Sea salt is obtained directly through the evaporation of seawater. It is usually not processed, or undergoes minimal processing, and therefore retains trace levels of minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium and other nutrients.

Here are our picks for the best sea salt for any and all kitchen occasions:

• Maldon Sea Salt Flakes.
• Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt.
• Saltverk Flaky Sea Salt.
• La Baleine French Fine Sea Salt.
• Saltverk Hand-Harvested Icelandic Sea Salt.
• Esprit du Sel Fleur de Sel.
• SoSalt Sea Salt.

Sea salt comes from evaporated seawater and is minimally processed, so it may retain trace minerals. The minerals sea salt contains depend on the body of water where it's evaporated from. This also may affect taste or color of the salt.

ocean water Sea salt is a general term for salt produced by evaporation of ocean water or water from saltwater lakes. It is less processed than table salt and retains trace minerals. These minerals add flavor and color.

Balances skin: Sea salt helps regulate oil production without causing over-drying. Clear pores: Sea salt cleanses and fights acne-causing bacteria naturally. Anti-inflammatory: This ingredient not only fights redness, but it may even help improve skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema.

Some salts are considered healthier than others, such as pink Himalayan salt and different types of sea salt. These are revered for their taste and texture compared to regular table salt. They are also preferred by some because most (but not all) are less processed and may contain more trace minerals.

Himalayan Pink Salt: This salt is harvested from the Punjab region of Pakistan from the Khewra salt mine. This rock salt contains all 84 trace minerals which are also responsible for its pink color. It is considered to be a healthier alternative to regular table salt.

Morton Salt is an American food company producing salt for food, water conditioning, industrial, agricultural, and road/highway use. Based in Chicago, the business is North America's leading producer and marketer of salt.

Where are Seasalt products made? All our collections are designed in Cornwall. Our primary manufacturers are in India, Turkey, China, Vietnam, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bulgaria. We support UK manufacturers where possible and sell Leach pottery, Trevarno Skincare and St Eval home fragrances.

Commercial salt is manufactured from rock salt, as well as from seawater and other natural and artificial brines. Most of the artificial brines are obtained by pumping water into underground salt beds. A considerable amount of brine itself is used directly in industrial countries.

10 Best Rated Salts in the World

• Salt. Piranska sol. Piran. Slovenia.
• Salt. Anglesey Sea Salt. Menai Strait. Wales.
• Salt. Himalayan Salt. Punjab. Pakistan.
• Salt. Cornish Sea Salt. Cornwall. England.
• Salt. Hawaiian Red Salt. Hawaii.
• Salt. Sal de Tavira. Tavira.
• Salt. Maras Salt. Cusco Region.
• Salt. Fleur de sel de Camargue. Camargue.

If you do want to try washing your face with salt water, keep in mind that it's best to avoid overdoing it since this can lead to dry and damaged skin. You might, for example, start by trying a saltwater wash once or twice a week to check how your skin handles it.

Acne-prone skin also has an alkaline pH," she explains. "If anything, you want to use an acidic pH to balance the skin, thus, we use glycolic acid and salicylic acid to help with skin issues." She adds that sea salt water does have an antimicrobial effect, but not one strong enough to kill acne.

Bamboo salt costs almost $100. for an 8 and 1/2 ounce jar, making it the most expensive salt in the world. For hundreds of years, Koreans have used bamboo salt for cooking.

Table salt Table salt is the most common kind of salt found in the kitchen. It is not sea or ocean salt, but rock salt, usually found in salt mines. Once mined, it is refined and most minerals are removed until it is pure sodium chloride.

USGS