Himalayan Salt Bath {Benefits + Easy Recipe}

Treat yourself to a pampering bath session with a relaxing Himalayan salt bath! The homemade bath soak recipe contains nourishing pink Himalayan salt and fragrant essential oils that help to revitalize your skin, soothe sore muscles, and put your mind at ease.

Homemade pink Himalayan salt bath

I truly believe that integrating small wellness moments into everyday life is the key to self-care and wellbeing. And one of my favorite wellness rituals is to indulge in a warm bath.

As a result, I’m constantly trying new bath salt recipes. Creating your own skincare products is an excellent opportunity to learn about our body’s needs and the many ways simple natural ingredients such as salt can benefit us.

After sharing a body scrub, bath bombs, and soap recipe with Himalayan salt, I felt it was time for a homemade bath soak featuring the gorgeous pink salt.

Not only is my pink Himalayan salt bath recipe a treat for your skin, but it also smells amazing. I infused the bath soak with essential oils to amplify the skincare benefits and provide aromatherapy. Seriously, I can’t wait for you to try it!

If you love DIY bath salts, you might also like our rose bath salts, lavender bath salts, Hawaiian lava bath salts, and this red wine bath soak from my friend Kristy of Life-n-Reflection!

What is Himalayan salt?

Pink Himalayan salt is mined from salt caves at the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains in Pakistan, where ancient oceans deposited the salt thousands of years ago. Since the salt beds were protected from environmental influences, it’s one of the purest salts.

Like table salt, Himalayan pink salt consists mainly of sodium and boasts over 80 different trace minerals, including magnesium, calcium, and zinc. The natural pink-orange color comes from the high iron content.

Himalayan salt bath benefits

Himalayan pink salt bath is a wonderful wellness treat and can be an asset to natural skin care. Let’s talk about the potential benefits of a Himalayan salt bath.

Provide relaxation

There’s no denying that luxuriating in a hot bath after a long day is a relaxing experience. Bathing is a beautiful wellness and self-care practice. Soaking in warm water can create tranquility and contentment and improve feelings of stress and anxiety.

Soothe sore muscles

Himalayan salt contains magnesium and other trace elements, which play an essential role in many bodily functions and help muscles relax.

Research hasn’t fully confirmed that talking a salt bath replenishes magnesium in the body, but a hot bath is a great way to relax tired muscles and aching joints and relieve muscles cramps.

Improve various skin conditions

Himalayan salt has antimicrobial properties and is beneficial to alleviate acne, eczema, and psoriasis. By taking a mineral bath, you can treat areas that are otherwise difficult to reach, like the back or shoulders.

Calm insect bites

Soaking in salt water can reduce itching and swelling resulting from insect bites.

Anecdotal evidence also states that the negative ions in Himalayan salt may have detoxifying effect by drawing out toxins and impurities from the skin. However, I could not find much scientific evidence to support these claims.

Ingredients

This is a quick overview of the ingredients you’ll need for this Himalayan salt bath recipe. Full measurements are in the printable how-to card at the bottom of the post.

• Pink Himalayan salt is the main component in this DIY bath soak. You can use fine or coarse Himalayan salt; it makes no difference for the bath salts recipe. Fine salt crystals will dissolve faster, but that is the only dissimilarity.
• Essential oils: While you can use the Himalyan salt as is, I like to take this rock salt bath soak to the next level by adding essential oils for a natural fragrance, aromatherapy, and increased skincare benefits. You can find several essential oil blend ideas below.
• Emulsifier: Including an emulsifier in the formula ensures that the essential oils mix into the bath water and don’t just float on top of the surface. Use sorbitan oleate as an all-natural solution, or use Polysorbate 80 if the former isn’t available to you.

Essential oils for Himalayan salt bath soak

Create a spa-like soak with one of the following essential oil blends. Essential oils provide additional skincare and aromatherapeutic benefits that elevate your bath time.

• Peaceful Sleep: 30 drops tangerine + 22 drops lavender + 10 drops chamomile + 7 drops jasmine absolute
• Inner Harmony: 25 drops peppermint + 15 drops patchouli + 10 drops sweet orange + 2 drops basil
• Mood Boost: 30 drops sweet orange + 15 drops steam-distilled lemon + 9 drops sandalwood
• Tropical Blooms: 24 drops ylang ylang + 13 drops yuzu + 7 drops patchouli
• Clear Skin: 18 drops lavender + 10 drops tea tree + 5 drops blue tansy

Himalayan bath salts recipe

The beauty of this Himalayan salt bath recipe is that it only requires a handful of simple ingredients and takes mere minutes to assemble. Here are the easy steps to prepare it:

Step 1: Combine liquids

To a small glass mixing bowl, add the emulsifier and essential oils. Using a spoon or glass stirrer, swirl together until everything is well combined, and you no longer see streaks of essential oils

Step 2: Mix bath salt

Put the pink Himalayan salt into a medium-sized mixing bowl. Pour the essential oil-emulsifier mixture from step 1 into the bowl and stir until the salt crystals are evenly coated.

Step 3: Package and storage

Keep the pink Himalayan salt baths in an airtight glass jar or storage container and store them in a dark, dry location.

