Why salt is the new beauty buzzword

The mineral that can boost skin, brighten teeth, and ease aching muscles The tide is turning on salt. Having been blamed for everything from high cholesterol and obesity to poor heart health, it’s suddenly become the A-lister’s beauty favourite for its regenerative superpowers, and is being sprinkled on everything from moisturisers and hair products, to toothpaste and bath soaks.

Get a sparkling smile

While most of us have used a saltwater gargle to soothe ulcers and sore throats, natural health brands are now harnessing salt’s healing properties for protecting our pearly whites. Salt is gently abrasive, which helps to remove stains, and its minerals may strengthen teeth and rebuild the enamel. Look out for it in your next tube of toothpaste.

Give your skin a drink

Sea salt is brimming with minerals, including magnesium, calcium, sodium, and potassium – vital for our skin’s health and for our cells to work together. When your skin’s minerals are out of balance, your complexion can get dry, dull and irritated. Sea salt can help replenish these missing minerals, boost hydration and increase the skin’s protection.

Smooth things over

Not only will salt gently cleanse pores, but its exfoliating granules will slough off dead skin to reveal softer, younger-looking skin underneath.

Get ‘beach-look’ hair

Salt sprays can soften hair and boost texture and volume. Consider using one charged with nourishing ingredients. Try one with aloe vera, which may help to repair the damaged cells in your scalp, coconut water, thought to soothe a dry, itchy or flaky scalp, or sea kelp, which is rich in laminaria angustata, linked to stimulating hair growth.

Muscle in!

A salt bath soak is the perfect post-gym partner. Its magnesium will work on muscles to reduce inflammation. Run a bath at around 37-39°C (if your skin is too hot, it will find it harder to absorb magnesium) then add your bath salts of choice. Epsom salts are pure magnesium sulphate, thought to draw lactic acid out of the body, relaxing muscles, whereas Himalayan salt is said to rebalance and revitalise skin, and is thought to be great for detoxing.

Don’t sweat it!

If you’re looking for a natural beauty alternative to antiperspirants then a mineral salt deodorant could be for you. They work by preventing the growth of odour-causing bacteria on skin – just remember they need to be applied when your body is clean, before you get sweaty, as they’re only effective if used before the bacteria has established itself. Shop Natural Beauty Sources www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-2494.2004.00224_2.x