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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →On the night before the 2024 Met Gala, Jessica Biel said she planned a 30-minute bath with five bags of Epsom salt totaling 20 pounds, followed by water and an early bedtime. She later described it as a relaxing “little red carpet hack.” The accounts do not establish that she took the bath to fit into or change the fit of her gown.
What Jessica Biel said she did
In a TikTok video before the May 6, 2024 event, Biel described choosing a bath while others were out partying. She counted out five bags of Epsom salt, totaling 20 pounds, and said she planned to soak for 30 minutes in water “as hot as you can take.” She also mentioned drinking plenty of water and going to bed early. E! News reported her routine on May 7, 2024: E!’s account of Biel’s Met Gala preparation.
When asked about it on The View, Biel called the soak a “little red carpet hack.” She said she found it relaxing, slept well, and woke feeling good and calm. She also said the bath gave her magnesium; that is her personal explanation, not evidence that a meaningful amount was absorbed through her skin. E! reported the May 16, 2024 appearance here.
Did the bath help her fit into the gown?
The cited accounts do not say Biel used the bath to slim down, alter her measurements, or make her dress fit. The connection comes from the way some coverage framed the story, including a headline asking why she bathed in Epsom salt “for” the dress. Biel’s reported statements support a preparation routine and her own account of feeling relaxed; they do not establish a dress-fitting purpose or effect. Us Weekly’s coverage provides that headline framing.
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#1 Best Overall
- SHIPMENT CONTAINS: One 3-pound resealable bag of fragrance free epsom salt for relaxing baths and soaks
- RELAXING SOAK: Dissolves easily in warm water to create a soothing bath experience that helps relax muscles and reduce tension
- VERSATILE USES: Perfect for full baths, foot soaks, and gardening applications to provide magnesium to plants
- EASY APPLICATION: For a relaxing bath, generously pour into warm running water; for foot soaks, dissolve in a small basin and soak for 15-20 minutes
- PURE FORMULA: Contains pure magnesium sulfate with no added fragrances, dyes, or fillers for a natural soaking experience
The Met Gala look she wore
The 2024 Met Gala took place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6. “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” was the Costume Institute exhibition theme, while “The Garden of Time” was the dress code. Biel returned after an 11-year gap in a watermelon-pink silk faille gown and cape by Tamara Ralph, embellished with coque feathers and crystals.
E! reported that the gown was from Ralph’s Spring/Summer 2024 collection and that the brand said it took 320 hours to complete. That figure is the brand’s reported construction-time claim, not an independently verified production estimate. E!’s report includes details of the look and Biel’s routine: read the report.
Rank #2
- PURE EPSOM SALT (Magnesium Sulfate USP): Soothe your aching muscles with this unique blend
- ESSENTIAL OIL BLEND: Curated with lavender to calm body and mind
- SELF-CARE RITUAL: A great addition to your self-care routine
- RELAXING TREATMENT: Mix with warm bath water and soak
- NO HARSH INGREDIENTS: Paraben and phthalate free
What an Epsom salt bath can—and cannot—be said to do
Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate. A U.S. DailyMed label describes it as an external soaking aid and gives directions for a relaxing bath or soak using warm water. It does not recommend Biel’s 20-pound quantity. The label also cautions that people with diabetes should not use hot or warm soaks unless advised by a physician. See the DailyMed product label, updated February 4, 2026.
Whether magnesium from a bath passes through intact skin in a meaningful amount is a separate question from whether a warm bath feels relaxing. A 2017 review concluded that available evidence did not support claims of transdermal magnesium delivery. A 2026 ex vivo study found minimal magnesium permeation across intact skin from a simple aqueous solution and concluded that delivery through intact skin is unlikely under normal physiological conditions. The latter was a laboratory skin study, not a clinical trial of Biel’s bath. Read the 2017 review and the 2026 ex vivo study.
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Rank #3
- POWERED BY MAGNESIUM: Dr Teal's Pure Epsom Salt (Magnesium Sulfate) helps ease aches & pains, relaxes the body & helps reduce stress
- NATURAL ESSENTIAL OIL: The relaxing aroma helps calm the mind
- EUCALYPTUS & SPEARMINT SCENTED: Eucalyptus & spearmint work to actively relax your mood
- RELAXING TREATMENT: Soak in a bath for 20 minutes to experience long-lasting stress relief
- SELF-CARE RITUAL: A great addition to your self-care routine
Those findings do not negate Biel’s report that she felt calmer and slept well after soaking. They do mean her experience should not be treated as proof of magnesium absorption, a treatment, or a method for changing how clothing fits.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- PURE EPSOM SALT: Made with pharmacy-grade magnesium sulfate to help ease aches and soreness from muscle pains
- FRAGRANCE FREE: Fragrance-free and fast dissolving, ultra-fine crystals dissolve quickly in water
- HOW TO USE: At bedtime, pour 2 cups under warm, running bath water and soak for 20 minutes
- FREE FROM WORRY: Paraben free, phthalate free, and never tested on animals
Rank #4
- SHIPMENT CONTAINS: One 3-pound resealable bag of epsom salt crystals for bath or soaking tub
- RELAXING SOAK: Lavender scented epsom salt helps soothe sore muscles and aids in relaxation
- EASY TO USE: Simply add to warm bath or foot soak for a calming, therapeutic experience
- VERSATILE USES: Ideal for relaxing baths, foot soaks, and muscle recovery after physical activity
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