Bath salts are made of chemical elements. It is especially soft and made with chemicals that are highly suitable for our bodies.
By using which one’s skin will not feel irritated or harmed. Using bath salt for sensitive skin may be different and has to be maintained cautiously.
Following our tips regarding the shelf life of bath salts and their related problems may help you in choosing one for yourself.
Do bath salts expire?
Bath salts do expire. If your bath salt has an expiry date printed on it, you shouldn’t use it after the expiry date. If your bath salt doesn’t contain any expiry date, you should not continue using that for more than 1 year after opening the bottle. The same goes for bath salt emulsions.
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Bath salts may contain chemicals that may prevent the salt from getting spoiled too soon.
As one uses bath salt in the body, any harmful component added to it may harm the skin directly. Spoiled bath salt may create harmful reactions or may even burn the skin.
Homemade bath salts are more likely to expire soon than radox bath salts. Homemade bath salts may expire in 5-6 months. As the ingredients used in it, may not have a higher shelf life. Also may have a higher percentage to get spoiled.
Radox or other bath salts tend to last for a longer time. It is because they may contain preservatives. They can last at least for 1 or more years. One should not continue using the bath salt after its expired.
How do you know if bath salt is expired?
Bath salt has a limited time period to use. There are some signs bath salt gives when it is expired. Sometimes bath salts may last a little bit longer than the expiry date. It doesn’t happen often.
Some of the signs are given below to clarify if your bath salt has expired or not.
Smell:
Some bath salts may give a very bad odor when they expire. It may take some time or may happen too soon. In either case, this sign refers to the spoilage of bath salt. You cannot use it anymore.
Bumps:
Bath salt may form bumps when it is expired. It is due to the moisture entering into the salt. Bumps may happen if the bath salt is not properly preserved.
Discoloration:
Bath salt comes in color. You may notice a color change in the salt when it is expired. It occurs gradually.
Skin irritation:
When you use expired bath salt, it may cause skin irritation. Skin irritation may also be caused because of allergic reactions. If any sign like this occurs on the skin, you should immediately stop using the bath salt.
How long are bath salts good for?
Bath salts mostly stay good for 6 months to 1 year. Well, the time may also differ in different bath salts.
Some bath salts may last long. You can say that by looking at the expiry date. It is because they use preservatives. You can also use preservatives in your homemade bath salt to increase its shelf life.
Even the ingredients used in bath salts have a great shelf life. Without proper storage, the shelf life of the ingredients decreases frequently.
That’s why bath salts should not be used for more than 1 year. Bath salts contain more than natural ingredients which include fragrance and chemicals. Even the place where you keep the bath salt may influence its shelf life.
Moreover, the shelf life of bath salt may vary, but shouldn’t be used for more than 1 year.
Bath salt ingredients and their shelf life
The ingredients used in bath salts may have a greater shelf life. It somehow influences the shelf life of the bath salt too. Let’s take a look at them
Salts:
The main ingredient of bath salt is different types of salts. These salts remove dried skins and marks easily. Every salt remains for a long time if it is properly stored. Let’s take a look at their shelf life.
- Epsom salt – 1-2 years.
- Himalayan salt – 2 years.
- Sea salt – Indefinite.
Essential oils:
Essential oils are added to increase the softness of the bath salt to make it applicable to the skin.
Eucalyptus oil, lavender oil, rosemary oil, peppermint oil, olive oil, or fragrance oils are mostly used here. Normally essential oils have a shelf life of 2 years or more.
If it comes in contact with moisture continuously, it may not last long. Preservation is necessary here.
Citric acid:
Citric acid adds the shelf life to the bath salt. It doesn’t have any expiration date as long as it can be stored. Remember to store it properly. That’s how one can increase the shelf life.
Baking soda:
Baking soda is one of the important ingredients of bath salt which lasts for almost 2 years. Proper storing should be done to preserve it as baking soda doesn’t have a shelf life.
How to store bath salts to extend shelf life?
Most bath salts use preservatives to store the salt for a long time. Other than that, bath salt can be preserved by storing them properly. Doesn’t matter if it is a homemade bath salt or not.
Ready-made bath salts come with better storing. You may not need to worry about that. Still, you can store them in a better way. We are sharing some tips regarding that to help you to proceed.
Find a container:
Most bath salts need to be contained in a glass jar. Other than that, you can also use zipped bags. That’s easier, as you do not need to make the lid tighten.
Use an airtight container. Transparent or a black color container anything will help.
Put the bath salt:
Fill the container with bath salt. Make sure air and water cannot enter through the lid. Do not make any space for air. Tighten the lid.
One can also use a piece of cloth over the jar. Afterward can put the lid on.
Place it:
Placing the jar in the right place is necessary to ensure the right storing of bath salt. Temperature and moisture also influence the condition of the bath salt. You need to place the jar far from sunlight and in a cool place.
Using a black jar will be helpful as it refrains sunlight from entering the jar. Keep the jar in a place where the jar will not be in any contact with water.
Do bath salts need to be sealed?
It is needed to seal bath salts as proper preservation helps in shelf life. Bath salts are mainly made of salts, adding some chemical components. That may contain preservatives too.
If you leave bath salt open in the air or in a place where it can come in contact with moisture or sunlight, it may rot or get solid. You cannot use bath salt if it solidifies.
That’s why it is necessary to seal the bath salt properly. Sealing can be done in a glass jar or anything where sunlight or air cannot enter.
Overall, airtight containers are better for sealing. Other than that, anything that restricts air from entering or creating moisture in the product.
Can bath salts grow mold?
Of course, bath salts can grow mold. Bath salts are unlike soap. Even though bath salts have cleaner effects.
Bath salts are used to clean dried cells and especially dark tones from the body. It works effectively too. May prevent the body from further strains and marks. As a water-based product, it can grow molds too.
The bath salt contains a preservative product, it may not grow mold for a certain time period. When the salt expires, it can grow mold in a short period of time. The growth of mold in the bath salt may damage your skin and make it worse.
That’s why do not use the bath salts if there is mold present.
Can you use expired bath salts?
Absolutely not, you should not use expired bath salts. Bath salts having expiry date refers to the date till it is usable. After that, the bath salt becomes toxic.
Bath salts may have chemical ingredients in them and with some preservative chemicals too. Every chemical has its shelf life. After a certain time, chemicals create toxic components and create reactions.
The same goes for bath salts. Expired bath salts indicate the bath salt is soon going to rot and form toxic chemicals. Using this may damage your skin, create rashes and marks.
Later you will be unable to fix the damage. That’s why using expired bath salt is not suggested at all.
Final Thoughts
Bath salts expire after a certain time. Most bath salts come with an expiry date or some may not. Moreover, using expired bath salt may cause unfixable damage to the body rather than giving benefits as the ingredients go in a horrible condition. Do not use bath salt for more than 1 year.