Is there anything more luxurious or indulgent after a tough day than a long soak in the tub?
Perhaps the only thing that could make a bath even more sumptuous is the inclusion of bath salts, which you may have heard about or seen for sale in cosmetic and body care stores.
But what even are they, and what do they do beyond making salty water?
Bath salts are water-soluble, pulverized minerals added to bath water that improves cleaning, serve as a vehicle for cosmetic agents, and provide aroma and color therapy.
There are bath salts that have been developed to mimic the properties of natural mineral baths or hot springs, both of which have been said to have positive effects on health and well-being.
List of Vegan Bath Salts
There are countless products out there, so we’ve compiled a list of the Top 5 bath salts to make finding your perfect salts easy and straightforward, no matter what your needs.
See below for our recommendations!
AHAVA Dead Sea Mineral Bath Salts
Working with ingredients from the Dead Sea, AHAVA’s bath salts use Dead Sea salt infused with eucalyptus oils to energize your body and mind.
The mineral-rich salts relax muscle and joints and soften, smooth, and hydrate skin.
These salts come in a HUGE container and will give you many more uses than you might expect.
The best way to describe these bath salts is that they are heavenly!
If you suffer from aching muscles, if you’re tired, or maybe you just want to enjoy a relaxing bath then throw these salts into your bath water.
They help relax the muscles, leaving the skin feeling smooth, soft and refreshingly hydrated. These vegan bath salts also have a beautiful aroma that many users enjoy.
Suggested Use: Dissolve 1 cup of salts in a warm bath. Soak for 20 minutes. Rinse.
What We Love
The 32-ounce jars are a much larger amount than most products, which means you get more bang for your buck. Additionally, the salts do not leave a scum on your bathtub, so you can spend more time enjoying your relaxing bath and less time cleaning up after it! The eucalyptus formula leaves skin soft and tense muscles relaxed and rejuvenated.
The Downside
Some users noted that there are very large particles in these bath salts that do not dissolve in even jetted tubs. Users with septic tanks should take extra care to dissolve these particles to minimize damage to the septic tank.
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EO Bath salts, Serenity, French Lavender
EO’s Serenity bath salts come in a 22-ounce container and use exotic Himalayan Pink Salt, a highly sought-after marine salt with very high mineral content.
They also harness the power of French lavender, which has been used for centuries to relax and calm. They help rejuvenate sore muscles through the regenerative process of sea salts.
Two of the key ingredients are Sun Dried Sea Salts, which are high in trace minerals, and Himalayan Pink Salt, which is one of the most sought after exotic marine (bathing) salts in the world because of its high mineral content.
Clearly you can’t go wrong by picking up this product.
The bath salts are also certified gluten-free, cruelty-free, USDA Organic, and contain no synthetic fragrances.
Suggested Use: Pour generously into warm, running bath. Allow salt to blend with the water and enjoy a relaxing bath.
What We Love
These salts are very high quality, and they are almost all salt instead of cheap, lower-quality filler, so you’re getting the maximum mineral benefit from your soak. These salts also have a soothing, calming scent that isn’t overwhelming, and reviewers note that it leaves their skin moisturized and noticeably more soft. Users who suffer from chronic pain also note that this bath salt blend provides effective relief.
The Downside
Some users note that, while the scent is relaxing and the salts are mild, they leave tiny crystals all over the skin, which required them to shower after the bath.
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Hugo Naturals Effervescent Bath Salts
Theses bath salts from Hugo Naturals are especially unique in that they create a pleasant bubbling when added to water, which transforms a regular bath into a therapeutic spa experience.
They salts are 100% natural and feature not one but two mineral-rich salts – Dead Sea and Himalayan pink which have been used for centuries to detoxify and ease muscle tension.
These bubbling bath salts come in a variety of scents, including French Lavender, Vanilla & Sweet Orange, and Mango & Guava.
All products are gluten-free, soy-free, cruelty-free, vegan, and free of parabens, phenoxyethanol, SLS, PEGs, propylene glycol, petroleum products, artificial colors, and synthetic fragrances, making it a purchase you can feel good about.
The quality of the product is is enhanced by its short, easy-to-pronounce ingredient list, which consists of only five ingredients.
What We Love
These salts are perfect for use in a regular or jet tub, and reviewers love the calming bubbles created by the salts – when first activated, they create a soothing foam on the surface of the bath, and gradually dissolve with time, leaving behind no tub rings for easy cleaning. Users also note how natural the scents are, smelling like real essential oils instead of artificial “fragrance.”
The Downside
Users looking for a bath salt that provides strong aromatherapy should note that reviewers found the scent to be pleasant, but milder than expected. Additionally, some people found that they needed quite a bit of product to get a nice effect in their bath and that each bag only contained enough for 2-3 baths. If you’re looking for a very effective soak, you may need to purchase additional product.