How to take a Himalayan salt bath

When you have made your homemade bath soak and want to take a Himalayan salt bath, follow these easy instructions:

1. Fill your tub with warm water. Choose a temperature that feels comfortable and pleasant to you. For the best results, the water should be slightly above body temperature, not sweltering hot.
2. Add Himalayan salt bath soak. When the tub is half full, sprinkle the Himalayan bath salts into the warm bathwater. Swirl with your hands to distribute the product and let dissolve for a few minutes.
3. Enjoy your aromatic and soothing salt crystal bath. Please use caution as the tub may become slippery.
4. Shower afterward rinse off any excess pink salt on the skin. Then pat your body gently dry and apply moisturizer or lotion to nourish your skin further.

How much salt do I need per bath?

Add 1/2 to 1 cup of pink salt bath soak to a standard size bathtub, but feel free to adjust the amount as needed.

What is the best water temperature for a Himalayan salt bath?

The water should be between 104°F to 113°F / 40°C to 45°C, which is slightly warmer than body temperature (98.6°F/37°C).

What is the best time for a bath?

You can bathe anytime you want to decompress and relax. Taking a bath before bedtime can promote better sleep because the temperature change as you leave the tub increases the production of melanin, the hormone responsible for sleep.

How long can I soak in the tub?

To enjoy the pink Himalayan salt benefits for skin, rest in the tub for at least 10 minutes, but not longer than 20 minutes to avoid the risk of overheating.

How often can I take salt baths?

Experts suggest taking only 1 to 2 baths per week.

Himalayan salt foot bath

Another idea is to use this recipe for a Himalayan salt foot soak, which can be beneficial to pamper tired feet. Here’s what to do:

1. Fill a bowl or basin large enough to fit your feet with warm water.
2. Add 1/2 cup bath salt crystals to the warm water and swirl with your hands to let the salt dissolve.
3. Soak your feet in the salt water for 20 to 40 minutes, up to twice per week.
4. Moisturize your feet after your foot bath.

FAQ

Himalayan salt vs. Epsom salt

Pink salt and Epsom salt are quite different. Himalayan salt is mostly sodium chloride, whereas Epsom salt isn’t actually salt, but a mineral composed of magnesium and sulfate.

Both ingredients are also harvested differently. Himalayan salt occurs naturally and is found in salt mines that are deposits of ancient oceans. Epsom salt is extracted by distilling water.

Because the magnesium content of Epsom salt is higher than that of pink salt, it may be the better option to increase magnesium in the body. To learn more, have a look at this Epsom salt baths recipe.

Dead Sea salt vs. Himalayan salt

Dead sea salts and pink Himalayan salt differ, too. As I’ve just said, pink salt consists primarily of sodium. Dead sea salts feature a complex mineral content, mainly composed of magnesium and potassium, as well as sodium, calcium, bromine, chlorine, and other rare minerals.

The topical use of dead sea salts can ease various skin conditions, such as acne, eczema, and stretch marks. The high potassium content is also said to regulate the skin’s moisture levels and hydrate the skin.

Can I mix different salts for a salt bath?

Absolutely! Knowing that each type of salt provides unique properties, it makes perfect sense to combine different salts to make a mineral bath.

If your goal is to relax your muscles, mix 1/2 cup Himalayan salt with 1/2 cup Epsom salt or other mineral-rich salts like magnesium flakes. And to soothe the symptoms of irritation, itchiness, or eczema, blend 1/2 cup pink salt with 1/2 cup dead sea salt.

What are the side effects of a Himalayan salt bath?

Pink Himalayan salt seems to be a safe skincare ingredient, and I couldn’t find any reliable medical information suggesting otherwise.

That being said, everyone’s body is different. If you experience skin irritation or itching, drain the bath and rinse your skin free of the product.

A reaction could also be caused by essential oils, hence I recommend you prepare your crystal salt soak only with essential oils and aromatics that agree with your skin. If you have never used an oil before, perform a patch test to see how your skin reacts.

Is a pink salt bath safe during pregnancy?

Yes, mineral baths are generally considered safe during pregnancy as long as you don’t overheat in the bathtub. Taking a Himalayan salt soak can provide relaxation, reduce stress, and ease muscle aches and pains.

Soaking in a salt solution may also improve itching, which you might experience as your skin stretches to make room for the growing fetus.

Of course, I’m not a doctor and can’t give any medical advice. Consult your doctor or medical caregiver before using pink Himalayan salt and essential oils while pregnant or breastfeeding or in case of a medical condition.

Storage instructions

• Packaging: Store your pink salt baths in an airtight glass jar or ceramic storage container. Avoid anything metallic because salt absorbs moisture and has corrosive properties that may cause metal containers to rust. Optionally, decorate the container with our free printable label; see the download option below.
• Storage: Moisture dissolves salt, so keep your pink bath salts sealed airtight and store it in a dry location at room temperature, for example, in a bathroom cabinet. You also want to ensure that the product isn’t exposed to direct sunlight since UV rays corrupt essential oils.
• Shelf life: The essential oil with the shortest shelf life determines how long your pink Himalayan bath salt lasts. Pink salt doesn’t expire and lasts indefinitely, so use the best-before date of the essential oils and emulsifier to calculate the shelf life. If using new EOs, the Himalayan pink salt bath should be good for 1 to 2 years.