Vitamin Sea
Come clean with mineral-rich muds from around the world.
Come clean with mineral-rich muds from around the world.
While children often can’t resist the temptation to get down and dirty with any mud puddle they find in their path, adults may also find themselves tempted to play in the mud, so to speak. “Warm, therapeutic muds and clays, found in coastal and volcanic regions, are rich in nourishing minerals — like sodium, magnesium, and potassium — along with particles of seaweed that can help remineralize the skin and soothe aching muscles and joints,” says Rona Berg, editor-in- chief of Organic Spa Media.
“And applying a mud mask or taking a soak feels really good.”
Mud can also be used as an effective detoxifier, drawing out dirt, toxins, and other impurities in the skin. Beyond the skin-nourishing benefits, certain muds have shown promise in reducing inflammation and providing relief from arthritis, psoriasis, and more. It’s no surprise then that mud baths and treatments have become a popular self- care option as well as a unique way to experience a destination. This long- time beauty ritual — Cleopatra was reputed to be a fan — has been practiced throughout the world for centuries.
A MULTITUDE OF MUD
If you’re thinking dirt is just dirt, you may want to think again. Mud has been responsible for putting certain destinations around the globe on the map. “In Iceland, where over 80 percent of the country is heated geothermally, there is a powerful tradition of soaking in mineral-rich muds,” says Berg.
The Blue Lagoon in Grindavik, Iceland, for instance, is the country’s No. 1 tourist destination. The man-made lagoon is fed water from a nearby geothermal power plant. While it may not have started as a natural phenomenon, it certainly has become a sensation among visitors interested in taking advantage of the health benefits provided by the rich mineral content found there. Part of the lagoon’s allure is its silica-rich mud, which is incorporated into treatments at the Blue Lagoon’s dermatology clinic and spa as well as in the Blue Lagoon skincare line. “Silica is the Blue Lagoon’s iconic element,” says marketing representative Cindy Run Li. “It not only helps to strengthen the skin’s barrier function, it also has healing benefits for eczema and psoriasis.” It’s no wonder people from around the world flock here to bathe in the thermal waters and slather themselves with the popular white mud. Bathing in the Blue Lagoon is an excursion available on Holland America Line’s Iceland itinerary, among others. As part of the Blue Lagoon Comfort Package, visitors are offered a silica mask, a towel, and a beverage while enjoying the warm waters of the lagoon.
No trip to St. Lucia is complete without a visit to its famed Sulphur Springs in Soufrière. Created by a nearby volcano, the springs have drawn visitors to enjoy therapeutic benefits since the time of Napoleon. Today, boiling mud, steam, and healing waters are all hallmarks of this must-see Caribbean destination. Passengers on Princess Cruises stopping in St. Lucia can opt for the Volcanic Island Experience & Mud Bath, which includes a visit to the famed springs with time to relax in the warm mineral mud bath and rinse off under a nearby waterfall. Soothing for those who have suffered from a bit too much sun, the mud is also known to help heal eczema, insect bites, and sore joints.
In Spain, the mud of Mar Menor, Europe’s largest saltwater lagoon, features sediments rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium, and other therapeutic minerals. Passengers aboard Oceania Cruises visiting the port of Cartagena can take part in the Curative Muds of Mar Menor, a 2-hour excursion that shares the history of how the geological feature was formed and the many benefits the mud provides. After experiencing the mud for themselves, passengers are transported from the mud baths to Thalasia Costa de Murcia, which features a thalassotherapy center, to enjoy a restorative massage or skin treatment with the local mud.
In Alaska, Mareel Wellness & Beauty, a new spa concept for Cunard developed in partnership with the popular Canyon Ranch spa brand, is a two-and-a-half-hour wellness ritual involving a 15-minute outdoor guided meditation
followed by 20 minutes of guided stretching overlooking Alaska’s stunning scenery. The treatment also includes the 80-minute Journey Through the Wilderness, featuring an application of Alaskan glacial mud from the Copper River Delta, which has more than 60 minerals reputed to boost skin-cell regeneration. In addition, spa-goers experience a private soak in an oversized bath with organically sourced seaweed, a full-body massage, and a 50-minute facial.
It’s important to remember that not all mud is created equal. It’s the minerals that give mud its therapeutic benefits. The Dead Sea, accessible through many Holy Land itineraries, produces some of the best soft, silty sludge in terms of mineral content. Considered the lowest elevation on the surface of the Earth, the Dead Sea itself is chock-full of minerals, many of which can be found nowhere else on the planet. It’s black mud, rich in magnesium, calcium, potassium, and iron, is reputed to boost natural exfoliation and balance the skin’s pH. It can also be found in a variety of skincare products, thanks to its skin-saving properties.
ONBOARD MUD PLAY
Fortunately, you don’t have to travel to one of these destinations to reap the benefits of their unique healing muds. Most cruise spas today offer a range of mud-related treatments. On many (such as as well as ships in the Seabourn and Silversea fleets) the Thousand Flower Detox Wrap, which relies on Elemis products, incorporates a vitamin-packed formula enriched with Nordic peat soil. Designed to help detoxify the body, the wrap is followed by a 25- or 50-minute massage with Elemis’ nourishing Green Tea Balm.
Cunard’s Mareel Wellness & Beauty offers a 50-minute Warm & Toning Spiced Mud Wrap to help stimulate the metabolism and provide an anti-aging boost. After a rejuvenating exfoliation, spa-goers are treated to an application of mud made from sustainably hand-harvested seaweed from the Atlantic Ocean, micronized peat, and a host of beneficial minerals. “These purifying elements are encapsulated in the rich and warming mud wrap, which is applied to the body after a dry body brush and warm muscle-relaxing compress ritual, resulting in a tingling fresh complexion and immediate noticeable effects to the skin, including firming and toning of the body,” says Sandra Foyil, senior vice president of Canyon Ranch at Sea.
On MSC Cruises, the Bali Thalasso Sea & Volcanoes treatment uses mud with Laminar
ia digitata algae from the cold northern seas to reduce the appearance of cellulite. The algae, which is rich in iodine and sodium, is ideal for activating the metabolism.
Many cruise spas, such as the Cloud 9 Spa on Carnival Splendor, offer a Rasul Bath, which is an ancient Arabic cleansing ritual involving a steam bath and application of mineral-based muds. After a brief shower, spa-goers apply various medicinal muds to the body in the rasul chamber and relax while the mud dries. After several steam infusions, the room is heated and the humidity increases, causing the mud to liquify on the skin. Spa-goers are then encouraged to rub the moist mud into their skin to exfoliate, improve circulation, and rev up their metabolism. The treatment concludes with a refreshing shower to wash away any remaining mud.
Regardless of whether you choose to indulge in a mud-based excursion or one of the many enticing mud treatments available aboard today’s cruise spas, you’re sure to reap the many benefits these mineral-rich muds have to offer.
SOOTHING FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED FROM A BIT TOO MUCH SUN, THE MUD IS ALSO KNOWN TO HELP HEAL ECZEMA, INSECT BITES, AND SORE JOINTS.