Maybe you’re suffering from muscle cramps, post-workout soreness, or aching joints. Or, perhaps you’re looking to put a racing mind at ease with a relaxing soak.
Whatever the case, you have two choices: magnesium soak vs epsom salt. While these share the same goal of providing physical and mental relief, they do it very differently.
Only one is right for you, and we’ll help you figure out which it is by comparing and contrasting them side-by-side below based on the most important criteria:
- Magnesium type
- Bioavailability
- Purity
- Physical and Mental Benefits
- Cost Considerations
But if you just want the quick answer, our magnesium bath soak is a much better option than typical epsom salt soaks. It’s dramatically more bioavailable, which means your body can actually use it.
That’s not all, though. We also infuse our soaks with other natural ingredients ranging from nootropics to vitamins, zinc, l-carnitine, and more. Whether you want a muscle bath soak or anxiety bath soak, explore our targeted solutions and invest in your wellness today!
What’s the Difference Between Epsom Salt and Magnesium Flakes?
Before we compare and contrast epsom salt vs magnesium soak let’s explain what each of these is in the first place. After all, they appear quite similar until you dig a bit deeper. Both offer unique benefits and are used for similar purposes, such as muscle relaxation and stress relief.
However, there are significant differences in their composition, absorption rates, and overall effectiveness. Here’s what you need to know about the difference between epsom salt and magnesium flakes.
What is a Magnesium Soak?
A magnesium soak is a therapeutic bath treatment that utilizes magnesium chloride to provide various health benefits. This is a highly absorbable form of magnesium, which is an essential mineral for numerous bodily functions, including muscle and nerve function, energy production, and bone health.
Magnesium soaks are particularly beneficial for relieving muscle cramps, reducing inflammation, and promoting relaxation. They are often used by athletes and individuals with chronic pain conditions to help speed up recovery and alleviate discomfort.
But the physical benefits are just the tip of the iceberg. Magnesium soaks can also improve mental well-being by reducing stress and promoting better sleep. This makes them a comprehensive solution for whole body health.
What is Epsom Salt?
Now, let’s look at the other half of the magnesium soak vs epsom salt debate. Also known as magnesium sulfate, this mineral compound is composed of magnesium, sulfur, and oxygen.
It has been traditionally used in bath soaks for its purported health benefits, which include muscle relaxation, pain relief, and detoxification.
When dissolved in water, Epsom salt releases magnesium and sulfate ions, which can be absorbed through the skin. These two can work in tandem to soothe sore muscles and reduce swelling, making them a popular choice for athletes and individuals dealing with muscle strain or injury.
They are also believed to help draw out toxins from the body, though this benefit is more anecdotal than scientifically proven. Epsom salt baths can even provide a calming effect, helping to reduce stress and improve mood.
The only problem is the bioavailability of magnesium sulfate. That is going to be the key takeaway from this comparison of epsom salt vs magnesium soak. So, let’s get into it!
Magnesium Soak vs Epsom Salt Soak: Which is Better?
As we said from the start, each of these has the potential to deliver physical and mental benefits, but you only need one of them. By the time you finish reading below, it’ll be clear what makes magnesium soaks better than epsom salt soaks.
Magnesium Type
While each of these options contains magnesium, the type matters more than most people realize. Magnesium chloride (in magnesium soaks) is one of the most easily absorbed forms through the skin, noted for the body’s ability to easily and efficiently take it in and put it to use.
On the other hand, epsom salts contain magnesium sulfate. This form can also be absorbed transdermally, but because it’s much larger in size, it won’t be taken up as easily as magnesium chloride. This means you need a lot more of it to get the same effect.
Bioavailability
Bioavailability speaks to how well the body is able to actually use a substance once it has been absorbed by the body. Magnesium soaks have a massive edge here, as we just touched on. Given that 2 out of 3 individuals are deficient in magnesium, this is incredibly important.
This means you will experience far more pronounced benefits in comparison to epsom salts. Your body ends up flushing the magnesium sulfate out as quickly as possible, which means the benefits you do feel will be short-lived.
