Sea Salt (Maris Sal)

A crystalline mineral made mainly of sodium chloride harvested from seawater. In formulations it's used for purifying rinse-off products, balancing surface oil, and providing mild physical exfoliation for a refreshed skin feel.
Like this ingredient?

Ingredient Snapshot

Overview
Sea salt cleanses, balances oil, and gently exfoliates the skin.
Category
Cleansing, Oil Control, Exfoliating
Type
Mineral

Ingredient Ratings

Overall Rating

Fair

Comedogenic Risk

None

Skin Benefits

Supports a fresher-looking complexion by lifting impurities and reducing a shiny appearance, and offers gentle grain-based refinement in short-contact products, though the effects are primarily cosmetic.

Uses In Skincare & Cosmetics

Used in exfoliating cleansers and body or scalp scrubs for quick polishing, and also appears in bath soaks to complement cleansing routines.

Comedogenic Rating

This ingredient is not typically evaluated for comedogenicity, and no standardized rating is available.

Safety

May cause transient stinging or dryness, particularly on broken, irritated, or very dry skin; rinse-off use reduces this risk. Patch test if skin is reactive. No specific regulatory restrictions are commonly cited for topical use.

Is Sea Salt (Maris Sal) a Good Ingredient?

Fair, because it can aid cleansing and short-contact exfoliation, but the benefits are mostly cosmetic and transient. It may also sting, dry, or disrupt the barrier, especially on compromised or sensitive skin, which keeps it from Good.