Salts are an important component in many skincare products, due to their ability to exfoliate as well as their typically high mineral content. While salt can be drying, when the right type is used in proper ratios, it can help to balance mineral content in the skin, improve hydration, and kick-start cell to cell communication.

Let’s take a look at some salt superstars and what they can do for your skin — and more!

Sea salt

Identification: NaCl (sodium chloride)

Origin: salt harvested from sea water

Appearance: varies from grey and slightly “wet” looking to white, from large, irregular grain to fine grain (like table salt)

Named After: its point of origin

Alias: Fleur de Sel

Superpower: packed with mineral content (including magnesium, calcium, sodium and potassium). Helps to improve skin hydration, strengthen your skin’s protective barrier and improve cell-to-cell communication.

Other Powers: the minerals in sea salt play key roles in skin health, function and cellular communication

Great Team Member In: bath soaks, body and facial scrubs

Starring in: Mineral Soak

Epsom salt

Identification: MgSO4 (magnesium sulphate)

Origin: created when the carbon in Dolomite (calcium magnesium carbonate) is replaced with sulphur during the manufacturing process

Appearance: large grain white “salt” (it’s not an actual salt)

Named After: Epsom in Surrey, England, where the original compound (formed when the chalk there meets the clay) was identified in natural healing baths

Alias: “the stuff in the float tank”

Superpower: soothing muscle pain

Other Powers: relieving stress and anxiety; drawing impurities out of the body; excellent source of magnesium

Great Team Member In: soaks, scrubs, sea salt spray for hair

Starring in: Mineral Soak

Himalayan pink salt

Identification: NaCl (sodium chloride)

Origin: primarily Khewra Salt Mine in Punjab, Pakistan, Himalayan pink salt was created as a result of ancient seas being covered by lava during the Jurassic era.

Appearance: large salt crystals that are a beautiful, warm pink colour

Named After: Himalayan pink clay, for their similar colour

Alias: pink salt, Himalayan rock salt

Superpower: being beautiful

Other Powers: contains trace minerals not found in table salt

Great Team Member In: detoxifying baths, deodorant, sea salt spray for hair

Starring in: Mineral Soak