HOMEMADE BATH BOMBS: WHAT YOU NEED & HOW THEY WORK

Bath bombs used to be everyone’s favorite splurge product, but now they are everyone’s favorite DIY project!  I have made several different bath bombs over the past 6 months, and I have a few more that I will be sharing on the blog soon.  After lots of trial and error, I have a few supplies that I always turn to when making my own homemade bath bombs, and I thought you might be interested in them too.

Citric acid and baking soda are the two most important ingredients of a homemade bath bomb.  They create a chemical reaction with water to create the fizzing bubbles that are such a fun part of using a bath bomb.  The higher the ratio of these two ingredients to the other ingredients, the greater the fizz.  Corn starch is a filler ingredient that works to control the reaction of the acid and base (it also makes the water feel softer).  If you decrease the amount of corn starch in the recipe, the bath bomb will fizz more vigorously but will dissolve faster. Finally, bath bombs don’t technically need Epsom salts, but they are a wonderful addition to any bath to relieve achy muscles.

Citric Acid – Baking Soda – Corn Starch – Epsom Salt 

You can choose to add oils to your homemade bath bombs to help them hold together and to soften your skin.  Coconut oil is a great and economical choice, but I find that cottonseed oil is even better on very sensitive skin.

Coconut Oil – Cottonseed Oil

You can choose to leave your bath bombs unscented, or you can customize them with fragrance.  Essential oils are effective for adding scent to spa products, but I love to use Lorann Oils because they have so many fun smells to choose from!

Essential Oil – LorAnn Oils

Colorful bath bombs are especially fun because they create swirls of color in the bath water.  You can add colors to your homemade bath bombs with food coloring, soap colorant or cosmetic grade mica powders.  Buy soap colorants if you are planning making your own soap as well, just don’t add too much to your bath bombs.  These colorants contain water which will make the citric acid start to fizz.  Mica powders are a bit more expensive, but they are my favorite way to add tons of color evenly throughout the bath bomb.

Food Coloring – Soap Colorant – Mica Powders

Most bath bombs are spherical, and these stainless steel molds are great for creating uniform bath bombs every time.  You can also use other molds to create shaped bath bombs, just be sure the mold is flexible but sturdy so that you can remove the bath bomb easily without breaking it.

Bath Bomb mold

Do you have any other questions about making your own bath bombs?  Leave them in the comments below, and I will answer the best I can!