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4. 100% Pure Organic Sea Therapy Bath Soak
The 100% Pure Sea Therapy Bath salts are 100% natural, 100% vegetarian, and contain over 60 minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and amino acids to help replenish, nourish, detox, and heal.
The formula harnesses the healing power of the sea by using crystallized kelp, harvested from an organic seaweed farm on the French coast.
The process for getting the crystals is pretty impressive. What happens is the seaweed plasma will rise to the surface of the sea and from there it’s crystallized by the sun.
This product contains organic peppermint essential oil (which helps to refresh and stimulate circulation) as well as Organic eucalyptus essential oil to clear the sinuses, strengthens immunity, and ease decongestion.
It comes in a 15-ounce glass jar and is available in lavender or eucalyptus varieties.
Suggested Use: Pour salts into a warm bath. Relax and enjoy.
What We Love
Reviewers note that the addition of the kelp and sea elements in this bath salt makes it much more relaxing and effective than traditional bath salts, especially when compared to regular Epsom salt baths. Users found this blend to be incredibly relaxing and peaceful and found it particularly effective after very stressful or difficult days. Additionally, the scents of these blends get rave reviews.
The Downside
While the product is high-quality, the price is upwards of $20 for a 15-ounce bottle. This can make it cost-prohibitive for people with certain budget requirements.
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When it comes to salt products, AHAVA is the top of the game, which earns it’s second spot on our list with their Calming Lavender Dead Sea Salts.
While the eucalyptus bath salt is specially formulated to soothe tired muscles, the French lavender salt creates effective aromatherapy, using the herb to calm, soothe, and relax after a particularly long or stressful day.
These bath salts are a spinoff and a newer addition to the AHAVA line of products.
And because it’s AHAVA, you can rest assured that the ingredients are nothing but top-notch, and if you purchase online from retailers like Amazon, or in person from TJ Maxx and other discount stores, you can find these salts for cheaper than in traditional beauty stores.
Suggested Use: Dissolve 1 cup into warm bath water. Soak for 20 minutes then rinse off. When dried, rest for 1/2 hour.
What We Love
The scent of the lavender bath salt reminds many users of walking through a field of fresh lavender – no artificial or synthetic fragrances here! The essential oils used create a perfect spa-like environment, and many reviewers choose to combine this with other luxuries like candles and music in order to create that perfect pampering scene. Users with insomnia and other sleep issues also note that the lavender scent has helped them get to sleep.
The Downside
Like the eucalyptus scent above, some larger crystals in this product take a very long time to dissolve, so users will want to take extra care to stir these into the water and prevent damage to septic tanks.
No products found.How Do You Use Bath Salts?
Bath salts are a perfect way to add a little extra pampering to your bath and are very easy to use.
First, fill your tub about halfway with hot water. With the water running, hold a handful of salts under the faucet and allow them to fall into the water. This will release their scents into the steam and allow them to start dissolving into the water.
Continue to do this with as much of the salts as you prefer, and stir the water well to dissolve them into the bath. You’re ready to relax!
Things to Look For in Your Vegan Bath Salt
Because the ingredients in the salts are coming in direct contact with your skin, you’ll want to be sure that the baths salts you’re using are high-quality. When the salts are pure, they contain beneficial minerals that can be lost if the salt is overly processed.
When purchasing bath salts, make sure the product is made from 100% natural sea salt.
Colors
When getting ready to buy salts for your bath, think about what you want to get from them.
First, color is believed to affect mood, so think about the mood you’re in or what mood you’d like to be in.
Blue can soothe anxiety, while orange and other warm colors are energizing, and can help recharge you if you’re feeling sluggish.
Remember that the color of the salts will change the color of the water in your bath.
Aroma
Next, think about the aroma of your bath.
Many salts are infused with herbs and essential oils, which have their own unique effects on the body and mind.
A lavender scented bath salt can be used to enhance relaxation, while eucalyptus opens the sinuses and bronchial passages, and is also used to relieve headaches and mental tiredness.
You can choose your scents based on mental moods, such as energizing, calming, and alertness, or for the physical effects, like promoting muscle relaxation, curing headaches, and addressing respiratory issues.
Like the salt itself, the quality of the essential oil in the bath salts will dictate how much effect you get from the aromas.
Texture
Lastly, you’ll want to consider the texture of salt in your bath. Finer grain salts dissolve quickly in water and can double as exfoliating scrubs, while larger grains of salt take longer to dissolve and are perfect for a long, indulgent experience.
Treat Yo’Self
For many people, a long bath is the perfect little luxury – cherished time to oneself to relax and recharge can be amped up with the inclusion of bath salts sprinkled into the water.
Whether you’re looking for a soothing scent to calm an anxious mind, sea minerals to soften skin, or simply something to relax away muscle pain from a stressful day, there is a bath salt on the market that can deliver what you need.
Do yourself a favor and treat yourself!