@CYRIELLEVERSTUYFT
Beach days aren't just about sun and sand – discover how the ocean's mineral-rich waters pamper your skin while you soak up the sun.
@OLAFARAHAT
Nothing quite beats a day at the beach. Sand in your toes, beach waves in your hair, a healthy glow of sun on your face (gentle reminder to always wear sunblock), and that extra helping of Vitamin D are sometimes exactly what the doctor ordered. Did you know that Vitamin D and sexy beach hair are not the only benefits of spending the day by the sea?
Salty water from the ocean is rich in minerals like potassium, magnesium, selenium, sulfur, zinc, iodine, iron, and of course, sodium. Taking a dip in the sea is literally like taking a mineral bath for your skin. In fact, doctors often recommend that people who suffer from sensitive skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis bathe in ocean water to help calm irritated and inflamed skin. Sure, you can stay home and soak in a sea-salt bath and treat yourself to a dead sea mud mask, or you can hit the beach and get the same exact benefits without paying a cent. The next time you decide you want to Nicki Minaj and “go to the beach,” remember these six ways the ocean is effortlessly helping your skin while you splash about.
The OG Antiseptic, Antibacterial, and Antimicrobial Agent
Remember when your mother used to make you gargle salt water when you had a sore throat? Well, there was a good reason for that. Salt is a natural antiseptic that absorbs toxins in your skin. Minerals found in the sea like potassium, magnesium, and calcium also help to draw out impurities from your body, and sulfur found in the ocean acts as a natural cleanser. It’s why sea water is especially good for those with acne-prone skin because it wards off acne-causing bacteria and skin infections.
It Absorbs Excess Oils That Clog Pores
Ocean water also absorbs moisture, which is another reason acne can be reduced by a trip to the beach. Additionally, if you have oily skin, sea water is great for soaking up all that excess oil that clogs pores.
It's a Natural Anti-Inflammatory
Sea water is rich in magnesium, which is pretty much gold for skin. Magnesium is an antimicrobial agent as well as an anti-inflammatory, which means it works to relieve itchiness and remove bacteria and fungi that cause skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis.
It's a Gentle Exfoliator
You may or may not have noticed that when you return from a dip in the sea, your skin can feel as soft as butter. This is no surprise since sea salt, along with being antibacterial, is also a natural exfoliant. Not only does it help to slough off all of the dead skin cells on your body, but the minerals in the ocean also help to open your pores, allowing the sea salt to cleanse even deeper. Just imagine it plunging in and scooping out all the bad stuff. Top that off with the rough sand you undoubtedly are sunbathing on, and by the time you get home, your skin is disinfected, cleaned, exfoliated, and shiny new for a rejuvenated look and feel.
It Increases Blood Circulation
After a day at the beach, slather on all those serums and moisturizers waiting to be used. Sea salt increases your blood circulation, which aids all the good stuff from your creams to penetrate even deeper and absorb more fully into the skin. In fact, with the exfoliation and mineral bath you just had, it’s actually the perfect time for those serums because your skin is primed and ready to replenish with the good stuff giving you even better results.
It's Anti-Dandruff
Sea water is also amazing for your hair and scalp, especially if you suffer from dandruff. The salt in the water helps to exfoliate your scalp, which loosens and removes dandruff while stimulating blood circulation at the same time for a more healthy scalp. Plus, just like with your skin, the ocean water absorbs all the excess oils that cause fungal growth, and is an antimicrobial and antibacterial agent that kills the dandruff-causing fungus already present.
