In an episode of “With Love, Meghan,” Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, shared a scented Epsom bath salt recipe that immediately sparked safety concerns on social media.

In the episode, Meghan filled a mixing bowl with Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) before adding two liquid droppers full of arnica oil. She then added a few drops of lavender oil, pink Himalayan salt, and dried flowers.

Since undiluted essential oils can irritate the skin, some viewers were concerned that Meghan didn’t emphasize the importance of using a carrier oil, like coconut or jojoba oil, to dilute the essential oils.

Arnica oil can sometimes act as a carrier oil, but it’s unclear if it was used this way in Meghan’s recipe.

“It’s interesting that people criticized Meghan Markle, when Martha Stewart has had a recipe for bath salts with essential oils with no carrier on her website since 2022. It makes me wonder if the criticism could have some other underlying cause, possibly implicit bias,” said Steve Daveluy, MD, FAAD, a professor and program director at the Wayne State University School of Medicine Department of Dermatology.

The ingredients in Meghan’s recipe are safe when used appropriately, Daveluy added.

“As long as you’re using a small amount of essential oil, you don’t need to dilute with a carrier oil when using an essential oil in the bath, since you’re diluting it in a bathtub full of water and not applying it directly to the skin,” Daveluy said.

Can Essential Oils Irritate the Skin?

Using undiluted essential oils is problematic for people with broken, irritated, or inflamed skin or those with active eczema or psoriasis, said Susan Massick, MD, FAAD, an associate professor of dermatology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

“Essential oils, including lavender oil, are among the most common contact allergen culprits. These ingredients cause many more problems to your skin than whatever benefit you feel they may provide,” Massick told Verywell.

Eliminating the essential oils might feel wrong if you want to stay true to Meghan’s original recipe. In that case, consider reducing the amount of essential oils. Adding a drop or two may not cause significant skin irritation.

Remember that oil and water don’t mix, so essential oils will float to the top of the bathwater and could harm your skin if you use too much, Daveluy said.

Are the Other Ingredients Safe for Your Skin?

Using a small amount of Meghan’s recipe every once in a while likely won’t cause major skin problems, but the ingredients might not work well for everyone.

Meghan’s recipe includes arnica oil, which has been used to treat wounds and injuries for hundreds of years. Many people can use arnica safely, but overuse can irritate the skin.

“Caution should be taken if you have allergic reactions to ragweed, daisies, marigold, and sunflowers. Also, arnica oil is toxic if ingested and should not be used in bath water if you have open wounds or skin irritation,” M. Elizabeth Swenor, DO, FACLM, FAAMM, medical director of the Lifestyle, Integrative, Functional Medicine Department at Henry Ford Health, told Verywell.

Pink Himalayan salt and dried rose petals can help reduce inflammation, but may irritate sensitive skin, Swenor added.

Will an Epsom Salt Bath Help You Relax?

Many people take Epsom salt baths to relax and de-stress, but there’s not enough research to back up these benefits. If you want to try a simple, unscented Epsom salt bath, add 2 cups of Epsom salt to warm water and soak for about 15 minutes.

“If you feel that Epsom salt baths do help you, one can be assured that overall it is a safe practice,” Amit Momaya, MD, chief of sports medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, told Verywell.

Another way to relax your muscles and mind is to take a warm bath without Epsom salts. Research in Japan has shown that taking warm baths on a regular basis helps reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease.

“The actual warm bath may have health benefits, including stress relief, muscle pain reduction, and possible cardiovascular benefits,” Momaya said.