It seems like everyday there is a new skincare hack on TikTok. For the most part, they are outlandish, but every now and then, they make sense and can be really useful. Enter: sea salt.

User @leacrylics has over 5 million views on the platform for sharing a DIY sea salt spray to clear up her acne and now the trend has taken off. Although this is not the be-all-end-all solution to acne like millions believe, there is something to say about sea salt.

@leacrylicsand this makes so much sense. sea salt is healing. ##acne ##clearskin ##seasalt ##fyp

♬ original sound – Leenis

In case you’re wondering why it is beneficial, we give you the 411 below.

What is sea salt?

Put simply, sea salt is salt from the sea. It’s beneficial because it contains sodium, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. It’s often used to preserve food and for cooking in general.

What are the benefits?

We should note that the benefits should be taken with a grain of salt (we had to) as there isn’t a ton of scientific evidence to back this up. And since we pride ourselves on reporting the whole truth, we wanted to start with that.

However, there are suggestions on the benefits both from experts and consumers of sea salt. Below we share the top three.

1. It absorbs excess oil: Because acne is caused from too much sebum (read: oil), sea salt works wonders on helping to absorb excess oil — as that’s one of it’s main functions.
2. It is a natural physical exfoliant: If you’ve ever been into a skincare aisle at any grocery store or specialty store, you’ve probably noticed the rows and rows of sea salt scrubs. That’s because it’s a great exfoliant! There is a study in the International Journal of Dermatology that shows bathing in magnesium-rich sea salt from the Dead Sea, helps the skin with hydration, redness, and roughness. However, be very sure to not rub aggressively as over-exfoliation can lead to tears, irritation and extreme dryness. 
3. It is known to be anti-inflammatory: Because it is high in metals, it has been known to be anti-inflammatory.

How and when to use sea salt

You can use sea salt daily if you’d like. Of course, if you are using it as an exfoliant, we suggest 1-2 times a week maximum, as too much exfoliation is bad.

Best products with sea salt

We recommend trying the five products below:

Photo via JJ Harrison/Wikipedia