Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be all about dusting shelves, scouring floors, and wiping grime from the windows it can also be about “sweeping away” toxins, wastes, and other build-up from the body.
One of my favorite ways to do this is by taking frequent detox baths. Lately, I’ve really been enjoying a particular activated charcoal detox bath salt recipe that features a few ingredients that really help rejuvenate the body and improve energy levels.
It’s quickly become a favorite bath salts recipe, and if you try it for yourself, you’ll see (and experience!) why.
Bath Salt Recipe Using Activated Charcoal and Essential Oils
If you’ve never taken a salt bath before, you may be wondering how to make bath salts.
Well, it’s SUPER easy! Even this recipe is quick and simple to throw together moments before hopping in the tub for a good soak.
DIY Bath Salts – Ingredients
- 4 cups coarse dead sea salt (you can also sub with Epsom salt if desired or mix the two together)
- 3-4 capsules activated charcoal
- 1-2 TB of melted coconut oil or other carrier oil of choice like sweet almond or grapeseed oil (this helps to dilute the essential oils and helps the charcoal stick to the salt)
- 10 drops lavender essential oil (relieves stress, improves sleep, calms the mind)
- 5 drops lemon essential oil (uplifts emotions and dispels negativity)
- 5 drops grapefruit essential oil (a detoxifying oil known to actually improve weight loss when smelled) source.
Feel free to swap out the essential oils with others of your choice.
Some essential oils to consider include:
- Cypress
- Frankincense
- Geranium
- Helichrysum
- Juniper berry
- Lemongrass
- Palmarosa
- Peppermint
- Petitgrain
- Pine
- Rosemary
- Sweet orange
I encourage you to also read about detoxifying essential oils to help you choose which ones to use.
How to Make Bath Salts with Activated Charcoal
This method works with pretty much every bath salt recipe out there.
- In a large bowl, add in the melted coconut oil or carrier oil of choice.
- Next, add the essential oils and stir to mix.
- Add in coarse sea salt or Epsom salt and stir until everything is coated evenly. These are the basic steps for making most bath salts.
- Next, open the activated charcoal one capsule at a time and sprinkle its contents over the top. Stir to combine between each capsule until you reach the desired color. I usually use 2-3 capsules but you can certainly add more!
- Add the finished bath salt to a mason jar and store in a cool dark place.
How to Use Bath Salts Most Effectively
To use these salts, simply run a nice hot bath and add one cup of the bath salts mixture to running water. Agitate the water on occasion to help dissolve the salt.
This helps disperse the salt, charcoal, carrier oil, and essential oils throughout the bath water and makes sure you’re not going to sit on any lingering jagged salt pieces when you get in.
Soak for at least 20-40 minutes while enjoying homemade candles, relaxing music, and a perhaps even some delicious charcoal lemonade.
Be sure to massage the floating oils into your skin to enhance the properties of the salts and essential oils.
These ingredients help flush impurities from the body in one of the most relaxing ways possible especially beneficial for those who lead a busy lifestyle full of family, work, and friends.
Stress coupled with exposure to daily pollutants, pesticides, and processed food has a huge negative impact on our health that most people don’t even realize which is why it’s important to take action against these threats as best we can.
One of my favorite ways to do this is by taking an Epsom salt detox bath or whipping up this bath salt recipe to soak away the stress and spend some quality time on myself through self-care practices.
What have been your favorite bath salt recipes with essential oils? Please share them in the comments below!
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Summa Johnston says
Hi there! As there is no surfactant in this, would it stain bathtubs? I’ve been trying to formulate a shiny black bath salt base (using charcoal as the colourant) but I can’t work out a way to make the charcoal stick to the salt (really well) whilst also dispersing really well in bath water? Would a little glycerin help to make a shiny salt & would baking the salt help the charcoal to stick & set properly?
Any advice would be really appreciated!
Thank you
Tash says
Glycerin would work as well as a very small amount of a drier carrier oil (like jojoba or perhaps grapeseed oil) You don’t need very much at all! As for an actual surfactant, I would try Cocamidopropyl betaine in addition to the oil and glycerin.
Rachel says
I would love it if you could do a profile on Juniper berry eo!
Gina says
Can you make this into a detox salt scrub also? My bathtub is bigger than my hot water heater so I can never get all the benefits of these lovely-sounding bath recipes.
Tash says
Hi Gina!
Yes, you can 🙂 just swap out the salt for something less coarse and add more carrier oil until you reach the desired consistency.