I am already an addict to Epsom Salts so I was curious to try this. I also really like my Biofreeze after I overdo the exercise or when the Fibromyalgia gives me a hard time. But Biofreeze comes in a single-use plastic roller so I am trying to find an alternative.

What it does, according to the brand:

“Warming and stimulating aniseed oil accompanies fine sea salt and Epsom salts to brighten, buff and polish skin while fresh rosemary and sage infusions cleanse and tone. Rinse off and let menthol crystals, peppermint and spearmint oils to leave cool tingles up and down your skin like the remnants of magic recently cast.”

My experience:

When I am at home, I order Epsom Salts in bags of 25 kilos. At the gym or when I am away, things are a little more difficult. Epsom Salts are heavy and they need a bathtub to be dissolved in. I was hoping that this little pot of ready-semi-dissolved salts would do the trick. And it does, to some extent.

The pot is easy to take away in my washbag for my fix of Epsom Salts. Application is easy: just dip your fingers in, scoop and spread. It feels like a slimy, slightly scratchy goo. At first it tingles, then it burns a bit and finally it feels cold. It gives some relief to muscle ache and it does smell and feel a bit like Biofreeze, albeit a dialed-down version with a shorter lifespan. After rinsing and drying, the skin feels fresh and soft. Extremely soft even.

I have major gripes with the additives and the presentation though. According to Lush, these crystals are meant to “buff and polish” the skin and “cleanse and tone”. It sounds pretty grown up. Epsom Salts are also renowned for helping with aches and pains. So at first glance, not exactly a product aimed at children. Yet the bright purple goo looks like something meant to appeal to a six year-old looking for a unicorn in a magical forest. With rainbows. Yes it is fun, but I prefer more natural products and I am not a fan of dousing my skin with perfumes and colours. Also, considering the fragrance is all mint and aniseed and other definitely green herbs, the purple doesn’t even make sense. I would prefer it so much better if it were just a natural pale colour given by the all the botanical infusions.

Good sides:

• Contains a good amount of Epsom Salts
• Not irritating
• Leaves skin soft and refreshed
• Helps with after-exercise aches
• Helps clear sinuses after swimming in chlorine-infested waters

Bad sides:

• Contains added and artificial fragrances
• Contains masses of unnecessary colourings
• Contains SLSs
• Comes in a (recycled and recyclable) plastic pot

Would I repurchase? Yes, but I might look for something less artificial

List of ingredients: Epsom Salt, Fine Sea Salt, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Perfume, Fresh Mint infusion, Fresh Rosemary infusion, Fresh Sage infusion, Propylene Glycol, Menthol crystals, Peppermint oil, Spearmint oil, Aniseed oil, Lactic acid, Titanium Dioxide, Lauryl Betaine, Limonene, Colours 17200 and 42090:2

Please click here for a link to the product on the Lush website.