Purity
Magnesium chloride used in soaks is often highly purified, minimizing the risk of contaminants. This is especially true here at Flewd Stresscare. We have zero filler ingredients, no parabens, and use a biodegradable formulation.
Moreover, the high purity of magnesium chloride soaks ensures they are safe for regular use without introducing harmful substances to the body.
In contrast, epsom salts can vary in purity, which means you don’t really know what you’re getting from brand to brand. What we do know is that the vast majority are mass-produced using synthetic methods.
Even the natural sources - like those in the Dead Sea, the Great Lakes, or other natural springs - can be contaminated by pollutants such as aluminum and mercury.
Think about it - do you really want to take any chances with your health? The whole reason you came here for guidance choosing between a magnesium soak vs epsom salt was to take control of your health and wellbeing. You don’t want to end up doing more harm than good by picking an impure product.
Physical and Mental Benefits
We mentioned this earlier, but both magnesium soaks and epsom salts can deliver tangible improvements to your physical and mental health with their magnesium content. Each has the ability to soothe aches and pains, reduce inflammation, and improve mood by reducing stress.
The major difference comes down to the simple fact that our stress relief bath soak formulations are also packed with other powerful vitamins and minerals that offer secondary benefits.
That includes Vitamins C & D to Omega-3s, Zinc, Vitamins A & E, L-Carnitine, Nootropics, and more depending on the specific formulation you choose. Advantage bath soaks!
Cost Considerations
Remember, health is wealth. You should never shop based on cost alone when it comes to your wellness. You almost always get what you pay for, after all.
That being said, we recognize that you might need to be careful about your spending habits, so which is the more affordable solution? This is the one area epsom salts have the edge over magnesium soaks.
But, let’s focus on value instead. Because magnesium chloride is so much more bioavailable than magnesium sulfate, you may actually get a better bang for your buck even though you’re paying more.
Don’t forget that most of the epsom salt goes to waste since your body can only take so much of it in, and that which does get absorbed is quickly excreted as waste.
Plus, you can get better value through our bundles or subscription services, empowering you to prioritize your health and happiness without breaking the bank. You can save up to 25% with bundles or stock up on 6 soaks for 20% off. Through our subscribe and save program you can get free soaks every third order, too!
So, Which is Right For You?
Now that we’ve gone over the difference between epsom salt and magnesium flakes and compared and contrasted them side by side, it should be clear that magnesium bath soaks have the edge.
They’re more bioavailable and pure, which is really all that matters. This leads to more noticeable benefits and better value in the long run.
The only question at this point is, which of our soaks are you going to try first?
Harness the Power of Natural Magnesium Soaks at Flewd Stresscare!
Flewd Stresscare magnesium soaks are expertly crafted to help you overcome all the ailments stress puts in your life - from tension to anxiety and everything in between.
We always source the finest natural ingredients so you never have to worry about what you’re putting in your body. You get up to 8 times more magnesium than other solutions and a total of 245g of stress-fighting nutrients - but more importantly, zero fillers.
Our solutions are potent enough that you feel the effects for up to 5 days, making these soaks a great weekly addition to your stress management regimen (though our customers often end up using them as much as three times a week!).
Using them is easy, too - rip the pouch open, dump it into a warm tub, and indulge in 15 minutes of the ultimate self-care. While you can rinse off after if you’d like, it’s not necessary since all the ingredients are safe.
Browse our options, find the perfect match for your needs, and see for yourself what keeps our customers coming back for more!
Closing Thoughts on Epsom Salt vs Magnesium Soak
Choosing between Epsom salts vs magnesium soaks is simple once you understand what exactly the difference is - the form of magnesium you’re getting.
- Epsom salts: Magnesium sulfate is not very bioavailable.
- Magnesium soaks: Magnesium chloride is far more bioavailable.
While both seek to accomplish the same thing, you need to use way more epsom salt to get the same results given its low absorption rates. But you also get more holistic health benefits in our magnesium soaks since we’ve infused them with other ingredients.
The verdict is clear in the magnesium soak vs epsom salt comparison. Join 100,000+ happy customers and counting at Flewd Stresscare who made the smart decision to try our soaks!