Epsom Salt

INCI Name

Magnesium Sulfate

Botanical Name

None

Inorganic mineral salt used in cosmetics mainly as a bulking and viscosity-controlling agent, and in bath products. CIR concludes it is safe in current practices of use (up to 11% leave-on; 25% rinse-off). Often used in bath soaks and scrubs; keep usage appropriate to product type.

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Primary Function
Abrasive/Exfoliant
Add'l Function
Thickener/Gel
Scent Profile
Odorless
Neutral
Is It Natural?
Natural Mineral
Formulate with Confidence

Botanical Building Blocks for Every Blend

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Skin Type Suitability

All
Normal
Combination
Oily
Blemish-Prone
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Typical Product Use

Bulking agent; viscosity-controlling; emulsion stabilizer (W/O); bath additive; physical exfoliant for scrubs

Product Type(s):

Soak
Scrub
Mask
General Use
Lotion
Cream
Gel

Typical Usage Range:

Leave-on: 0.1–11% (per CIR reported max use); Rinse-off: up to 25%; Bath soaks: typically 50–100% of formula (product-type dependent).

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Supportive Qualities

Softens bath water; helps product texture and spread; traditional use in bath soaks; may support gentle physical exfoliation in rinse-off scrubs (cosmetic context)

Primary Components:

Magnesium sulfate (typically heptahydrate, MgSO₄·7H₂O)

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Important to Know

External use only; avoid on broken/irritated skin; may be drying or stinging at higher concentrations; keep out of eyes; discontinue if irritation occurs

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Sourcing Tips

Preferred Extraction Method:

Mined/processed mineral salt (natural epsomite deposits or neutralization of magnesium compounds with sulfuric acid)

Prefer USP/BP/FCC grade; verify heptahydrate crystals; check particle size for scrubs; request CoA (heavy metals, purity); avoid added fragrance/colorants

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More information*

Explore additional safety and regulatory data from trusted external sources:

Cosmetics Info
Cosmetic Ingredient Review
EWG's Skin Deep
INCIDecoder
SkinSAFE
SpecialChem

*The ingredient details on this page are intended for general educational use and should not be considered exhaustive. Additional properties, uses, or safety considerations may be available from other sources. Root & Ritual Apothecary is not affiliated with Cosmetics Info, Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), INCIDecoder, SkinSafe, EWG Skin Deep, or SpecialChem. External links are provided solely for informational purposes; Root & Ritual does not control or guarantee the accuracy, methodology, or conclusions of third-party sources, including consumer rating systems such as EWG.