The Dead Sea
By Boaz Yadin · Last checked: October 2026
The Dead Sea is a salt lake between Israel and Jordan, and its surface is the lowest point on land anywhere on Earth, about 1,410 feet below sea level (Encyclopaedia Britannica). Its water is nearly ten times saltier than the ocean. That salt, and the mud on its shores, is what SEACRET puts into its skincare.
Why is the Dead Sea so low and so salty?
The lake sits in a sunken block of the Earth's crust along the plate boundary that runs north from the Red Sea. The Jordan River and a few desert streams flow in, and the water leaves only by evaporating, so the salts stay behind. Britannica measures the salinity at roughly 300 to 332 parts per thousand, against about 35 for seawater. The level is still dropping by about a meter a year, which is why the shoreline you see today sits well below the one recorded in the mid-twentieth century.
The density is why you float without trying, and why almost nothing lives in the water apart from bacteria.
What is in Dead Sea water?
Dead Sea water carries 26 Dead Sea minerals. Against ordinary seawater it holds 40 times the magnesium, 43 times the calcium, 20 times the potassium and 80 times the bromide, while sodium, the main mineral in table salt, is a smaller share. Magnesium is the one with the clearest skin research: in a controlled forearm study, a soak in magnesium-rich Dead Sea salt left dry skin more hydrated and less rough than tap water (Proksch et al., 2005).
The full breakdown, mineral by mineral, is in Dead Sea minerals: what's in the water and what it does for skin.
Where does Dead Sea mud come from?
Dead Sea mud is sediment from the surrounding hills and the Jordan River that settles through the mineral-heavy water and collects on the shore. On a skincare label it appears as silt. It is fine and dark, it spreads smoothly, and it rinses off clean, which is why it ends up in masks and cleansing bars.
For how mud is used on skin and who should skip it, read Dead Sea mud benefits for skin and the Dead Sea mud soap guide.
How is Dead Sea salt used on skin?
Dead Sea salt goes into scrubs for rough, dry areas and into warm soaks. Because it is mostly magnesium, calcium and potassium salts, it behaves differently from table salt or Epsom salt, which is a single compound. See Dead Sea salt vs Epsom salt, magnesium sulfate vs magnesium chloride and what Dead Sea salt does for skin.
Why is the sun different at the Dead Sea?
At this depth sunlight passes through more air before it reaches the ground. Measurements in the Dead Sea basin found that the extra layer weakens UVB more than UVA (Kudish et al., International Journal of Climatology, 1997). The sun still burns, so visitors need the same sun protection as anywhere else.
Visiting the Dead Sea
A day at the Dead Sea usually combines a float with a hike or a historic site. Ein Gedi Nature Reserve has spring-fed pools and the Nahal David waterfall; Masada sits on its cliff to the south; and the caves at Qumran are where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1947. Keep a float to 20 to 30 minutes, keep the water out of your eyes, and rinse in fresh water afterwards.
For hotels, beaches, trails and the best time to go, DeadSea.com has the full guide. DeadSea.com and SEACRET share ownership.
SEACRET's Dead Sea products
SEACRET makes Dead Sea mineral skincare from the salt and mud described above. The bars are Mud Soap and Mineral Soap. For the body there are the salt and botanical oil scrubs and the mineral body butters and lotions. For the face, the Mud & Charcoal Balance Mask combines Dead Sea silt with kaolin and charcoal, and for hair there is the HydraMud mud shampoo.
Frequently asked questions
How far below sea level is the Dead Sea?
About 1,410 feet (430 meters), and still dropping by roughly a meter a year (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
Why can you float in the Dead Sea?
The water is nearly ten times saltier than the ocean, so it is denser than your body and holds you up.
How many minerals are in the Dead Sea?
SEACRET counts 26 Dead Sea minerals, led by magnesium, calcium, potassium and bromide.
Is Dead Sea salt the same as sea salt?
Sea salt is mostly sodium chloride. Dead Sea salt is mostly magnesium, calcium and potassium salts, with less sodium.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. SEACRET products are cosmetics intended to improve the appearance of skin and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual results may vary.