scientists believe that magnesium in these salts plays the vital role for this purpose.

People who suffer from psoriasis can benefit from Dead Sea salts as well. In 70 percent of patients who took three to four Dead Sea salt baths several times a week over four weeks, the condition completely cleared.

Dead Sea salts can be used to treat a number of skin ailments, like acne, wrinkles and sun damage, although there is no scientific proof of it yet.

These salts are beneficial for every skin type and because they clean the pores, increase circulation and reduce inflammation, their regular use gives excellent results and improves skin’s appearance even in people who have no particular skin problems.

Homemade Dead Sea salt scrubs

Making a Dead Sea salt at home is simple and relatively cheap. The salts can be bought in specialized stores and in some drugstores, or they can be ordered online.

One quarter cup of Dead Sea salt is combined with equal amount of ground oats, one third of a cup of warm olive oil and ten drops of an essential oil are combined in a bowl and applied in circular motions all over the body, especially on the rough areas, and then washed off with lukewarm water. Ideally, this treatment should be followed with a moisturizing body lotion.

For a face scrub, one quart cup of Dead sea salt is combined with glycerin and five drops of an essential oil. This mixture should be applied gently, with fingertips, on wet face and rinsed with warm water.

As for the choice of essential oils, the best oils for oily skin are lemongrass, ylang-ylang, eucalyptus, basil and cypress and for dry skin it is best to use lavender, jasmine, rosemary, chamomile or sandalwood.

Aging skin can benefit from geranium, rose, lavender or neroli essential oils, while the oils recommended for problem skin include sage, juniper, tea tree and eucalyptus.