Andy Devaney
Self-care trends come and go, but the humble bath has marched back into fashion like it owns the place. This month’s talking point is the nightly soak—Epsom Salts included—helped along by the kind of celebrity endorsement money can’t buy (or at least can’t officially invoice). Gwyneth Paltrow, for one, puts it plainly: “Can’t sleep without my evening bath first”.
The question is: when you tip in a bag of “salts” and sink into that warm-water sigh, do you know what you’re soaking in—or what it’s supposed to do?
The two headline acts in the bath-salt world are Epsom Salts and magnesium flakes. Both deliver magnesium in different chemical forms, and magnesium has a well-earned reputation for supporting muscle function and relaxation. But the details matter, especially if you’re trying to make your bath more than just a scented puddle.
A guide from natural health brand BetterYou, which specialises in transdermal (through the skin) magnesium, sets out the main differences between the two. The useful bit isn’t the brand name—it’s the practical framing: source, purity, and absorption claims.
The celebrity bath boom, and the question nobody asks
Bathing is easy to romanticise. It’s quiet, it’s offline, it’s a rare modern moment where nobody expects a reply within 30 seconds. Add magnesium salts, and suddenly the bath is not just relaxing—it’s “functional”.
But before we declare every soak a wellness intervention, it’s worth sorting the basics: what Epsom salts are, what magnesium flakes are, and what each is claimed to do.
Epsom salts: common, convenient, and not always “natural”
Epsom Salts are magnesium sulphate. They’re widely available, inexpensive, and often treated as the default choice for post-gym aches.
BetterYou’s guide makes a key point on sourcing: it says “the vast majority” of Epsom salts are synthetically manufactured for the mass market. It also notes that Epsom salts can be sourced naturally from open water (examples given include the Great Lakes and the Dead Sea), but warns these sources may be exposed to man-made pollutants that can contaminate the crystals.
The guide specifically mentions pollutants such as aluminium and mercury, and claims these can be harmful “if allowed to build-up over time”. That’s a serious statement, and readers should treat it as a brand’s caution rather than a universal verdict—especially because contamination levels depend on sourcing, processing, and testing.
Practical takeaway: if you’re choosing Epsom salts, look for reputable sourcing and quality controls, not just the prettiest packaging.
Magnesium flakes: what they are and where they come from
Magnesium flakes are magnesium chloride—named “flakes” because of their large, flat shape.
BetterYou’s guide contrasts the source: magnesium chloride flakes are described as being mined from deep underground, including reference to the Zechstein seabed deposit (one mile below ground) in Northern Holland. The claim here is about purity: that this source has been protected for 250 million years and is among the richest, naturally pure sources known.
The point is simple: the “where it comes from” story is central to how these products are marketed, and it can influence what people choose—particularly those who prefer mined minerals over synthetics.
Absorption claims: what brands say, what it could mean
Here’s where the conversation shifts from “what is it?” to “does it do anything?”
The guide states that while both Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) and magnesium flakes (magnesium chloride) contain a similar level of elemental magnesium, a key difference is absorption. It argues that magnesium chloride is wholly soluble and therefore can more efficiently elevate cellular magnesium levels when exposed to the skin.
The mechanism described is solubility: the compound breaks its bonds, travels into pores, through dermal layers, and into the bloodstream—making magnesium chloride “more easily absorbed and utilised” than EpsomSalts.
BetterYou founder Andrew Thomas leans into the real-world experience many people report after a magnesium bath—less “science lab,” more “finally my shoulders unclenched”:
“The intense muscle recovery and relaxation experienced when adding Magnesium Flakes to a warm bath is second-to-none.
“What’s more, studies have shown that raising magnesium levels using the Chloride form specifically has a beneficial effect in preventing calcium build-up in the body tissues, meaning calcium can be utilised correctly for bone building and support.”
Those are strong claims. If you’re publishing this as journalism (not advertorial), the clean way to handle it is to present it clearly as the brand’s position—then keep the reader focused on what they can actually do with the information.
The bath still counts, even without a lab report
Even if you strip away every claim and counter-claim, the bath itself does something modern life struggles to provide: a forced slowdown.
The guide frames bathing as a “reboot” moment for body and mind—quiet, contemplative, and helpful for mood and creativity—while magnesium does its supposed work in the background. That’s believable even without turning your bathroom into a supplement aisle.
For optimal absorption, BetterYou advises taking a magnesium bath two or three times a week to increase and maintain magnesium levels. Whether you choose magnesium flakes or EpsomSalts, the routine is the point: regular, calm, consistent.
The takeaway: choose based on what you value
If you want a straightforward bath additive with broad familiarity, Epsom Salts are the common option—just be discerning about sourcing and quality.
If you’re persuaded by the purity-and-solubility argument, magnesium chloride flakes are positioned as the “cleaner source, better absorption” choice—at least according to BetterYou’s guide.
Either way, the best bath is the one you’ll actually take: warm water, minimal noise, and a bit of intention. The rest is details—but details do add up.
