DIY Moisturizing Bath Bombs

Intro: DIY Moisturizing Bath Bombs

Only recently have I discovered the magic of baths and bath bombs. And then I promptly discovered they can also be quite expensive! For this reason, I decided it was time to start making my own. I have a feeling I'm going to be putting up quite a few bath bomb recipes - I'm addicted!

Making bath bombs is actually a super easy process! There are definitely some possible pit falls along the way, but I'll guide you through the process and let you know when you need to do things a certain way. This moisturizing recipe is extra easy to make because we're using more oil than water. :)

This bath bomb recipe produces a slightly fizzy and super moisturizing soak for your bath water! I used one last night and my skin and hair feel super awesome right now. :D

STEP 1: Ingredients + Tools

Ingredients:

• slightly less than 1 cup baking soda (8 oz)
• 1/2 cup citric acid (4 oz)
• 3/4 cup corn starch (4 oz)
• heaping 1/2 cup epsom salts (4 oz)
• 1 tablespoon water
• 3 tablespoons oil of choice (I used avocado)
• 25-50 drops of essential oil*
• food coloring (2-5 drops, depending on how intense you want the color! I used teal.)

*Important note regarding essential oils: oils like clove, cinnamon, tea tree, eucalyptus, lemongrass, and peppermint can cause a burning sensation and a red rash if you use too much. (Especially if you have sensitive skin) On the upside, these oils also smell VERY strongly, so you don't have to use as much. :D

Tools:

• bowls for mixing
• measuring cups and spoons
• whisk
• silicone molds

This recipe will make roughly 20 oz worth of bath bombs - I made 8 bath bombs that weighed between 2 and 3 oz using the molds I linked to above. :)

Recipe slightly modified from One Good Thing.

STEP 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients

The first thing you want to do it measure out all your dry ingredients into a large bowl. (Baking soda, cornstarch, epsom salts, citric acid.)

Once you've measured them out, mix them together with your whisk for a minute or so. You want all the ingredients to be well incorporated.

STEP 3: Mix the Wet Ingredients

Now you'l want to mix the wet ingredients together in a small bowl. Add in the water, oil, essential oils and food coloring.

Mix this together and check the color of the mix - if it looks too light add a little more food coloring if you want!

Since I'm using stronger gel food colors, I only used two drops.

STEP 4: Mix Wet and Dry Together

This is the step where you have to be careful! Make sure to follow how I do it so you don't let the bath bomb mix bubble prematurely. :)

Pour the wet into the dry, just a little bit at a time. Mix with the whisk immediately to stop any bubbling that may occur. If you let the mix bubble now, you won't get lots of fizziness when you put the bath bombs in your bath.

Keep pouring and mixing until all the wet ingredients are mixed in. Break up any big clumps with the whisk as you go - they may have pockets of color or a certain ingredient inside!

STEP 5: The Ultimate Test

Now we need to test the mix and see if it holds together!

Grab a small bit and press it together in your hands.

If it sticks together and smoothes out, you have enough moisture!

If the mix is dry and crumbly and doesn't want to stick to itself, you will need to add more water. I suggest adding it with a spray bottle if possible. If not, just add small amounts and mix well after.

STEP 6: Filling and Packing Your Mold

This is the other important step for this process - I recommend using a silicone mold and packing the mix in extremely tightly.

Add small amounts to the mold and pack it down with whatever you have around - I used an essential oil bottle at first, and then a measuring cup to really push the mix down.

If you don't compact the bath bomb mix enough at this point, you'll end up with bombs that crack and crumble when you release them from the mold.

STEP 7: Drying and Storing

Once your bath bombs are packed into the molds, you need to let them dry completely. For best results, let them sit overnight. I finished making these bath bombs at 12:30p and they felt VERY solid and dry by 9:30p, but decided to leave them overnight anyway!

When the bath bombs are still soft, you'll be able to apply pressure with your finger and feel it sink in a bit. When the bombs are completely dry they'll be hard as a rock!

Once they're dry, gently push them out of the molds.

Make sure to store your bath bombs away from moisture in an air tight container for best results I'm using an old teapot. :D

Enjoy your bath bombs!

P.S. Have any issues with your bath bombs? Check out this troubleshooting page!

Comments

[1moloom]

Where do you get the citric acid powder?

[Sloth8035]

I got it from Woolworths

[CitadelP]

You can get it in the supermarket it should be near the mason jars, the caned vegetables or near the baking soda. It’s commonly used to can tomatoes. It might even have a picture of a jar of tomatoes on thr package.

[jonus1]

I ordered mine through my pharmacy.

[jessyratfink]

I wasn't able to find it locally, so I bought it from Amazon. :)

[tracyjoan]

I made these using a cupcake pan(which I had on hand) but added a strip of waxed paper to each cup before filling to lift them out once dry. The turned out great and I will be making them again. Thanks so much!

[ladyaurora]

Do you know of any sugar-free food colouring out there with the same kind of colour and intensity that you used?

[Stillapill]

All food colorings are sugar-free.

[ladyaurora]

Actually, they aren't. That was why I asked. The brand she used above is slightly sweetened according to their own website.

[Stillapill]

Wow! I have been using those for years and did not know that. My apologies!

[jessyratfink]

Sadly, I don't! I tried to do some searching but didn't turn up much at all.

I didn't even know these had sugar in them! Hopefully if you can't find anything else these will work - I'm sure the amount of sugar is very low. :)

[ladyaurora]

Thanks.

[HeatherD102]

I want to make some of these for myself and my mother, for now. She is allergic to Epsom salts. Is there an alternaticve I can use for hers or any others that might be allergic?

[sageclouddancer]

is she allergic to sea salt I saw a recipe on google for sea salt instead of epsom salt

[Penolopy Bulnick]

I need to make these! Do you need oil and essential oils? I assume the essential oil is for smell, is the other for the moisturizing-ness?

[Penolopy Bulnick]

PS I don't know if I want to buy a mold. Would it be possible to use a cupcake liner in a cupcake pan as a mold?

[jessyratfink]

The essential oil is just for smell. The other oil is both for moisturizing and keeping the mix together. :)

When I was researching, I saw loads of people user liners and cupcake pans. I bet it would work!

[MattL155]

worked great, made a custom mold and my foster kids and I made some for mothers day. Thanks for the great idea. We use Lavender and but lavender flowers in with the mix. worked GREAT

[eoverton]

Dear Diary,

Jessyratfink just made me the cat every woman wants to know better. :-)

[craftyincobalt]

I was looking for just this. Thank you for sharing your lovely tutorial.