Editor’s Picks: 16 of the Best Bath Salts and Soaks to Relax Your Body and Soften Your Skin
People have been taking baths for centuries, but now they’re far more than just a way to get clean. Modern studies have discovered that a hot soak can help promote better sleep,[1] relieve stress,[2] reduce depression[3] and even boost metabolism.[4]
And thanks to the newest bath products on the market, you can easily turn your tub into a spa-like experience.
Forget the harsh, artificially-fragranced and sulfate-laden bubble baths of the past. They’ve been been replaced by gentle formulas with clean ingredients that are unlikely to disrupt your pH or cause irritation. Think: mineral-rich salts and skin-softening powders, infused with essential oils, algae, clay and other botanical ingredients.
Keep scrolling to discover the best bath salts and soaks (and why I chose them) for your next self-care session.
Editor’s Picks (At a Glance)
Best Calming | |
Best Mood-Lifting | |
Best Detoxifying | |
Best Energizing | |
Best for Sleep | |
Best for Sensitive Skin | |
Best for Sore Muscles | |
Best Milk Bath | |
Best CBD | |
Best Two-in-One | |
Best Budget | |
Best Splurge |
What to Look for in Bath Salts and Soaks
The Best Bath Salts and Soaks of 2022
Best Calming: Herbivore Calm Ylang Ylang + Vanilla Soaking Salts
Best Mood-Lifting: Odacité Mood Cleansing Ayurvedic Bath Soak
Best Detoxifying: Goop G.Tox Detox 5 Salt Bath Soak
Best Energizing: French Girl Mint Sea Soak Enlivening Bath Salts
Best for Sleep: This Works Deep Sleep Bath Soak
Best for Sensitive Skin: Susanne Kaufmann St. John’s Wort Bath
Best for Sore Muscles: Naturopathica Sweet Birch Magnesium Bath Flakes
Best Milk Bath: Agent Nateur Holi (Bath) Coconut Milk Bath
Best CBD: Vertly CBD Infused Bath Salts
Best Two-in-One: Indie Lee I-Recover Body Soak
Best Detoxifying: Pursoma Digital Detox Bath Soak
Best CBD: Lord Jones High CBD Formula Bath Salts
Best for Sore Muscles: Dr. Singha’s Mustard Bath
Best Milk Bath: Herbivore Coconut Milk Bath Soak
Best Budget: 365 by Whole Foods Market Epsom Salt
Best Splurge: African Botanics Kalahari Desert De-Tox Bath Salts
Further Reading
- Kanda, K., Tochihara, Y. & Ohnaka, T. (1999). Bathing before sleep in the young and in the elderly. European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology. 1999 Jul;80(2):71-5.
- Goto, Yasuaki, Hayasaka, Shinya, Kurihara, Shigeo & Nakamura, Yosikazu. (2018). Physical and Mental Effects of Bathing: A Randomized Intervention Study. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2018; 2018: 9521086.
- Naumann, Johannes, Grebe, Julian, Kaifel, Sonja, Weinert, Tomas, Sadaghiani, Catharina & Huber, Roman. (2017). Effects of hyperthermic baths on depression, sleep and heart rate variability in patients with depressive disorder: a randomized clinical pilot trial. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies. 2017; 17: 172.
- Hoekstra, S. P., Bishop, N. C., Faulkner, S. H., Bailey, S. J. & Leicht, C. A. (2018). Acute and chronic effects of hot water immersion on inflammation and metabolism in sedentary, overweight adults. Journal of Applied Physiology. Vol. 125, No. 6.
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